Meet our New Faculty Hired in 2020

Jason Ear

Department of Biological Sciences

Ph.D. - Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, 2015, University of California Los Angeles

Research Interests:
Applying gene targeting approaches in cell and zebrafish models to model human diseases such as cancer. Using these models to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases.  

Published in:
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Scientific Reports, Science Signaling, Blood

I'd like to connect with colleagues interested in:
Applying new cellular and molecular techniques in zebrafish to model diseases or to study biological processes.

Janel Ortiz

Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (CEMaST)
Department of Biological Sciences

Ph.D. in Wildlife Science, 2018, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Adaickapillai Mahendran

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Ph.D. in Chemistry from Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY).

Research Interests: 
Organic Synthesis, Medicinal Chemistry, and Photo Chemistry

Published in:
National Academy of Sciences (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.); Journal of the American Chemical Society (J. Am. Chem. Soc.); The Journal of Organic Chemistry (J. Org. Chem.); Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology (Photochem. Photobio.); Chemistry Physics Lipids (Chem Phys Lipids); and Tetrahedron Letters (Tetrahedron Lett)

I'd like to connect with colleagues interested in:
a) biological activity of small molecules, particularly inhibitors of histone deacetylase enzyme, b) therapeutic effect of cannabinoids particularly, CBD, THC, and their derivatives.ives.

Markus Eger

Department of Computer Science

Ph.D. in Computer Science, 2018, NC State University

Research Interests:
Applying Artificial Intelligence to playing board and video games with or against human players, with a focus on intention recognition, cooperation, and communication.

Published in:
IEEE Transactions on Games, AAAI Conference on AI in Interactive Digital Entertainment, Foundations of Digital Games

I'd like to connect with colleagues interested in:
Improving automated communication with humans, games, and/or (computational) creativity.

Ericsson Santana Marin

Department of Computer Science

Ph.D. in computer Science, 2020, Arizona State University

Research Interests:
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, social network analysis, network science, cybersecurity, criminology

Published in:
Cambridge university press, ACM Transactions on Social Computing, The Cyber Defense Review, IEEE Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics (ISI), IEEE International Conference on Data Intelligence and Security (ICDIS)

I'd like to connect with colleagues interested in:
Computer science, computer engineering, information systems, social science, criminology.

Mai Narasaki-Jara

Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion

MS in Kinesiology 2004, CSUN
EdD in Educational Leadership, 2018 CSUN

Research Interests:
Effect of service learning in self-efficacy and attitudes towards people with disabilities.
Virtual reality rehabilitation for people with disability.

Published in:
International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, Journal of Medical Internet Research: Serious Game

I'd like to connect with colleagues interested in:
Campus Service Learning program.
Virtual Reality.

Manuchehr Aminian

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Ph.D. in Mathematics, UNC Chapel Hill, 2016

Research Interests:
Mathematical data science, differential equations, topological data analysis, networks, mathematical modeling

Published in:
Physical Review Letters, Science, Interface Focus, Community of Ordinary Differential Equations Educators

I'd like to connect with colleagues interested in:
Predictive health, biomarker identification, omics, design of microfluidic devices, analyzing and modeling tracers, large data sets