Tarling Pages

Principal Investigators

Elizabeth Tarling, Ph.D. ~ Associate Professor

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine-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 research was focused on investigating the role of the ATP Binding Cassette Transporter ABCG1 in lipid metabolism, inflammation, atherosclerosis and innate immunity. In 2013, I was promoted to Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology at UCLA, and in 2018 to Associate Professor. 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 (road and trail), reading and spending time with my family.

Thomas Vallim, Ph.D. ~ Associate Professor

I am an Associate 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. 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!)

Postdocs

Kelsey Jarrett, Ph.D. ~ Postdoctoral Fellow
Before joining the Tarling-Vallim group in December 2018, I completed a B.S. in Microbiology and M.S. in Cellular Physiology at Southern Illinois Universtiy Carbondale, and a Ph.D. in Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. My projects in the laboratory aim to broaden our understanding of genes involved in bile acid and lipid metabolism by combining techniques like genome editing with the power of different omics datasets. On the rare occasion that I cannot get enough science in the laboratory, I can be found talking about the daily life of a scientist on Twitter and Instagram or communicating with tomorrow's scientists through Skype a Scientist and other local science outreach programs. 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 Sholto, Ph.D. ~ Postdoctoral Fellow
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 utilising 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.

Elinor Lee, MD, Ph.D. ~ Postdoctoral Fellow
Before joining the Tarling-Vallim group in December 2018, I completed a B.S. in Microbiology and M.S. in Cellular Physiology at Southern Illinois Universtiy Carbondale, and a Ph.D. in Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. My projects in the laboratory aim to broaden our understanding of genes involved in bile acid and lipid metabolism by combining techniques like genome editing with the power of different omics datasets. On the rare occasion that I cannot get enough science in the laboratory, I can be found talking about the daily life of a scientist on Twitter and Instagram or communicating with tomorrow's scientists through Skype a Scientist and other local science outreach programs. 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.

Heidi Schmidt, Ph.D. ~ Postdoctoral Fellow
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 will be combining my previous research experiences in obesity and vascular biology to study the regulation of bile acid metabolism by the Zfp family of RNA binding proteins. In my free time, I love exploring LA, going for hikes, and trying new foods!

Research Fellows

Alvin Chan, M.D. ~ Research Fellow
I am a Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellow studying the effects of bile acid pool manipulation on lipid absorption and fatty liver disease. Before joining the lab in July 2020, I completed my BS at UC Berkeley, MPH at Harvard University, MD at UC Irvine, and Pediatric Residency at UCLA. Outside of work, I enjoy running (especially marathons), watching basketball (whenever Lebron James is playing), and spending time with my wife and son.

Graduate Students

Emily Smith (Peluso) ~ Graduate Student
I graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2017 with a degree in Biology. I then completed a research fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. I joined the Tarling-Vallim lab at UCLA in July 2021. I am interested in how peroxin family proteins contribute to the localization and function of key peroxisomal enzymes and may be required for lipid metabolism. In my free time, I enjoy camping with my dog and husband, spending time with friends, and traveling to new places.

Gabriella Rubert ~ Graduate Student
I am a Southern California native and graduated from Boston College in 2020 with a BS in Biochemistry before joining the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program here at UCLA. I officially joined the Tarling-Vallim lab for my thesis work in July 2021 and am interested in the epigenetic factors regulating lipid metabolism in the liver. As a Latina woman, I love to mentor younger scientists; I am very passionate about improving the accessibility and inclusivity of higher academia for underrepresented groups to address the disparities we see in STEM fields. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, exploring Los Angeles, lifting weights, and snuggling up with a good book next to my cat Penelope.

Rochelle Lai, R.D. ~ Graduate Student
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 explore new boba shops & taco stands, and watch TV (historical dramas and crime shows)!

Staff

Angela Cheng ~ Staff Research Assistant I
I did my undergrad at UC Berkeley, and started in this lab in the summer of 2014. My specialties in the lab include assays, extractions (of many varieties!), RNA libraries, and dry, witty put-downs. I enjoy reading books and drinking coffee, so shhhhh - you’re interrupting my reading ;)

Michelle Steel ~ Staff Research Assistant III
I joined the Tarling-Vallim Lab in March 2020 after closing out the Arispe Lab at UCLA. I’m a RVT by trade and have fewer letters behind my name than the rest of this bunch, but what I lack in letters I make up with experience. I started my career at UCLA in 2001 and know lots of tricks, but I am best known for my mouse skills and navigating through all of the fun compliance stuff. 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.

Undergrads

Rodrigo Baltazar-Nuñez ~ Undergraduate Student
I am a third year undergraduate student majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with minors in Biomedical Research and Public Health. I joined the lab in Fall 2021 and have been learning how to design guide RNAs for use in AAV-CRISPR gene targeting and knockdown. Outside of the lab, I like to watch Netflix documentaries, tutor kids, jog, or go out with friends! I’m also unnecessarily competitive when playing board games!

Min Jin Kim ~ Undergraduate Student
I am a third year undergraduate majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics with a minor in Biomedical Research. I joined the lab in June 2022 and my research focuses on investigating the role of ZFP36 family proteins in macrophages. I have learned to isolate and purify RNA along with qPCR. Outside of the lab, I love to look for cool places to hang out in LA and watch random sitcom episodes that make me laugh.