Austin Esparza founded the CSULB Biotechnology Club to build workforce-development infrastructure for students pursuing biotech careers, including an industry-facing mentorship network and structured resources for internship and career preparation.

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Austin is a molecular biology researcher with a decade of experience across clinical diagnostics, GMP-regulated pharmaceutical operations, and genomics. He began in regulated lab environments and infectious disease testing, then moved into sequencing and long-read microbial work in industry, and is now applying those skills to cancer genomics and tumor biology.

He is now working as a Research Associate in Dr. Ling Gao’s Merkel cell carcinoma lab at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center. The Gao Lab research environment investigates mechanisms of treatment resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and therapeutic target discovery in rare neuroendocrine skin cancers.​

Ayla Manughian‑Peter is a scientist in Immunology Research and Development at Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological sciences at CSULB, along with a professional biotechnology certificate. Ayla has remained actively involved with the CSULB community as a mentor and speaker, offering students practical guidance on careers in biotech, research, and translational medicine.

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Her early work focused on the role of complement proteins in macrophage-driven inflammation. She later joined the John Wayne Cancer Institute, where she contributed to high-impact cancer epigenetics studies, including work on methylation-based classifiers for brain metastases and breast cancer. Today, she applies her training in immunology and molecular biology to therapeutic discovery, supporting drug development efforts for immune-mediated diseases.

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Through each stage of her career, Ayla has built a reputation for making complex scientific and professional paths more accessible. Her mentorship is grounded in firsthand experience across academic labs, translational research, and pharmaceutical R&D, giving students a clear, honest view of how to move forward in the life sciences.

Edurne Gonzalez de la Vega is a highly accomplished protein scientist with over 5 years of specialized experience in biotherapeutic development and protein purification. Currently serving as a Process Development Specialist at Codexis, she has demonstrated exceptional expertise in the purification of over 300 protein fusion therapeutics, with a particular focus on advancing novel biologics from discovery through optimization.

In her previous role at Evercrisp, Edurne has led groundbreaking work in Cas9 and mini-protein fusion development, engineering robust purification schemes that achieved a remarkable >15x increase in yield while maintaining consistently low endotoxin levels. Her technical mastery spans the full spectrum of protein sciences, including advanced purification techniques (AKTA FPLC, affinity chromatography, ion exchange), comprehensive characterization methods (BLI, DSF, DLS, HPLC), and bioprocess engineering using bioreactor systems.

Edurne's academic foundation includes an M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she doubled protein yields in natural rubber protein research, and she is currently pursuing a Master of Molecular Science and Software Engineering at UC Berkeley. Her proven track record of cross-functional collaboration, regulatory compliance expertise (GLP, FDA), and commitment to advancing biotherapeutic discovery makes her a valuable leader in the biotechnology industry.

Based in South San Francisco, Edurne combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership skills, consistently delivering high-quality results in fast-paced, innovation-driven environments.

Alp Tahincioglu is an incoming master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at UC Irvine and a former NIH BUILD Scholar at CSULB. While at CSULB, he conducted research in Dr. Perla Ayala’s biomedical engineering lab, focusing on tissue regeneration and therapeutic biomaterials. He also completed a summer research experience at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he co-authored a publication on implant coatings in Materials. Alp served as President of the Undergraduate Research Association, helping students navigate research opportunities and professional development.

Calvin Chiu is a NIH BUILD Fellow and award-winning psychology and public health student at CSULB, and is also recognized as a 2025 Outstanding Baccalaureate in the Department of Psychology. He brings advanced research experience in cognitive neuroscience, including psychophysiological assessment, neuroplasticity, and working memory in deaf populations.

Calvin has held leadership roles across three research labs and has served as President of the Psychology Student Association, where he directed academic programming and departmental events, including the PSYCH Day Research Competition.

With a track record of initiative, technical skill, and peer mentorship, Calvin is preparing to pursue a PhD in cognitive neuroscience with a focus on cognitive aging and memory.

Manuel Marroquin is currently working as a nutrition support leader at City of Hope. He is a former NIH BUILD Fellow and research assistant at CSULB, who studies Nutrition and Dietetics with a focus on public health. He is passionate about community nutrition, food justice, and culturally responsive health education.

