Nabora Reyes de Barboza, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

I’m Nabora Reyes de Barboza, a proud product of the University of California system. My academic adventure started at Merced Community College and culminated at UC Merced, where I was part of the founding class. I earned my Bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and my Master’s in Quantitative and Systems Biology there. I then pursued my PhD in Developmental Biology at UC Irvine and completed my postdoctoral training at UC San Francisco in the Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Sleep division. I am a development biologist eager to understand how cells utilize signaling pathways within microenvironments to support major changes during development, aging, and regeneration. Outside the lab, I love exploring National Parks, Ecological Reserves, and museums with my two young children and husband. Life truly is an adventure both inside and outside the lab!

Contact Info:

nreyesde@ucsd.edu

Alma Renero

PhD Graduate Student

I was born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles, CA. I attended El Camino Community College and then transferred to UC San Diego to complete my B.S in Molecular and Cell biology in 2020. After graduating I worked in the muscle stem cell field at Sanford Burnham Prebys and then in the antibody oligonucleotide field at Avidity Biosciences. I started as a PhD student in the Biological Sciences program in 2022. In the Reyes lab, I am interested in investigating how p16INK4 expressing fibroblasts respond to influenza A in the lung. My hobbies outside of lab include ceramics, hiking, and camping!

Contact Info:

arenero@ucsd.edu

Julianne Carnes

Staff Research Associate 

Hello! I’m Julianne, a Staff Research Associate at the Reyes Lab. My academic journey began at community college, where I earned an Associate of Science in Biology. I then transferred to UCLA, where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. While at UCLA, I had the opportunity to intern at the Koltsova Lab at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, focusing on IL27 and its involvement in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Now in the Reyes Lab, my primary focus will be characterizing the secretome of p16INK4a fibroblasts. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, and spending time at the beach!

Contact Info:

jucarnes@ucsd.edu

Jeremiah Aquino

Undergraduate Research BRAP Fellow 

My name is Jeremiah Aquino, but you can call me “Jay.” I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, to Salvadoran immigrants who came to the U.S. seeking a better future. I attended Narbonne STEAM Magnet High School, where I focused on a Pathway to Patient Care and Biological Science. Now, I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology at UC San Diego, with plans to enter an MD/PhD program. My research passion lies in understanding and reactivating senescent cells for regeneration, with a current focus on AT2 cell regeneration and antibody research. This work holds promise for developing novel treatments to restore lung function and improve outcomes for patients with chronic lung conditions. Outside the lab, I volunteer at UCSD Hillcrest Emergency Department, assisting with patient care. I enjoy plane spotting, sightseeing, and spending time in nature in my free time.

Contact Info:

j1aquino@ucsd.edu 

Miriam Schoeler, DMD

Staff Research Associate

Hello! My name is Miriam Schoeler, and I am a Staff Research Associate at the Reyes Lab. Originally from Germany, I moved to San Diego in 2024. I earned my degree in Dentistry from Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn in 2009 and later specialized in Orthodontics at Danube Private University in Krems, Austria, completing my studies in 2021. Before coming to UC San Diego, I spent ten years working in the Netherlands. Surrounded by researchers in my daily life, I developed a deep passion for scientific inquiry, a curiosity sparked early on by my mother, a teaching assistant, who introduced me to microscopy in the lab. During dental school, I loved working in the lab and learning essential research techniques. Now, as part of the Reyes Lab, I am excited to explore cellular senescence in the lung and the pathways that contribute to lung regeneration. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, a postdoc at UCSD, and our daughter, while exploring San Diego and discovering all that California has to offer.

Contact Info:

Mschoeler@ucsd.edu