MEMBERS

Principal Investigators

Elizabeth Tarling, PhD

I am a Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology at UCLA. I did my undergraduate and graduate training at the University of Nottingham, in the UK. In 2008 I moved to UCLA, and joined the laboratory of Dr. Peter Edwards, where my postdoctoral research was focused on investigating the role of the ATP Binding Cassette Transporter ABCG1 in lipid metabolism, inflammation, atherosclerosis and innate immunity. I joined the faculty in the Division of Cardiology at UCLA in 2013, reaching the rank of Professor in 2024. My research interests are understanding and identifying mechanisms that control cellular and whole body cholesterol homeostasis, with a focus on pulmonary lipid homeostasis, immunity and disease. I love running, reading, wine tasting, and spending time with my family in the mountains or at the beach.

Thomas Vallim, PhD

I am a Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry and in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology at UCLA. I was born in Brazil and emigrated to England as a teenager, where I received both my M.Sci and Ph.D from the University of Nottingham. In 2008, I came to UCLA for my post-doctoral studies in Peter Edwards' lab. I was promoted to Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology at UCLA in 2013, and in 2016, I joined the Department of Biological Chemistry where I became full Professor in 2026. My research interests are in identifying novel molecular regulators of pathways that control lipid metabolism in health and disease. In my spare time, I love to hang out with my family, traveling and watching football (or soccer, as we call it here in the US!)

A European woman aged 40–50 with fair skin and brown hair parted in the middle and tied back. She has green eyes, well-shaped eyebrows, and a gentle smile. She wears a gray, long-sleeved open-front jacket over a black shirt, along with small gold earrings and a matching necklace. She faces forward, with a brownish-gray staircase and a white building with blue doors in the background.

Elizabeth Tarling, PhD

PI | Professor

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A Latino man in his mid-40s with fair skin and short, neatly side-parted hair styled to the right. He has hazel eyes, eyebrows matching his hair color, and a clean-shaven beard. He wears rectangular metal-framed eyeglasses and a blue button-up shirt with white accents layered under a bluish-purple sweater with burgundy stripes. He is facing forward against a blurred background showing a brownish-gray staircase with a railing, and at the top, a property with white walls.

Thomas Vallim, PhD

PI | Professor

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All over the world!

Assistant Project Scientists

Postdoctoral Scholars

PhD Graduate Students

Undergraduate Students

Staff Research Associates

Lab Alumni

Assistant Project Scientists

Kelsey Jarrett, PhD

A fair-skinned woman in her 30s with wavy brown hair, blue eyes, and square glasses with a wide smile. She wears a blue blouse and a white patterned scarf, sitting in front of a lawn with trees and a white wall.

she/her/hers

I joined the lab in December 2018, after completing a Ph.D. in Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. My projects use liver-directed genome editing to broaden our understanding of genes involved in bile acid synthesis and lipid metabolism. I am currently using these studies to pursue my interests in male-female differences in cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. When I'm not working on something science-related, I can be found reading, baking far too many treats, or going for walks or runs to explore the city.

Madelaine (Maddy) Brearley-Sholto, PhD

A British woman in her early 30s with medium-toned skin, wavy brown hair above shoulder length, and hazel eyes smiles calmly. She wears dark square glasses and a pastel pink blouse, standing with her arms crossed behind her body. In the background, a staircase with a railing leads to a property featuring white walls and blue doors.

she/her/hers

I joined the Tarling-Vallim lab in November 2019, after carrying out my BSc and PhD at the University of Nottingham. My current research involves investigating novel regulatory targets of bile acid and lipid metabolism by utilizing omics technology and bioinformatics analysis. In my free time I really enjoy going on hikes, as well as finding new foody and craft beer places to try.

Postdoctoral Scholars

Heidi Schmidt, PhD

A fair-skinned American woman in her early 30s with blonde hair and blue eyes, smiling openly. She wears a dark brown V-neck sweater with a white trim and a necklace with a rock balancing pendant, standing in front of a white wall.

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Before joining the Tarling-Vallim lab in February 2022, I completed my BSE. in Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University and my PhD in Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh in the lab of Dr. Adam Straub. In the Tarling-Vallim lab I am combining my previous research experiences in obesity and vascular biology to study the post-transcriptional regulation of metabolic genes in the liver by the ZFP36 family of RNA binding proteins. In my free time, I love exploring LA, going for hikes, and trying new foods!

