MEET THE LAB
Carrie Partch (CV)
Principal Investigator
Email Address: cpartch@ucsc.edu
Superpower: Prolific consumption of caffeinated beverages
I graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics, where I worked with Aziz Sancar to study the molecular basis of circadian rhythmicity. I went to the 'dark side' for my postdoctoral fellowship, training in biophysical techniques including solution NMR spectroscopy at UT Southwestern Medical Center. I worked with Kevin Gardner to identify novel structural regulatory motifs on the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor, HIF, and with Joe Takahashi, to study the related bHLH-PAS transcription factor that drives circadian rhythmicity, CLOCK:BMAL1. In our lab, we strive to address these questions: How do animals measure time and use it to control biology on a daily basis?
Nicholas Bender
Undergraduate student
Superpower: Protein Machine
José Costa
Visiting scholar
Superpower: I’m always hungry
I am an engineer in molecular biotechnology from the Universidad de Chile, where I studied antibiotic-resistant bacteria in natural environments. I am currently doing my PhD at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, studying the molecular mechanism of the circadian clock of the fungus Neurospora crassa, in particular, the post-translational regulation of the enzyme casein kinase 1 (CK1). That line of research led me to Partch Lab, where I was welcomed as an intern to continue unraveling the mysteries
behind CK1 regulation.
Valentin Duprat
Undergraduate
Superpower: Keeping my workspace as minimalist as possible
I am currently an undergraduate at University of California Santa Cruz studying biochemistry and molecular biology.
John Dzimianski
Research Specialist II
Superpower: Surviving graduate school and a postdoc without coffee
I discovered the magic of Structural Biology in graduate school while under the mentorship of Scott Pegan at the University of Georgia. Using X-ray crystallography and biochemical assays, I studied the dynamic molecular landscape of virus-host interactions across divergent viruses and hosts. After graduating from the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences with my Ph.D. in 2019, I began a postdoctoral appointment in the lab of Rebecca DuBois at UCSC, studying antibody-mediated immunity to viruses. My postdoc projects primarily used X-ray crystallography, Cryo-EM, and other biophysical methods to understand broadly protective antibody responses in the context of next-generation influenza vaccine design. In 2024, I joined the UCSC Biomolecular Cryo-EM Facility, in conjunction with the Partch lab, as a staff scientist to assist facility users with their Cryo-EM data and Structural Biology projects.
Irene Franco
NIH PREP post-baccalaureate fellow
Superpower: Keeping a straight face and being unintentionally sarcastic
I graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In pursuit of a graduate degree, I have joined the Partch lab as a postbac, helping study PAS domains of core circadian clock proteins.
Ellie Giles
High school student
Superpower: A curious knowledge of niche ocean facts
Ray Harold
Postdoctoral fellow
Superpower: Whipping floppy protein tails into line
I graduated from the University of Montevallo with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.
McClain Kressman
Joint graduate student with Scott Lokey's lab
Superpower: Crying about CRY
Graduated from Cal Poly with a B.S. in Molecular Biology, and joined the Partch Lab to help in drug discovery efforts around the circadian rhythm.
Nathan Lee
Undergraduate student
Superpower: Being reliably 10 minutes early or 20 minutes late
Hey there! I am a second-year student from San Diego pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience at UCSC. My dream is to pursue a career in radiation oncology and medicine, but along the way, I've discovered a love for biotechnology and lab work in biochemistry. I joined the Partch lab in 2024 as an undergraduate researcher to work hands-on in research and apply my studies to make a difference in understanding our cellular biology.
James Partch
Scientific artist
Superpower: Master of everything, expert at nothing
Diksha Sharma
Graduate student
Superpower: A passion for PAS domains!
Becca Spangler
Joint graduate student with Jordan Ward's lab
Superpower: Making it all look so easy...
I graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Biology. In 2019, I joined the Partch lab to study the similarities between different biological time-keeping mechanisms.
