UCLA Microbio, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics

We are pleased to announce that the distinguished John W. Phillips Legacy Award has been granted to James Elsten-Brown. This distinguished award recognizes exceptional achievements in research, teaching, and mentoring.

Congratulations to MIMG Graduate Student Pablo Alvarez for winning 1st place in the 2025 UCLA Grad Slam! Couldn’t attend the 2025 UCLA Grad Slam Final? Watch it on YouTube(youtube.com/live/rUOBiED4H…). Photo credit: Rich Schmitt Photography. #UCLAGradSlam #GradSlam

MIMG Faculty member Dr. Anthony Covarrubias recently received a $2 million NIGMS Maximizing Investigator's Research Award (MIRA). Congratulations to Dr. Covarrubias, and best wishes for your continued success!

The MIMG Symposium is an end-of-quarter poster session exclusively for MIMG undergraduates. This event marks the culmination of two quarters in which students develop their scientific communication skills. Congratulations to all the undergraduates for finishing the year strong!

Congratulations to Dr. Donald Kohn for being awarded a $14.7 million CIRM grant to advance ADA-SCID gene therapy toward FDA approval (bit.ly/4fWZ6z6).

Check out this new publication (bit.ly/48j4SYW), in which the Covarrubias lab aims to offer insights into the important role of DNA damage and genetic influences on cellular senescence phenotypes.

We are currently seeking to hire an Assistant Teaching Professor for our department. To apply or view the job description in detail, please visit: recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF09894. Please share with your networks. #wearehiring #ucla

Congratulations to @sarakamalei from Dr. Mehdi Bouhaddou’s lab for being awarded the 2024 Gilliam Fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. This fellowship recognizes Sara’s outstanding research achievements, as well as her commitment to advancing equity and inclusion.

Congratulations to Devin Gibbs who was awarded the prestigious Warsaw Fellowship for the 2024-2025 academic year. This fellowship recognizes Devin's outstanding research achievements as a graduate student in our Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) program.

We are excited to announce that Joey Li from Dr. O’Sullivan’s Lab is the recipient of the 2024-2025 Mitsuo Takasugi Award! The funds will support Joey in attending this year’s 3rd International School on Advanced Immunology in Japan. Congratulations, Joey!

Congratulations to Dr. Miceli who was recently awarded the CIRM grant!

We are excited to announce the recipient of the 2024 Whitcome Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship: Sam Leistiko (Dr. Lena Pernas’ Lab). MIMG is thrilled to acknowledge Sam’s promising career and research. Congratulations, Sam!

Congratulations to MIMG graduate student Ivan A. Salladay-Perez who was awarded the 2023-2024 Suzanne Eaton, Ph.D. Memorial Prize. In September 2019, the Suzanne Eaton, Ph.D. Memorial Prize was established at UCLA. This prize honors the life and work of Dr. Suzanne Eaton.

We are thrilled to announce the recipient of the 2023-2024 Schering Graduate Student Award: Jonathan Jih (Dr. Hong Zhou's Lab)! MIMG is delighted to recognize Jonathan's promising career and research. Congratulations, Jonathan!

The recipient of the 2023-2024 Sydney Finegold Postdoctoral Award, valued at $10,000, is Dr. Yanruide (Charlie) Li from Dr. Lili Yang’s Lab! Congratulations on this significant accomplishment Dr. Li!

The MIMG Symposium is an end-of-quarter poster session exclusively for MIMG undergraduates. This event marks the culmination of two quarters of coursework during which students acquire scientific communication skills. Congratulations for wrapping up the year strong!

We are thrilled to announce that the distinguished John W. Phillips Legacy Award has been granted to Christopher Luthers this year. Christopher Luthers is a rising 5th year Molecular Biology PhD student in the lab of Dr. Donald Kohn of MIMG. Congratulations, Chris!

Fourth-year MIMG student Poom Yoodee, and co-owner of his family’s restaurant, juggles the demands of school and work to preserve his mother’s legacy. dailybruin.com/2024/05/20/coo… Photo credit and article by Alicia Carhee + Sam Mulick

Congratulations Dr. Yang!

MIMG Faculty member Lena Pernas has been selected as a 2024 Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease (PATH) awardee. Congratulations, Dr. Pernas!