Members
Sagar Bapat
Sagar Bapat is a physician-scientist leading a research laboratory at UCSF. His research explores how nutrition and lifestyle shape immune health, leveraging his expertise in T cell biology, metabolic regulation, and cellular therapy. Sagar is dedicated to rigorous scientific inquiry, aiming to reveal how dietary choices act medicinally to prevent disease and enhance human health, all within a nurturing environment that supports scientists at every career stage.
Nandini Borkar
Nandini is a junior specialist who earned her bachelor's degree in biochemistry from UCLA, where she was first charmed by the intricacies of metabolic pathways. In the Bapat Lab, she is interested in understanding how changes in metabolism regulate immune responses, and how this knowledge can inform the use of diet as a therapeutic tool. In her free time, Nandini enjoys sewing, rollerblading, and hiking with friends and family.
Joy Li, PhD
Joy is a scientist in the Bapat lab learning how diets influence immune regulation. Her work aims to uncover mechanisms that link metabolism to immune function in the context of cancer. Joy completed her Ph.D. in Mark von Zastrow's lab at UCSF, where she studied G protein-coupled receptor kinases and their interactions with opioid receptors. She enjoys tennis as a beginner and even captained a USTA team.
Owen Jiang, PhD
Owen completed his PhD in the Biomedical Sciences program and continues to collaborate with the lab to finalize his thesis research. His scientific interests in the lab centered around understanding how diet influences host immunity and shapes immune responses during inflammatory disease. Outside of the lab, Owen enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling with his energetic 5-year-old Shiba Inu, Blue.
John Tayeri
John grew up in the Bay Area and earned his degree in Biology from Colby College. He joined the Bapat Lab as a technician and is now a graduate student at UC Berkeley. He continues to collaborate with the lab on studies that he initiated during his tenure. Outside the lab, John enjoys competing in basketball, playing jazz piano, and spending time outdoors.
Megan Dobson
Megan is a PhD student in Infectious Diseases and Immunity at UC Berkeley. She earned her M.S. and B.S. in Biology at the University of Idaho, where she researched innate immunity and parasite-host nutrition dynamics in malaria. In the Bapat Lab, Megan is interested in how lifestyle factors, including nutrition and exercise, alter the progression and outcomes of disease. Outside of lab, she loves to bake, spend time outside, and visit museums.
Stephanie Silveria-Davies, PhD
Stephanie is a postdoctoral researcher broadly interested in immunometabolism and understanding the mechanisms underlying diet-induced immune dysregulation. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, where she investigated molecular determinants of regulatory T cell function. Outside of lab, Stephanie enjoys hiking, solving logic puzzles, and narrating her dogs’ internal monologues.
Alumni
- Chihiro Tabuchi, Post-doctoral Fellow (2023-2025). Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, UC San Francisco
- Sarah Gayer, Research Technician (2021-2023). Current Position: Current Position: Medical Student, UC San Francisco
- Arum Yoo, Research Technician (2021-2023). Current Position: Research Technician in Mass. General Hospital
- Chang Liu, Undergraduate Research (UC Berkeley) (2021-2022). Current Position: PhD Student, UC San Francisco
- Caroline Whitty, Research Technician (2019-2021). Current Position: PhD Student, UC San Francisco
Interested in joining the lab?
We’re always excited to connect with passionate and curious minds. Whether you’re a student, postdoc, or collaborator, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch today — and let’s explore what we can discover together!