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G Biotechnology  

Faculty

Tel:(415) 422-5481
jadever@usfca.edu

Jennifer Dever

Associate Professor

Professor Dever studies the genetics of threatened and/or endangered populations of vertebrates, including crocodiles and foothill yellowlegged frogs. She employs molecular markers to assess the genetic structure of these populations, with the goal of species conservation.

Tel:(415) 422-4478
cklai2@usfca.edu

Cary Lai

Assistant Professor

As a graduate student, Professor Lai performed a biochemical and structural analysis of the enzyme telomerase. Following graduate school, he worked in early-stage research at Genentech where he investigated the Hedgehog signing pathway and its role in tumorigenesis. Most recently, Prof. Lai served as the head of commercial operations at the biotechnology start-up company LakePharma.

Tel:(415) 422-5470
jspencer@usfca.edu

Juliet Spencer

Associate Professor

Prof. Spencer studies herpesviruses and the mechanisms these viruses employ to evade host defenses and establish lifelong latency. The current emphasis is investigating the function of viral cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors encoded by human cytomegalovirus.

Tel:(415) 422-6820
ctzagarakis@usfca.edu

Christina Tzagarakis-Foster

Associate Professor

Prof. Tzagarakis-Foster studies the transcription factor, DAX-1, which is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor family and is linked to the human disease X-linked Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita (AHC). Specifically, her research explores the role of DAX-1 in human development as well its involvement in the initiation of breast cancer.