Alvin Chan, MD, PhD

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As a pediatric gastroenterologist, I am interested in the regulatory role of bile acids in health and disease. My work leverages in vivo and molecular approaches to understand how changes in bile acid homeostasis shape intestinal lipid absorption and systemic metabolism. Prior to joining the lab in 2020, I earned my B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley; M.P.H. from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and M.D. from the University of California, Irvine, where I was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. I then completed my pediatric residency and gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA. With support from the UCLA Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program, I pursued a Ph.D. in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology during fellowship, investigating the selectivity of bile acids in driving fatty acid absorption. Outside of work, I enjoy running and spending time with my wife (also a pediatrician and runner) and our two kids.

PhD Graduate Students

Rochelle Lai, RD

An Asian-American woman in her 20s-30s with fair to medium skin, dark brown eyes, and straight black to medium brown hair with light highlights. She smiles widely, wearing a dark blue V-neck blouse and a round earring, with a light-colored wall in the background.

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I am a registered dietitian (RD) by training, but am fascinated by nutrition & metabolism basic science. I received my undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley in 2017 and completed my master’s degree & dietetic internship at USC in 2019. Then, I worked at Stanford Medicine Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital as a clinical RD, specializing in liver & intestine transplant. In 2022, I started the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology PhD program at UCLA and joined the ETV lab in April 2023. In my spare time, I like to try new recipes and explore new places to eat.

Isaiah Little

A Filipino and white man in his mid to late 20s, with fair skin, short neatly brushed brown hair with a few strands falling onto his forehead, and brown eyes. He has well-groomed eyebrows and a broad smile with subtle dimples. He's wearing a light blue shirt, neatly buttoned with a tie, and is facing forward against a blue background.

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After receiving my B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and working as a staff research associate for two years at UCLA (Go Bruins!), I joined the lab in the summer of 2024 as a PhD student in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program (MBIDP) under Dr. Elizabeth Tarling. Broadly, I am interested in how lipid dysregulation modulates pulmonary immunology and fibrosis with a special interest in alveolar macrophages. Though a long-time serial hobbyist, I love to run, climb, cook, and homebrew mead and hard cider in my free time.

Jakeline Larios

A Latin-American woman in her 20s-30s with fair to medium skin, dark brown eyes, and straight brown hair. She smiles widely, wearing a dark black blouse and earrings, with a blue wall in the background.

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I am a first-generation Latina. I attended UCLA for undergrad and am now an MD-PhD student in the UCLA–Caltech MSTP at DGSOM, as well as a CDB student in the MBIDP home area. My research interests center on organelle crosstalk and metabolic regulation, focusing on how altered organelle function affects lipid handling and contributes to disease pathology. Clinically, I am exploring internal medicine as well as surgical interests. I am passionate about mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds and serve as an advisor in the Latinos in Surgery student organization.

Kiana Reynolds

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I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in 2022 studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. After 2 gap years, I joined UCLA as an MD-PhD student in the UCLA-Cal Tech MSTP. I officially joined the Tarling-Vallim Lab as a PhD student in 2026 in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program (MBIDP) in the Gene Regulation home area. Scientifically, I am interested in how epigenetics impacts lipid metabolism and contributes liver pathologies. Clinically, I hope to explore the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. I am very passionate about education and working with students from underrepresented backgrounds in order to make science and medicine more accessible and inclusive. In my free time, I like to exercise, cook, read, make pottery, explore Los Angeles, and spend time with my loved ones.

Staff Research Associates

Angela Cheng

An Asian/South American woman in her 30s with fair skin and dark brown hair parted in the middle and tied in a low ponytail. She has dark brown eyes and wears thin, round black-framed glasses. She is wearing a long-sleeved blue jacket with a front zipper, featuring the Tarling-Vallim lab logos, over a light-colored shirt. She faces forward, and in the background, there is a brownish-gray staircase with a railing leading to a property with white walls and doors and details.

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I was born and raised in Suriname, a country in South America. I came to the US to further my education and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2014. I joined the ETV lab that same year, and I have been at UCLA since then.

