SHAHEEN SIKANDAR

Principal Investigator

Shaheen got her PhD at the University of California - Irvine followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University. When not doing/thinking about science, Shaheen spends her time with her two energetic boys hiking, kayaking and exploring new places to eat in the bay area.

VERONICA HARO ACOSTA

Research Specialist

Veronica got her Masters from the University of Southern California. An UCSC alum she is the go-to person in the lab from science to things to do in Santa Cruz. Veronica is a native of Mexico and loves to explore and enjoy different cultures through music and food. A novice half-marathon runner and sports fanatic.

ISOBEL FETTER

Graduate Student

Isobel is a PhD student in the Sikandar Lab and joined Spring 2021. She grew up in the Bay Area and graduated with her BS in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH in May 2016. After graduation, Isobel worked as a research technician at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard studying HIV, then in the Corcoran Lab at the MGH Cancer Center studying liquid biopsies in colorectal cancer. In the Sikandar Lab Isobel is working with the proteins GULP1 and LMO2 and how they play a role in tumor heterogeneity. Outside of the lab, Isobel enjoys cooking and baking, walking around tide pools, and watching something new on Netflix.

TALIEH ZOMORRODINIA

Graduate Student

Talieh is a Ph.D. student co-advised in the Sikandar and Hinck Labs. She joined in 2022. She grew up in Iran and moved to the Bay Area in her late 20s. She graduated with B.S. in Pharmaceuticals Chemistry at UC Davis in 2017. After graduation, Talieh worked as a pharmacy technician at CVS and for two years as a research associate at UCSF. In the Sikandar and Hinck Labs, Talieh is working on the role of ROBO1 protein in ER+ breast cancer. In her free time, Talieh enjoys walking, surfing, and watching Netflix.

ANDREW OLANDER

Graduate Student

Andrew is a PhD student and has been a member of the Sikandar Lab since Spring of 2022. In 2021, he received his BS in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from University of Washington (Seattle) with minors in Chemistry and Informatics. In lab, Andrew is investigating long term molecular changes in the mammary gland due to aging and pregnancy, and how these molecular alterations affect risk of breast cancer. When he’s not in lab, Andrew enjoys reading, going for a swim at the beach, concerts, and spending time with friends & family.

SACHIN PARECADAN

Undergraduate researcher

Sachin is a senior at UCSC majoring in Human Biology. In the lab, Sachin is researching the tumor microenvironment's role in the metastasis of breast cancer.  Aside from the lab, Sachin likes to go camping, playing table tennis, cooking, and traveling.

JENNIFER RODAS BARRIOS

Undergraduate Researcher

Jennifer is a senior at UCSC majoring in Human Biology and aspires to be a Physician. Jennifer spends time in the lab learning and working to understand the complexities of cancer. Outside of lab and school, she enjoys spending her time with family and friends, listening to music, and cooking.

GEMMA SHASTRI

Undergraduate Researcher

Gemma is a senior at UCSC majoring in Human Biology. She works on characterizing the effect of GULP1 in the mammary gland. Aside from lab, Gemma loves to be outside on bike rides or hikes, rock climbing, going to the ocean, and exploring the beautiful Santa Cruz area.

DANIEL LOZANO

Undergraduate Researcher

Daniel is a senior at UCSC majoring in MCD Biology. He also is part Research Mentoring Internship Program (RMI scholar) through the Genomics Institute. Daniel is interested in learning how oncogenes in breast cancer alter cellular pathways that lead to metastasis. In his free time Daniel enjoys hiking, skateboarding, and spending time with friends and family.