LAB TEAM
Navid Bavi, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator Assistant Professor, Physiology nbavi@mednet.ucla.edu
I’m a mechanobiologist with a background in mechanical engineering, biophysics, and structural biology. In our lab, we use cryo-EM, electrophysiology, and force spectroscopy to study how membrane proteins—such as ion channels, motor proteins, and transporters—function in sensory processes. Our ultimate goal is to uncover the molecular basis of sensory disorders by understanding these proteins. We're also committed to promoting equity and diversity, welcoming everyone into our science family, regardless of background.
Gabriel Carmona Rosas, Ph.D.
Assistant Project Scientist gcarmonarosas@mednet.ucla.edu
I obtained my Ph.D. in biochemistry and cell biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where I worked on the signaling and trafficking of different GPCRs using multiple biochemistry and microscopy strategies. I then completed a postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago, where I worked on solving the structures of different cell-surface molecules using X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM.
Hosna Rastegarpouyani, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher hrastegarpouyani@mednet.ucla.edu
I am a structural biologist with a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Florida State University. During my graduate research, I focused on the structural characterization of native myosin-containing thick filaments using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. My work involved isolating and analyzing thick filaments from both vertebrate and invertebrate muscle tissues. This research led to the determination of a 2.8 Å resolution structure of thick filaments from Drosophila melanogaster indirect flight muscle, representing the highest-resolution structure of a native thick filament reported to date. I joined Dr. Navid Bavi’s lab at UCLA in 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher, where I am expanding my expertise to study mechanosensory membrane proteins using single-particle cryo-EM. My goal is to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying sensory functions by resolving the structures of ion channels and other membrane protein complexes.
Kloy Marie Ocampo
Research Associate/Lab Manager kmocampo@mednet.ucla.edu
I am a recent graduate of UCSD with a master’s degree in Biology. During my time as a student, I primarily used different staining techniques to visualize and semi-quantify FKBP proteins in the context of depressed individuals with HIV. My goal is to further my education and see where science will take me.
Brandon Noimany
Undergraduate Researcher bnoimany28@g.ucla.edu
I am currently a first-year undergraduate at UCLA studying Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. I have been passionate about basic scientific research and neurobiology, joining the Bavi Lab in October 2024 to gain deeper hands-on research experience. Originally from Lake Oswego, Oregon, I gained my first laboratory and research experiences during three summer internships in the Murthy Lab in the Vollum Institute at Oregon Health and Science University before attending UCLA. At OHSU, I aided investigations into the physiology of the TMEM63 mechanosensitive ion channel family in mammals using various staining techniques.
Saerin Nam
Undergraduate Researcher saerin06@g.ucla.edu
I am a second-year undergraduate at UCLA studying Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. I’m interested in how molecular pathways shape the way cells function and how this type of research can lead to real-world applications in understanding and improving human health, including diseases like cancer. After learning about the Bavi Lab’s work on mechanosensation and membrane protein function, I became excited about the opportunity to explore these processes more deeply. I hope to contribute to ongoing projects and to build a strong foundation in studying how mechanical forces and molecular mechanisms interact within cells.