Starlynn Clarke (Starlynn.Clarke@ucsf.edu)
	My scientific interest is in understanding the complex interactions between pathogens and their hosts, particularly how pathogens hijack host pathways for their own purposes. HIV manipulates many host processes in order to replicate successfully but how it does this is not fully understood. In the Craik lab I am studying the role of interactions between HIV protease and human host proteins in the viral life cycle.
	Sai Duriseti (Sai.Duriseti@ucsf.edu)
	I work on developing antibodies towards components of the plasminogen activation system (PAS). In particular, I am refining and characterizing human monoclonal antibodies towards the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). With our molecular tool kits, I hope to probe the biology of the PAS system (which has roles in cancer, infectious disease, immunological disorders, and others) and be able to translate some of our findings into clinical tools. In particular, I am interested in transforming our biomarker-specific probes into targeted drugs and diagnostic agents.
	Jonathon Gable (Jonathan.Gable@ucsf.edu)
	My focus in the lab is the discovery and biophysical characterization of small-molecule allosteric regulators of herpesvirus proteases.  I’m excited about the project’s chemical biology and therapeutic applications as well as its implications in structural biology/protein dynamics. Of the eight human herpesviruses that rely on these proteases Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus 2 are of particular interest.  As a bay area native I’m happy to be back after spending my undergraduate years in San Diego.  Outside of lab I enjoy paddling/rowing, hiking, cooking, learning other languages (ideally aided by lots of travel), and sampling the amazing food in and around San Francisco.
	Jungmin Kim (jungmin.kim@ucsf.edu)
	I received my Ph.D from the University of Toronto, Canada in the lab of Dr. Alan Davidson, characterizing atypical SH3 domain interactions. In the Craik lab, I am using an Fab phage display library to identify antibody fragments that bind to membrane proteins and aid in their crystallization and structure determination.
	Aaron LeBeau (aaron.lebeau@ucsf.edu)
	I am a relatively new post-doc and the token lab tall guy. I received my PhD in pharmacology (2009) from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in beautiful Baltimore, Maryland. For my graduate studies, I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Sam Denmeade, MD developing peptide-based inhibitors of the serine protease prostate-specific antigen (PSA). My education in proteases and protease inhibitors continues here at UCSF. As a post-doctoral fellow, I divide my time between the Craik lab and the lab of Henry VanBrockin at Center for Molecular and Functional Imaging (CMFI) at China Basin Landing. My research focuses on using antibodies, developed by Craik lab for proteases and protease receptors, as imaging agents of cancer using the nuclear imaging modalities positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). When I am not in the laboratory subjecting myself to large doses of radiation, I enjoy the outdoors, racket-based athletic endeavors, wearing pink or purple shirts, Belgian beer, going to the circus, German Expressionist cinema, crypto-zoology, photography, travelling to obscure places around the world, orchid growing and insanely hot food.
	Greg Lee (lee.gregm@gmail.com)
	My research interest focuses on the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in the characterization of protein/enzyme structure-function relationships. Currently, my project involves the modeling the homodimer interactions and conformational dynamics regulating the activity of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV), a serine protease that is inactive in its monomeric form. In addition, NMR will be used to model the modes of interactions between KSHV and various peptidomemetic or small molecule substrates that either inhibit or enhance catalytic activity.
	Melody Lee (melody.lee1@ucsf.edu)
	Cancer-related proteases of the closely related type II transmembrane serine protease family have been implicated in processes like metastasis. My research in the lab involves engineering and identifying selective, inhibitory antibodies against these targets from biased and natural immune repertoires using phage-display technology. The characterization of these antibodies will enable my ability to study the pathophysiology of specific cancer-related proteases and will potentially lead to more translational uses as imaging agents, therapeutics, or targeted drug-delivering agents. I received my B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and then went on to work in industry for a couple of years. I also obtained my M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Eastern Virginia Medical School before starting graduate school here. In my free time, I like to hike and be outdoors, cook and experiment with new recipes, read nonfiction works in economics, history, and medicine, and drive around and explore new places.
	Cathal Mahon (cathalmahon@gmail.com)
	My research interest is in host-viral interactions. The HIV virus relies heavily on the host protein machinery at every stage of its life cycle, and its accessory proteins have developed numerous ways of co-opting human proteins for viral uses. Specifically I am studying the interactions between two of these HIV accessory factors (Vif & Vpr) and host protein complexes. The precise biochemical mechanisms of action of these viral proteins are still under investigation. Identifying new host complexes and the pathways they govern will provide further insights into their functions in counteracting host defences.
	Anthony O'Donoghue (aodonoghue@picasso.ucsf.edu)
	I received my B.S. degree (2000) in Biochemistry and Ph.D (2005) in Fungal Genetics and Biochemistry from the National University of Ireland, Galway. My research interests lie in the characterization of acid acting proteases. I am currently looking at the role of Cathepsin E in cancer and glutamic proteases in the growth of filamentous fungi. I am also developing a fluorescent substrate library with a universal application for all classes of endoproteases.
	Nicole Olson (ncolson89@gmail.com)
	Originally from Wisconsin, I received my B.S. in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. I am a rising second year in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology PhD program here at UCSF, and am planning on studying mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions in infectious disease. Outside of lab, I enjoy running, cooking, reading, and exploring San Francisco on my bike.
	Michael Page (Michael.Page@ucsf.edu)
	My research focuses on different aspects of macromolecular recognition by proteases to understand and apply how their discrimination can be used for reagent, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In particular, I'm building biosensors to probe the interaction space of MT-SP1, thrombin and other trypsin-like proteases relevant to disease. I moved around a fair amount before coming to UCSF including stops at the University of British Columbia and Washington University in St. Louis. I'm Canadian and a diehard Vancouver Canucks fan.
	Natalia Sevillano Tripero (natalia@picasso.ucsf.edu)
	I received my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2008, from the University of Granada (Spain). During my PhD I worked on the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), whose overexpression is implicated in numerous pathological processes such as long term complications associated with diabetes. In the Craik lab I'm using the Phage Display technology to find specific inhibitors of proteases involved in cancer and other diseases. Also, I'm going to use this technology to find Fabs fragments that can be used as crystallization chaperones for the HIV Integrase- LEDGF complex.
	Cheryl Tajon (Cheryl.Tajon@ucsf.edu)
	I am a native San Franciscan with as much a diverse background as the City itself. Since freshman year of high school, I worked part time at the HIV Mental Health Program at Family Service Agency of SF. This experience shaped my lifelong commitment to the HIV community. In college, I studied Chemistry (& Theology) at University of San Francisco and my research centered on the molecular genetics of the cyanobacterium, Fremyella diplosiphon. I attended San Francisco State University to pursue an M.S. degree in Chemistry, where I designed and synthesized inhibitors of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). My current research interest is in the proteolytic activation of nanoparticles and devices for drug delivery. Lastly, I enjoy dancing (hip-hop & samba) and, in one way or another, will include a dancing career in my future as well.
	Michael Winter (Michael.Winter2@ucsf.edu)
	I received my PhD in chemistry (2011) from UC Berkeley in Michael Marletta's lab where I studied mechanisms of heme protein sensing and signaling. In the Craik lab, I am applying my interest in enzymology to examine protease function in vivo. In particular, I am using novel mass spectrometry-based approaches to uncover the roles of extracellular proteolysis in cancer progression.

For list of alumni and their current contact information please see here