Manny has led community-based nutrition programs through the Latino Center’s Harvesting Healthy Habits initiative and has presented his work at national conferences including ABRCMS, FNCE, and HACU. He also serves as a CANDAC Student Liaison and was named a HACU Leader-in-Residence for 2024–25.

Manny is pursuing a career as a Registered Dietitian with plans to work at the intersection of nutrition, health equity, and policy.

Kerollos Roufael is a Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology graduate from CSULB and is currently a Stem Cell Bridges Intern at City of Hope.

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Kerollos started his research in the Shark lab with the Marine Biology Department, assisting the graduate students in their field trips and data collection. He then shifted his research interest to work on atherosclerosis disease and investigate the role of C1q protein on macrophages in the disease.

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He is also a former NIH BUILD Scholar, where he had the opportunity to conduct summer research experience at the University of Southern California (USC), working on dental research and tissue regeneration.

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After his graduation, he was able to join a CIRM funded research at Cedars- Sinai Biomanufacturing Center, where he worked on generating a hypoimmunogenic cell line using induced pluripotent stem cells for therapeutics purposes.

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Currently, he is part of the CIRM (Biotechnology Program), interning at City of Hope, studying Leukemogenesis of different types of Leukemia.

Katelyn Nuñez is a project and technical writing specialist with nearly a decade of experience across GMP biomanufacturing, quality systems, and documentation leadership in the life sciences.

She holds a biology degree from Boston University and began her career in quality control at Edwards Lifesciences before advancing through operational and manufacturing roles at Abzena, Sorrento Therapeutics, and PacBio. At each stage, she drove measurable improvements in efficiency, documentation workflows, and production planning.

As a technical writer at PacBio, she led the implementation of an electronic document management system, streamlining the control of more than 1,000 regulatory and operational documents and improving cross-team alignment. Katelyn has built a career at the intersection of science, process optimization, and communication. She continues to advocate for career paths beyond the bench and brings a perspective grounded in mentorship, rigor, and systems thinking.

Gabriel Golez is a biotech professional and MBA candidate at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, with a background spanning product strategy, innovation, and R&D scale-up.

He earned his BS in Chemistry and MS in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he also mentored students through the Nevada Research Award program. Gabe began his industry career at Pivot Bio, where he spent over four years advancing from early-stage R&D to senior roles in new product development and robotics. His work focused on automating and scaling microbial research. He later transitioned into strategy-focused positions, contributing to go-to-market planning at Microsoft and driving healthcare innovation at CVS Health.

Gabe combines technical depth with business leadership across life sciences, digital health, and product-driven teams.

Huaiyu Xie is a product manager and senior research associate at Zymo Research, where she leads development and commercialization efforts for epigenetic assays, including an early-stage bladder cancer screening tool.

With a background in molecular biology and a BS in Biology from UC Irvine, Huaiyu began her career in R&D focused on in-vitro diagnostics before transitioning into cross-functional product leadership. She has extensive experience in protocol development, technical documentation, and process training, and plays a key role in bridging research, manufacturing, and quality teams.

Known for her precision and collaborative leadership style, Huaiyu exemplifies early career success in biotech without a graduate degree and brings valuable insight into navigating R&D and product strategy roles in competitive, innovation-driven environments.

Carmela Hailey is a Research Associate III at Vaxart, a San Francisco–based biotechnology company developing oral vaccines. She earned both her B.S. and M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she gained diverse research experience in plant pathology, microbiology, and behavioral genetics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as a laboratory technician at the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, contributing to statewide diagnostic and sequencing efforts.

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Since joining Vaxart in 2022, Carmela has advanced from Research Associate II to III, designing and executing immunological assays, leading clinical endpoint testing, and supporting vaccine development projects. She is especially interested in bridging academic training with applied industry research, and she emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning as keys to success in biotech.

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As a mentor, Carmela offers students guidance on navigating the job market, preparing for interviews, and adjusting to new scientific roles without prior background. She is also open to connecting with students on LinkedIn.

Daniel S. Erdody is a graduate student in the Master of Science program in Microbiology at CSULB, under the direction of Dr. Berlemont, where he specializes in bioinformatics, computational biology, and enzymology. His research, in the Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics lab, focuses on developing computational tools and frameworks to better understand the functional diversity of microbial enzymes and their roles in environmental processes and biotechnology.

