Our team

SANDLER FELLOW & PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Rebecca grew up outside of Detroit, Michigan and earned her B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology and English from the University of Michigan in 2019. She then earned her PhD in Microbiology in 2025 from the University of California, Berkeley. There, she studied the evolution of anti-parasitoid immune responses in insects in the lab of Prof. Noah Whiteman and developed a passion for proteinaceous toxins. She is joining the UCSF Department of Microbiology & Immunology in August 2026. Outside of the lab, Rebecca enjoys solving crosswords somewhat seriously and cycling somewhat unseriously.

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

Gabe grew up in Los Angeles, California, and earned his B.A. in Molecular & Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley in 2026. There he studied mechanisms of immune suppression employed by parasitoid wasps on their hosts in the lab of Prof. Noah Whiteman. In the Tarnopol Lab, he is interested in studying peptides involved in innate immunity against microbes in Drosophila. Outside of the lab, you can find Gabe at a ballpark, reading at a cafe, or admiring wildlife.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Joseph is a fourth year undergraduate studying Microbial Biology in the Rausser College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley. Previously, he worked to characterize the receptor of horizontally-transferred toxins in Drosophila in the lab of Prof. Noah Whiteman. His current research in the Tarnopol Lab is focused on developing a Drosophila model system for Bacillus thuringiensis infection. Outside of the lab, he enjoys video games, hiking, and playing board games with friends.

We are hiring enthusiastic and curious scientists at all levels. Click the button below to learn more about how to join the lab.