Lab Members

Michael Patnode (he/him)

Assistant Professor

B.S. - University of Washington - Biochemistry

Ph.D. - University of California, San Francisco - Biomedical Sciences

Postdoctoral Fellowship - Washington University in St. Louis

​

PatnodeLab at ucsc.edu

Michael grew up in the Seattle area, and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. He moved to University of California, San Francisco for graduate training in the lab of Dr. Steven Rosen where he focused on immunology and glycobiology. He carried out post-doctoral work with Dr. Jeffrey Gordon at Washington University in St. Louis, exploring how host diet shapes gut microbial communities, before joining the faculty in the METX Department in November 2020.

​

Nicolette Hernandez-Kaempf (she/her)

Specialist

B.S. - Western Washington University - Environmental Toxicology

Minor - Environmental Justice

​

nherna55 at ucsc.edu

My background is in Environmental Toxicology and Environmental Justice. My undergraduate research included analyzing the sedimentation rates and toxicity of silver nanoparticles in different freshwater mediums and analyzing seaweed contaminants along the Puget Sound. I work to ensure that my science is accessible to all, in hopes that I help bridge the gap between scientific understanding and the public. When I am not at the lab, virtually or in-person, you can find me at the climbing gym, biking around town or reading a historical fiction novel. 

​

​

Bo Huey (Charles) Chiang (he/him)

Ph.D. Student

B.S. - University of California, San Diego- Ecology, Behavior and Evolution 

M.S. - University of California, San Diego- Biology

​

bcchiang at ucsc.edu

​

I completed both my master's and bachelor's degrees at UC San Diego. My background is in ecology. Before joining the lab, I worked on the phylogeography of endemic ant species Aphaenogaster patruelis of the California Channel Islands and shield-back katydids of California Floristic Province. Currently working on microbe-microbe interaction in the gut microbiome and how these interactions may affect host health.   

Giovanni Vega (he/him)

Ph.D. Student

B.S. - University of California, Santa Cruz - Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology 

​

gvega6 at ucsc.edu

​

​

I was born and raised in San Diego and then moved to Santa Cruz for my bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Cruz. My undergraduate research focused on Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted bacteria that manipulate its host’s reproductive system via different mechanisms to maximize their spread. One mechanism is called cytoplasmic incompatibility, which is what I focused on. Now I’m studying the interactions between microbes and antibodies in our gut and how different factors influence these antibodies’ production.

I was born and raised in San Diego and then moved to Santa Cruz for my bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Cruz. My undergraduate research focused on Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted bacteria that manipulate its host’s reproductive system via different mechanisms to maximize their spread. One mechanism is called cytoplasmic incompatibility, which is what I focused on. Now I’m studying the interactions between microbes and antibodies in our gut and how different factors influence these antibodies’ production.

I was born and raised in San Diego and then moved to Santa Cruz for my bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Cruz. My undergraduate research focused on Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted bacteria that manipulate its host’s reproductive system via different mechanisms to maximize their spread. One mechanism is called cytoplasmic incompatibility, which is what I focused on. Now I’m studying the interactions between microbes and antibodies in our gut and how different factors influence these antibodies’ production.

Alexander Newman (he/him)

Undergraduate

​

aynewman at ucsc.edu

​

​

I was born and raised in San Diego and then moved to Santa Cruz for my bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Cruz. My undergraduate research focused on Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted bacteria that manipulate its host’s reproductive system via different mechanisms to maximize their spread. One mechanism is called cytoplasmic incompatibility, which is what I focused on. Now I’m studying the interactions between microbes and antibodies in our gut and how different factors influence these antibodies’ production.

I was born and raised in San Diego and then moved to Santa Cruz for my bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Cruz. My undergraduate research focused on Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted bacteria that manipulate its host’s reproductive system via different mechanisms to maximize their spread. One mechanism is called cytoplasmic incompatibility, which is what I focused on. Now I’m studying the interactions between microbes and antibodies in our gut and how different factors influence these antibodies’ production.

I am currently a third-year undergraduate studying Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. I am originally from the South Bay Area.  When not at the lab or studying, you’ll find me shredding trails with my mountain biking or gaming at night with my friends. If not, I’m probably traveling internationally to sightsee in other countries.