People | Panda Lab - Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Principal Investigator

Satchin Panda

Satchin Panda, a professor in the Regulatory Biology Laboratory, is interested in understanding the molecular mechanism of the biological clock in a mouse model system. The biological clock or circadian oscillator in most organisms coordinates behavior and physiology with the natural light-dark cycle. His laboratory uses genetic, genomics and biochemical approaches to identify genes under circadian regulation in different organs and to understand the mechanism of such regulation. His lab also tries to characterize the mechanism by which the circadian oscillator is synchronized to the natural light-dark condition. Both classical rod/cone photoreceptors and a newly identified ocular photopigment melanopsin participate in photoentrainment of the clock. Research in his lab is geared towards identifying molecular components and events critical for transmitting light information from the eye to the master oscillator in the brain.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Hugo Calligaro

I received my PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Lyon in 2018. I joined Dr Panda’s team to study the opsins involved in the regulation of the circadian system by using a combination of approaches including histology, electrophysiology and sequencing.

Shaunak Deota

I received my PhD in Biochemistry in early 2019 from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, India. I joined the Panda lab to study the molecular physiology of Time restricted feeding (TRF). Outside the lab, I love traveling, cooking and watching science fiction series/movies.

Michael Lam

I am awe-struck by how many chronic diseases are intimately related to daily behaviors. I joined this lab because Dr. Panda et al. use state-of-the-art experimental techniques and interesting perspectives to examine how physiology adapts to simple behavioral changes (for better or for worse). I did my M.D./Ph.D. training at UC San Diego, focusing on the mechanism of transcriptional regulation on inflammatory responses. Clinically, I specialize in Internal Medicine with subspecialty training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. I take care of many patients in the ICU with sepsis. My goal is to understand how sleep disruption (almost a ubiquitous experience for ICU patients) affects immune response. I enjoy the multidisciplinary environment in the lab, allowing me to integrate perspectives from circadian biology, molecular biology, and behavioral physiology with my scientific passion.

Geraldine Maier

I joined the Panda lab at the end of 2020. Here I am part of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, studying the role of the circadian clock in performance, injury prevention, and recovery. My interest in this topic started during my PhD in Biomedical Research at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland, where I studied the interaction between the skeletal muscle, the circadian clock, and exercise.

Laura Van Rosmalen

I received my PhD in Neuroscience in September 2021 from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. My research focused on photoperiodism and seasonality. I joined the Panda lab as a postdoctoral fellow in October 2021, to study the underlying mechanisms driving the timing of daily activity (i.e., diurnality or nocturnality) related to energy balance. When I’m not in the lab, I go hiking, camping or play cello.

Staff Researcher / Scientist

Hong Long

Like research, I believe that little fruit flies can teach us so many things about human brain.

Emily Manoogian

I received my PhD in Neuroscience and Behavior in 2015 from the UMass Amherst. My research focused on gaining an understanding of the behavioral, neurobiological, and genetic bases of the circadian mutant hamster known as duper. In early 2016, I joined the Panda lab to apply my knowledge of chronobiology to human translation studies. I am now the head of human research in the Panda lab, with a focus on Time-Restricted Feeding. Outside of lab, I love to travel, go the beach, sketch/paint, and tap dance!

Oleg Yarishkin

I joined Dr. Panda’s Lab in 2022 as a Research Scientist. I am interested in molecular and cellular mechanisms coupling the activity of ion channels to a variety of intracellular signaling pathways in health and disease. Outside the lab I enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, and taking photos.

Xiaoyan Zhu

I joined the Panda lab about 3 years ago. I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying intricate interactions between circadian rhythm and other pathways in metabolism and cancer in cell and tissue-specific manner. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and watching movies.

Staff

Hiep Le

I joined Dr. Panda’s lab in 2005 as a research assistant. Since then I’ve worked with Xenopus laevis, Drosophila melanogaster and Mus musculus to help elucidate how the circadian clock works and what it affects. When I’m not in the lab, I’m usually taking photos or eating, or combining both and taking photos of the food I eat.

Monica O’Neal

I’m broadly interested in physical and mental health from a preventive model. After graduating from UCSD in 2021, I joined the Panda lab to assist with our ongoing clinical trials. I spend my free time weightlifting, learning jiu-jitsu, playing beach volleyball, and listening to podcasts.

Ramesh Ramasamy

I joined Dr. Panda’s lab in early 2021 as a data scientist. I am mainly involved in integrating multi-omics data to understand regulatory elements controlling gene expression in mammals. Apart from research, I enjoy stargazing, outdoor biking, and eating what I cook.

Shweta Varshney

I joined Dr. Panda’s lab in 2020. I assist in learning circadian rhythm and factors influencing it using fruit fly as animal model. Outside the lab I love to spend time with my family and trying & learning new things.

Brian Khov

I joined the Panda lab as a volunteer in December 2018. Over time, I have come to learn so much about circadian rhythms, and now I work extensively on understanding the circadian basis of Alzheimer’s disease at an ultrastructural level. Outside of my projects, I like to spend my time cooking or playing chess.

Kyla Laing

I joined the Panda Lab as a volunteer during my second year of undergrad at UCSD and now working full-time since graduating in 2022. I support our ongoing clinical trials focused on time-restricted eating as a lifestyle intervention to improve health. I aspire to attend medical school in the future and hope to apply the principles I am learning during my time here as a future physician. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, weightlifting, and yoga.

Mason Kralovec

I joined the Panda lab in the summer of 2022 after graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.S. in Neuroscience. I am interested in better defining how time-restricted eating can influence the onset and manifestations of age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, specifically within the Drosophila melanogaster model. Outside the lab, you can find me hiking, lifting weights, or watching soccer.

Graduate Student

Terry Lin

I joined the Panda lab as a volunteer in my third year of undergrad at UCSD and have continued on as a graduate student. My interests are of mice and metabolism. My latest goal is to learn more about circadian regulation in disease development. And drink more water.

Panda lab alumni

Amir Zarrinpar

Assistant Professor
(UCSD)

Shubhroz Gill

Postdoctoral Fellow
(Broad Institute)

Phuong Miu

Research Technician
(UCSD)

Sandhya Pulivarthy

Research Fellow
(Massachusetts General Hospital)

Quansheng Zhu

Assistant Researcher
(UCLA MTRC)

Sowmya Yelamanchili

Assistant Professor
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Kacee Jones

Lab Coordinator
(KU Medical Center)

Christopher Vollmers

Assistant Professor
(UC Santa Cruz)

Chrissta Maracle

Postdoctoral Fellow
(Leiden University)

Luciano DiTacchio

Assistant Professor
(KU Medical Center)

Sheena Keding

CSU Fresno

Amandine Chaix

Assistant Professor
University of Utah

Ludovic Mure

Senior Researcher
University of Bern

Masatoshi Hirayama

Assistant Professor
Keio University School of Medicine

Cindy Liu

MD/PhD
(UCSD)

Luis Rios

Graduate Student
(Stanford)

Gabriele Sulli

Assistant Professor
Scintillon Institute

Megumi Hatori

Associate Professor
Keio University

Catherine Lopez

Kousha Changizi

Graduate Student
(UCI)