During his graduate studies at CSULB, Daniel has demonstrated exceptional scientific productivity and innovation. He is the first author of a peer-reviewed publication in Nature Scientific Reports describing ez-CAZy, a bioinformatics reference database designed to link glycoside hydrolase sequences to enzymatic activity. This publicly accessible resource helps scientists accurately predict enzyme functions across microbial communities and supports research in microbial ecology, carbon cycling, and biofuel biotechnology.

Building on this work, Daniel is also the lead author of a second manuscript currently under revision in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, where he proposes standardized strategies and curated datasets to improve functional annotation of carbohydrate-active enzymes. Together, these studies contribute a forward-thinking framework for computational enzymology and provide valuable tools for researchers working in industrial biotechnology and environmental microbiology.

Daniel has actively shared his research with the scientific community through numerous presentations at national and international conferences, including the Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes Gordon Research Conference, the International Precision Medicine TRI-CON meeting, and the CSU Biotechnology Symposium. He has also contributed to collaborative research as a visiting researcher at UCLA, where he worked on integrating single-cell proteomics and neural network modeling to advance enzyme discovery for biofuel applications.

Beyond his research accomplishments, Daniel is known for his collaborative spirit and mentorship within the lab, where he frequently supports fellow students with computational modeling, data analysis, and scientific visualization. His academic excellence has been recognized through several competitive awards, including The 2026 Outstanding Graduate Student in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Award, The 2026 Outstanding Thesis in Biological Sciences, The D.E. Gress Endowed Summer Research Fellowship (2025), and the Dr. Vern Eveland Memorial Award (2025).

In Fall 2026, Daniel will continue his academic journey as a PhD student in the Mathematical, Computational, and Systems Biology program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he plans to further develop computational approaches to understand enzyme function and microbial metabolism. His long-term goal is to advance computational biotechnology by integrating bioinformatics, machine learning, and systems biology to accelerate discovery in sustainable bioenergy and environmental microbiology.

Melanie Flores is a Medical Science Liaison at Supernus Pharmaceuticals, specializing in postpartum depression.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Nevada, Reno, and her Doctor of Pharmacy from Oregon State University in 2023.

In 2024, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Affairs–Psychiatry with AbbVie in partnership with the University of Southern California.

Based in Brooklyn, NY, she frequently travels to psychiatry and women’s health congresses. Passionate about advancing health equity for underserved populations, Melanie is also committed to mentoring students with advanced scientific degrees, helping them advocate for themselves and align their careers with their passions in research and healthcare.

Ernesto Leon earned his bachelor’s degree in molecular cell biology and physiology from CSULB, along with a biotechnology certificate via the CSULB-CIRM stem cell internship. During his time at CSULB, Ernesto was a part of the NIH-RISE program and worked under Dr. Deborah Fraser researching the role of the complement protein C1q in atherosclerosis. After CSULB, he worked at Cedars-Sinai as a CIRM intern creating fluorescent reporter iPSC lines and researching differentiation methods of iPSC into lung endoderm for disease modeling.

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Ernesto then moved across the country to pursue and eventually receive his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His thesis focused on the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for solid tumors with an emphasis on translational feasibility — research that directly informs his scientific understanding of the therapies he supports in his current work. 

Ernesto has built his career at the intersection of science, regulatory affairs, and scientific communication.

His experiences span advertising and promotions, regulatory operations, labeling strategy, and clinical regulatory support in early product development and post-marketing support for various approved CAR T therapies. He currently works in regulatory affairs advertising and promotions within the CAR T-cell therapy space.

The CSULB Biotech Club uses a mentor constellation model, where leadership and mentorship are deeply connected. Our officer team is not only responsible for organizing events and programs, but also serves as active mentors who support students through academic, research, and professional development milestones.

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This team brings together a wide range of backgrounds, career goals, and experiences. Some are pursuing biotech, others are exploring medicine, graduate school, or science communication. What unites them is a shared focus on helping students grow. Their work gives students an early advantage by making the unspoken parts of research, biotech, and professional development more visible, and by helping peers look beyond their degree toward what comes next.