People
My group brings together a talented and dedicated group of passionate students and researchers who bring together a combination of expertise in islet biology, electrophysiology, microscopy, gene editing, and computational biology. Together we unravel how pancreatic islets work, in order to devise therapeutic strategies to fix them when they break down in diabetes.
Principal Investigators
Dr. Mark O. Huising
Mark obtained his Masters degree in Biology at Wageningen University in The Netherlands. He went on to conduct his PhD research on the evolution of endocrine and immune systems at the the Radboud University Nijmegen, work for which he received the Zoology prize from the Royal Dutch Zoological Society. From here he went on to join the group of Wylie Vale at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California as a postdoctoral fellow. It was there that Mark started to work on the pancreas and laid the foundations for his current research program, which he moved to UC Davis in the fall of 2014. When not teaching or conducting research, he advocates for active mobility, electrification and other climate solutions. He also tries to find time for hikes or road trips with family or friends in beautiful California and beyond.
Graduate Students
Nathan Cook
Nathan is graduate student in the BMCDB PhD program at UC Davis. He graduated with a BS in bimolecular engineering from UC Santa Cruz, where he had the opportunity to study MAPK signaling's regulation of Nanog in mouse embryonic stem cells under Ali Shariati. The Huising Lab's research caught his eyes as an interesting intersection of his interest in cellular regulation and differentiation from his undergrad research and his long standing interest in beta cell biology and diabetes. His research now focuses on the functional heterogeneity mouse beta cells display, and differences in calcium behavior between different beta cell model systems. In his free time Nathan enjoys reading, fencing, and playing board games, especially with friends.
Catherine Dombroski
Catherine is a DVM/PhD student in the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology (MCIP) program at UC Davis. She graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and minor in Biomedical Research from UCLA where she had the opportunity to conduct research in Dr. Karen Reue's lab investigating the role of genetics on sex differences in obesity. She has always had an interest in the underlying mechanisms driving metabolic disease, which drove her to join the Huising lab where she could utilize her veterinary background to further understand islet biology. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and attending concerts.
Ryan Hart
Ryan is a graduate student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Ph.D. program at UC Davis. He graduated from Truman State University in 2011 with a B.S. in Biology, and A.T. Still University in 2013 with an M.S. in Biomedical Science. Prior to joining the Huising Lab, he studied actomyosin associated cytoskeletal forces in the lab of Dr. Indra Chandrasekar at the University of South Dakota. In his free time he enjoys exploring California with his wife Kimmy, his daughter Allie, and their dog Jethro.
Mohammad Pourhosseinzadeh
Mohammad graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is a current MD/PhD student. While a student at UC Davis, he gained an interest in research studying meiotic recombination in yeast. His interest in research and its applications in medicine drove him to join the Huising lab. In his free time he enjoys watching Netflix and reading.
Max Shin
Max is investigating how pancreatic β-cells respond to amino acids, focusing on the differences observed between human and mouse islets. While glucose is widely recognized as the primary driver of insulin release, emerging evidence suggests that specific amino acids can strongly activate human β-cells in ways not fully captured in rodent models. His work aims to define mechanisms underlying amino acid–stimulated β-cell activation and to identify factors that explain these species-specific differences to improve our understanding of how human β-cells integrate other nutrient signals.
Michelle Chan
Michelle is a graduate student in the BMCDB PhD program at UC Davis. She graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UC San Diego, where she had the opportunity to conduct research in labs at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Scripps Research, and UC San Diego School of Medicine. After graduation, she worked in the lab of Dr. Steve Finkbeiner at the Gladstone Institutes to investigate the molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Michelle's interest in investigating cell signaling drew her to the Huising lab for her doctoral work, and she is excited to learn more about islet biology. Aside from research, she likes to read, visit new coffee shops, and watch Netflix in her free time.
Dongrui Shi
Dongrui is a graduate student in the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology
(MCIP) program at UC Davis. He graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from
Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in China. His research in
undergraduate aimed to investigate the post-transcriptional regulation on gene
expression. With a strong interest in physiology, he made the decision to apply for
the graduate school to receive a higher level of training. During lab rotation, he was
attracted by the research and advanced techniques in the Huising Lab. His current
research aims to complete the mechanism of glucagon secretion. In his free time, he
enjoys watching movies and cooking.
Jon Vergara Ucin
Jon is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in Jens Juul Holst's group at the University of Copenhagen and is currently a visiting researcher in the Huising Lab. He obtained his MSc in Molecular Biomedicine from the University of Copenhagen, where he investigated the role of paracrine factors in regulating glucagon secretion. His current research focuses on how different nutrients regulate pancreatic hormone secretion. In his free time, Jon enjoys CrossFit and hiking.
