Welcome to our laboratory. We are located in Hubbs Hall, situated on the Pacific Ocean with a great view of the Scripps Pier and the waves.

Senior Staff:

• Michael Latz, Principal Investigator
• Dimitri Deheyn, Project Scientist. Ph.D. Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
  Research: Ecotoxicology; bioluminescence assays in ecotoxicology; chemistry of bioluminescence and fluorescence

• Renu Rawat. Postdoctoral Researcher. Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, India.
  Research: Characterization of novel fluorescent and bioluminescent compounds

Graduate Students:

• Aaron Hartmann. Ph.D. student. B.S. in Biology, University of Vermont.
  Research: Biogeochemistry of corals

• Kelly Jin. M.S. student. B.S. in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, UCSD.
  Research: Calcium regulation in the signaling pathway for dinoflagellate bioluminescence

Research Staff:

• Magali Porrachia. Ecotoxicology, bioluminescence.

Adjunct Members:

• Jim Rohr, Space and Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego. Ph.D. in Fluid Mechanics, UC San Diego.
  Research: Flow stimulation of bioluminescence

• John Frangos, La Jolla Bioengineering Institute. Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Rice University.
  Research: Effect of mechanical forces on mammalian cells.

• Erika Blumenfeld, Artist in Residence. Internationally exhibiting artist and Guggenheim Fellow with a BFA in Photography from Parsons The New School of Design.
  Work on bioluminescence: "Living Light No.1" (View work #15).

Postdoctoral Researchers:

• Erin Bomati, 2008-2009. Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, UCSD. Research: Characterization of green fluorescence protein in the urochordate amphioxus. Currently Scientist at a biotechnology company in San Diego.

• Dimitri Deheyn, 1996-2004. Ph.D. Free University of Brussels, Belgium. Research: Bioluminescence assays in ecotoxicology. Currently Project Scientist at Scripps.

• Lilian Busse, 2003-2004. Ph.D. Technical University of Berlin, Germany. Research: Long time scale changes in phytoplankton biodiversity. Currently a member of the San Diego Water Board.

• Sara Lindsay, 1996-1998. Ph.D. in Ecology, University of South Carolina, Columbia. Research: Visual basis of luminescent camouflage behavior in a midwater shrimp. Currently Associate Professor of Marine Science at the University of Maine, Orono.

Graduate Students:

• Melissa Roth. Ph.D. 2010. Research: Coral fluorescence and its potential as an indicator of coral health. Currently a postdoctoral scientist at University of California Berkeley.

• Elisa Maldonado. Ph.D. 2009. Research: Effect of environmental conditions on grazing and growth of echinoderm larvae. Currently a postdoctoral scientist at Harvard University.

• Kimberly Hoyt. M.S. 2009. Research: Metal contamination of marsh plants in San Diego County.

• Kim Thamatrakoln. Ph.D. 2006. Silicon transporter proteins in diatoms. Currently a postdoctoral scientist at Rutgers University.

• Peter von Dassow. Ph.D. 2003. Research: Regulation of bioluminescence in the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum. Currently a scientist at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.

• Andrew Juhl. Ph.D. 2000. Effect of fluid shear on dinoflagellate growth, physiology and toxin content. Currently a Research Scientist at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University.

• Jennifer Nauen. Ph.D. 1998. Biomechanics of two aquatic defense systems. Currently a preceptor at Harvard University.

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