Megan Torgrimson
Graduate student
Superpower: Bringing order to chaos
Ethen West
Undergraduate student
Superpower: I’m always laughing
Former lab members
Dr. Priya Crosby, Assistant Professor, University of Edinburgh
Rafael Robles, Chemistry Lecturer, Hartnell College
Dr. Jonathan Philpott, Biochemist, Unnatural Products
Daniel Wruck, B.S. UCSC, Research Associate, Sardona Therapeutics
Noelle Yaitanes, B.S. UCSC, Scientist, Wayfinder Biosciences
Isabella Aldama, B.S. UCSC, Scientist, Vaxcyte
David Segal, B.S. UCSC, Jr. Specialist, Fitnat Yildiz lab (UCSC)
Dr. Jeff Swan, Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellow, lab of Chris Hill (U of Utah)
Dr. Gian Carlo Parico (HHMI Gilliam Fellow); Scientist,Denali
Crystal Garcia (NIH MARC Scholar), B.S. UCSC; MS program, SJSU
David Cardenas (NIH ACCESS Scholar), Hartnell College
Adriana Gracia (UC LEADS Scholar), B.S. UCSC
Andrea Ramos Coronado (IMSD Scholar), B.S. UCSC
Moriah Godes, B.S. UCSC
Dr. Jenny Fribourgh, Cell Biology Lead, Unnatural Products
Maria Ayala Hernandez (STEM Dreamers Scholar), B.S. UCSC; UC Davis Graduate Program
Diana Etwaru, B.S. UCSC; UCSF Graduate Program
Joseph Palacios (IMSD Scholar), B.S. UCSC; UCSD Graduate Program
Taylor Holt, B.S. UCSC
Britney Hernandez, B.S. UCSC; UCSC Chemical Screening Center
Dr. Sabrina Hunt; Research Scientist, Epicypher
Lauren Yee, B.S. UCSC
Dr. Efrain Ceh Pavia; Research Scientist, Planet Pharma/Grifols Diagnostics Solutions
Ivette Perez, B.S. UCSC (IMSD Scholar); Vanderbilt University Graduate Program / NSF Predoctoral Fellow
Kiernan Kringen, B.S. UCSC; Manufacturing Associate, BioMarin
Ali Yousefi, B.S. UCSC
Courtney Dailley, B.S. UCSC; University of Utah Graduate Program
Leslee Nguyen, B.S. UCSC; Stanford University Graduate Program
Priyanka Panchal (NIH ACCESS Scholar), B.S. UC Davis
Dr. Alicia Michael, Ph.D. UCSC; EMBO and HFSP Postdoctoral Fellow, Lab of Nico Thomä (FMI, Basel, Switzerland)
Divya Ramani, B.S. UCSC
Riley Mahn, B.S. UCSC
Dr. Hande Asimgil; Research Scientist, LMU Munich
Dr. Chelsea Gustafson, Ph.D UCSC; Professor, Dept. of Natural Sciences, South Puget Sound Comm. College
Niki Goularte, B.S. UCSC; Stanford University Dept. of Structural Biology Ph.D. program / NSF Predoctoral Fellow
Kyle Franks, B.S. UCSC; Inside Sales Representative, Thermo Fisher
Jansen Luu, B.S. UCSC; Manufacturing Associate, Biomarin
Ashley Kern, M.S. UCSC; Scientist, Wellnext
Chris Ahlbach, B.S. UCSC; M.D. program, UCSF Medical School
Marisol Sanchez (NIH ACCESS Scholar), UC Davis undergraduate
Nicole Parsley, B.S. UCSC; UNC Dept. of Chemistry Ph.D. program
Colby Sandate, B.S. UCSC; Ph.D, Scripps Research Institute (NSF Predoctoral Fellow); Postdoctoral Fellow, Nico Thomä (FMI)
Michael Sanchez (NIH ACCESS Scholar), B.S. UCSC
Dr. Stacy Harvey; Scientist, Ontera Biosciences
Jaclyn Schmitt, M.S., Cabrillo College, Adjunct Lecturer
Patrick Sammons, B.S. UCSC; M.D. program, USC Medical School
Hema Kopalle, B.A. UCSC; Neuroscience graduate program, UCSD
Kathy Huang, B.S. UCSC
Mariah Heller (NIH ACCESS Scholar), B.S. UC Davis
Kevin Hagy, B.S. UCSC; UCSC Dept. of MCD Biology Ph.D. program
Matthew Chung, B.S., UCSC; Research Assistant, Stanford University School of Medicine
Paul Wang, B.S., UCSC; Research Assistant, UCSF Center for Aging and Memory
Jessica Macias (NIH MARC Scholar), B.S. UCSC; CSUMB Dept. of Marine Science M.S. Program; SACNAS Administration