People

The Dickinson Lab strives to uphold the UC San Diego Principles of Community and the University of California’s initiative for diversity, equity, and inclusion. We support all people, no matter their race, ethnicity, cultural background, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, and political affiliations. We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to equality, justice, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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Alexandra Jazz Dickinson

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Jazz Dickinson received her PhD in chemistry from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She conducted her post-doctoral research in developmental plant biology with Prof. Philip Benfey at Duke University. She has also served as a visiting scientist at Stanford University and is a recipient of the Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, the Boka W. Hadzija Award for Distinguished University Service at UNC-CH, and the Ruth L. Kirschstein Graduate Fellowship Award. She joined the UCSD faculty in 2020 to pursue research in small molecule regulation of development.

Tao Zhang

POSDOCTORAL SCHOLAR

Tao is a postdoctoral scholar at UCSD interested in uncovering the small molecules that regulate Arabidopsis roots development.

Rupak Timilsina

POSDOCTORAL SCHOLAR

Rupak is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to understand the regulation of growth and development of root system architecture in plants.

Nathan Stutzman

PhD STUDENT

Nathan is a PhD student in the department of biological sciences at UC San Diego. Nathan is interested in uncovering the mechanisms of de novo root organogenesis in Arabidopsis as a response to wounding.

Andrea Sama

PhD STUDENT

Andrea is a PhD student in the Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. Andrea has a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Wellesley College. She is interested in understanding the mechanisms of root development, and is focusing on how environmental stress impacts metabolite profiles in Maize and Arabidopsis roots.

Abigail Tripka

PhD STUDENT

Abby is a Chemistry PhD student in the chemistry and biochemistry department at UC San Diego. Abby is working to uncover the chemical regulators controlling plant root development.

Gabrielle Meza

PhD STUDENT

Gabrielle is a PhD student in the Biological Sciences department at UC San Diego. She received her B.S in Genetics and Plant Biology from UC Berkeley in 2020. Gabrielle is utilizing algae to uncover the biosynthesis and regulation of the small molecule, retinal, within plants to better understand the growth and development of root systems in plants.

Jesus Peng

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Jesus is a fourth year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at UC San Diego. Jesus is interested in the biochemical mechanisms and genetics involved in plant development and looks to continue pursuing a career in research.

Katreena Gundran

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Katreena is a fourth year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in General Biology at UC San Diego. She is interested in how changing environments can affect root stem cell development. Katreena plans to pursue a career in research or education focusing on habitat conservation.

Jihyeon Lee

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Jihyeon is a second-year undergraduate student with B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She is interested in the effects of different drugs on plant root stem cells. Jihyeon plans to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical development industry.

Amy Takaya

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Amy is a fourth year undergraduate student pursing a bachelors in Human Biology. She is interested in how small molecules affect stem cell development and regeneration. Amy plans to continue to research as she pursues a career in dentistry.

Samantha Dyer

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Samantha is an undergraduate transfer student pursuing her bachelors degree in General Biology at UC San Diego. She is interested in the root development of native California plants during prolonged periods of drought. Samantha plans on pursing a career in higher education to continue sharing her passion for conservation ecology with future generations.

Sinead Cahill

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

I’m a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in biochemistry at UC San Diego. I’m interested in studying how abiotic stressors can affect plant stem cell and root growth. I plan on pursuing a higher education and continuing to do research after graduation.

Photos by @joy_portinga