Michelle Steel

An American woman in her 40s with fair skin and short, softly layered blonde hair that creates the impression of a flowing look. She has blue eyes highlighted by subtle makeup, matching well-groomed eyebrows, and a radiant smile. She wears a denim jacket and stands in front of a brown, wood-textured background.

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I joined the Tarling-Vallim Lab in March 2020 after closing out the Arispe Lab at UCLA. I’m a registered veterinary technician by trade and have fewer letters behind my name than the rest of the lab, but what I lack in letters I makeup with experience. I started my career at UCLA in 2001 in DLAM as an animal health technician and know lots of tricks, but I am best known for my mouse skills and navigating through all of the compliance activities. When I’m not wrangling mice or tackling a protocol, you can find me spending time with my family, tending my garden, or playing with my horses.

Emily Naiman

An American woman in her 20s with fair skin and long, curly blonde hair that creates the impression of a flowing look. She has blue eyes highlighted by subtle makeup, matching well-groomed eyebrows, and a soft smile. She wears a black V-necked sweater and stands in front of a green, foresty background.

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Born and raised in Los Angeles, I attended UCLA, where I received my BA in Human Biology and Society with a minor in Biomedical Research. My undergraduate research, under the mentorship of the amazing Dr. Sydney Campbell, focused on understanding the impact of Vitamin C on regulating Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). After graduating, I joined the Tarling-Vallim Lab as a Research Assistant, where I run and maintain the LC-MS and perform bile acid extractions. Outside the lab, I love spending time with friends and family, hunting for secondhand finds, and staying involved in theatre in any way I can.

Kalyani Srikanth

she/her/hers

I joined ETV lab in 2023 and received my B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA in 2026, during which I studied how the ZFP36 family of RNA binding proteins regulate critical lipid metabolism genes. I have since joined ETV lab as a Research Associate and aspire to study metabolic dysfunction at the graduate level. In my free time, I enjoy going to the beach and cafe hopping around LA!

Join us

The Tarling-Vallim laboratory values the importance of scientific mentorship and training and investing in the next generation of scientists.

We are looking for highly motivated undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers to join our laboratory.

Interested in joining us?

Find out more

Undergraduate Students

Anisa Warshan

Brian Tsai

Grace duPont-Moore

Grace Driscoll

Jeremy Gringas

Kayla Park

Owen Traina

Mimi Kambayashi

Noah Ribet

Siddh Ranawat

Sunny Cai

William Martin

Miriam Almukhtar

Tyler Dy

Join us

The Tarling-Vallim laboratory values the importance of scientific mentorship and training and investing in the next generation of scientists.

We are looking for highly motivated undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers to join our laboratory.

Interested in joining us?

Find out more

Lab Alumni

Meet those who were part of our history

Andrew Lau

Undergraduate

Anne Iwata

Lab Assistant I

Anthony Suberski

Undergraduate

Bethan Clifford, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Chloe Anne Borjas

Undergraduate

Daniel Mahmoudi

Undergraduate

Elinor Lee, MD/PhD

PhD Graduate Student

Elizabeth Vanderwall

Lab Assistant I

Emily Smith (Peluso), PhD

PhD Graduate Student

Emma Horton

Undergraduate

Ethan Haque

Undergraduate

Gabriella Rubert, PhD

PhD Graduate Student

Jay Solanki

Undergraduate

Jenny Link, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Joan Cheng

Staff Research Assistant I

Kalyani Srikanth

Undergraduate

Leslie Sedgeman, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Li Huynh

Lab Assistant I

Lucia Arias

Undergraduate

Madeline Guajardo

Undergraduate

Manasvi Paudel

Undergraduate

Maria Taveras

Lab Assistant I

Meigan Wu

Undergraduate

Min Jin Kim

Undergraduate

Paola Martinez

Undergraduate

Pauline Morand

Staff Research
Assistant II

Precious Calderon

Undergraduate

Rachel Scott

Undergraduate

Rodrigo Baltazar-Nuñez

Undergraduate

Sophia Franco-Castillo

Lab Assistant I

Timothy Yu

Undergraduate

Tyler Laws

Summer Undergraduate

Vivian Iloabuchi

Summer Undergraduate