Diego Calderon

Principal Investigator

Diego received his B.A. from Wesleyan University and subsequently conducted his Ph.D. research on the genetics underlying complex traits at Stanford University. Intrigued by massively parallel molecular biology, he then went on to become a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington, where he led projects involving the computational analysis of large-scale single-cell data and developed new massively parallel reporter assays to investigate gene regulation. In 2024, Diego joined UCSF as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences.

Outside of lab, Diego can be found jogging and engrossed in his latest audiobook, while liberally sending kudos on Strava. Currently, he just started listening to ‘Oathbringer’, part of Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive series. He’s also nearly done reading ‘At the Helm’, and has finally started the first few pages of ‘The Eight Day of Creation’.

Chetan Aditya

Postdoc

I am an interdisciplinary researcher trained in bioinformatics, data analysis and synthetic biology with extensive experience in genetic engineering, bioproduction, immunology and cancer. I am fascinated by biological transitions and want to understand how these changes come about from a mechanistic standpoint. In this pursuit, I have developed optogenetic controllers that dictate cell fate, biosensors that report on dynamics of signaling activity and most recently, in the Calderon lab, I am invested in developing methodologies that will allow us to monitor transcriptomic changes during biological transitions.

My leisures include reading contemporary fiction, writing poetry and devouring cinema.

Kina Atkin-Yamaguchi

Lab Manager

I am the Lab Manager at the Calderon Lab and a Junior Specialist in the PROPEL Program at UCSF. My responsibilities in the lab include general lab operations and research. I obtained my General Biology (B.S.) Degree from the University of Washington in 2024 and worked as a Laboratory Technician at the Shendure Lab in the Department of Genome Sciences during my time there. I conducted plant genetics research at Hokkaido University in the Miwa Lab as a Special Auditor in the Department of Biology. My goal is to attend graduate school to obtain a PhD in a field related to genetics and genomics.

In my free time, I love to run, hike, read at coffee shops, bake, and spend time with my friends and family. My favorite place to visit is Japan!

Isobel Beasley

Rotation student (BMI) Spring 2025

I am a Biological and Medical Informatics PhD student at UCSF. Broadly speaking, I’m interested in advancing equitable genetics research with interdisciplinary approaches. My current rotation project is a collaboration between the Calderon and Andrews labs, aiming to better understand the cell types and traits important in Alzheimer’s development.

Outside the lab, I maintain a science blog sharing code snippets, teaching resources, and research reflections. In my free time, I love photographing and drawing wildlife.

Madeline Chertkow

PhD student (BioE)

I am a Ph.D. student in the Bioengineering joint program between UC Berkeley and UCSF. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics from UCSC. During my time at UCSC, I conducted research in Dr. Daniel Kim’s lab to advance liquid biopsy technology via the detection of cfRNA found in extracellular vesicles released by solid tumors expressing a mutant form of KRAS. In 2023, I was a UCSF SRTP intern where I investigated the molecular effects autophagy inhibitors have on the metastatic characteristics of triple negative breast cancer in Dr. Jayanta Debnath’s lab. As a first-generation student, I am open as a resource to other first-gen students to aid them in successfully navigating the STEM field. When I’m not talking about science, I enjoy trying new food, reading, cooking, and exploring the city.

Join our team!

The lab is looking to recruit talented inviduals interested in joining our science community. If the following roles don’t apply to you, and you’re still interested in joining, feel free to reach out and we’ll figure something out.

Graduate students. Applicants should be accepted through one of UCSF’s graduate programs. Still, I encourage you to reach out before submitting an application because I can I advise you on what might be the most relevant program. Potential rotation students should contact Diego to discuss. A typical ~10 week rotation, will include:

• A rotation project that we collaboratively choose to blend your interests with the interests of the lab, along with mentor availability.
• An initial short lab meeting (5 min) to introduce yourself and your rotation project.
• Scheduled weekly meetings with Diego to update him on your research and career.
• A final lab meeting presentation.

Postdocs. Reach out to Diego with a bit about yourself and your science interests, along with a CV or resume. Promising postdoc candidates will be expected to provide contact information for references. We are happy to submit any paperwork on behalf of the lab for any postdoctoral fellowships.

Environment. Our lab aims to be composed of a unique mix of smart, interactive people from a wide range of personal backgrounds and scientific backgrounds, including genetics/genomics, biology, and quantitative fields like CS/math/stats. My goal is that everyone should have the resources and support that they need to be successful.