Junior Specialist - Lab Manager
Rashita Chauhan
Rashita graduated from UC Davis in the spring of 2024 with a major in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and a minor in Political Science. She joined the Huising Lab as a Junior Specialist due to her interest in epigenetics and the role it can play in diseases. She is also interested in mapping on a cellular level using microscopic techniques. Outside of the lab, Rashita enjoys weightlifting, cooking, gaming and listening to electronic dance music!
Jordan Lee
Jordan joined the Huising lab in 2022 as an undergraduate and graduated from UC Davis in Spring 2024 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. She plans to continue building her interest in research as a Junior Specialist in the lab and expand her knowledge of human physiology and microscopy. In her free time, Jordan likes to draw, read, and drink sprite.
Undergraduate Researchers
Jacob Boi
Jacob is a third-year Cell Biology student. As someone who was pre-diabetic growing up and has several friends and family members who are diabetic, he wants to learn more about the disease while also gaining experience in research. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in medicine. Outside of school and lab, he spends his time as the bullpen catcher for the UC Davis Baseball Team.
Abby Gailmard
Abby is a second year biochemistry undergraduate with a passion for research in the field of diabetes. As a diabetic herself, she was ecstatic to join the Huising Lab! In the future, Abby hopes to get a PhD in a related field, and do research as a career. In her free time, she loves to walk through the arboretum, spend time with friends, and watch youtube.
Ryan Johnson
Ryan is a fourth-year Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior major. He became interested in diabetes after being exposed to the pathophysiology while taking a course here at UC Davis. This interest drove him to join the Huising lab to further his understanding of the disease. After graduating, Ryan plans on attending medical school with the goal of becoming an emergency medicine physician. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding, playing video games, and hanging out with friends.
Ashika Mittal
Ashika is a first-year Cellular Biology major at UC Davis. As a result of growing up with friends and family members who are diabetic and conducting a research project on remedies for hyperglycemia, her curiosity on diabetes grew, leading her to join the Huising Lab. In the future, Ashika hopes to attend medical school to pursue being a physician as well as continue researching. Outside of the lab, she is a part of a competitive bollywood dance team. She also loves to oil paint, play the guitar, and spend time with family and friends.
Naina Tallak
Naina is a first-year Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major. Since many members of her family are diabetic, Naina has witnessed the effects of this disease since childhood and wants to learn more through research in the Huising Lab. After graduation, Naina hopes to pursue a career in medicine. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, and playing with her dog, Benji.
Nicholas Chyu
Nicholas is a fourth year Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior major. As someone who witnessed the impact of diabetes among friends, family members, and while serving underserved communities, he was excited to learn more about the disease through the Huising Lab. In the future, Nicholas wants to pursue a job in the medical field. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, drawing, karaoke, and baking.
Rylan Kono
Rylan is 23 years old with a B.S. in General Biology and a minor in Global health. He is a premed who graduated in 2025 from UCSD. He enjoys surfing, skiing, and anything outdoorsy. He is also an avid line dancer!
Zi Min (Kelly) Hu
Zi Min Hu is currently a junior majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UC Davis. She joined Huising Lab to better understand diabetes and expand her laboratory skills. She is interested in pursuing a career in industry, with the potential to return to graduate school for a master’s degree to further deepen her expertise. In her free time she likes to play video games and visit amusement parks.
Hana Johnson
Hana is a fourth-year Human Biology major at UC Davis. Through her coursework in biology and physiology, she developed an interest in islet research and enjoys gaining hands-on experience in the Huising Lab. In the future, Hana hopes to pursue a career in healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys reading, skiing, and going on outdoor adventures with friends.
Frankie Sheynis
Frankie is a fourth-year Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology major. Seeing her family struggle with diabetes while growing up made her particularly interested in the pathophysiology of the disease. This interest led her to join the Huising Lab. In the future, Frankie hopes to work somewhere in the medical field, although she isn't quite sure where yet. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, cooking, reading, and traveling.
Leila Torres
Leila is a fourth-year biomanufacturing major at Solano Community College. She became interested in genetic diseases through her personal experiences and studies, which led her to join the Huising Lab to gain hands-on research experience. In the future, Leila hopes to continue her education and pursue a career in stem cell research. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, listening to metal music, and exploring nature.
Evelyn Nguyen
Evelyn is a third year Human Biology major. Motivated by her clinical experience within the Vietnamese community, Evelyn developed an interest in diabetes after observing its significant prevalence and health consequences, leading her to join the Huising Lab. In the future, Evelyn hopes to pursue a career in medicine. In her free time she enjoys reading, traveling, drinking Hochija, and spending time with friends and family.
David Al Farah
David is a third year Human Biology major at Davis. After taking systemic physiology with Dr. Huising his interest toward pancreatic islet research peaked, as it covered interests in genetics, cell signaling, and clinical application. In the future, he hopes to continue research in vision care with a specialization on glaucoma while pursuing a career in medicine. Outside of the lab, David enjoys playing board games and sports with friends, as well as discovering new music!