Team members

Marla

Berry

Professor and Director

My background includes over four decades in research, over three decades studying the functions of selenium and selenoenzymes, and over two decades in leadership roles. My current focus is mentoring and training researchers at all levels, which I consider the most important contribution I can make to the scientific community.

email: mberry@hawaii.edu

Lucia

Seale

Associate Research Professor

I am originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and have been working with selenium, selenoproteins and the role of selenocysteine lyase in energy metabolism for the last 20 years. I have worked in biotech and consultancy, am an avid reader/writer and, when not thinking about selenium, am involved in mentoring and career development activities.

email: lseale@hawaii.edu

Briana

Shimada

Assistant Researcher

My background includes almost 10 years of cardiovascular related research and several years of selenium related research. I am primarily interested in studying cardiometabolic diseases, particularly those related to nutrition. This includes overnutrition such as high consumption of fructose as well as nutrient deficiencies including selenium which is the current focus of my research.

email: bkshimad@hawaii.edu

Daniel Torres

Assistant Researcher

I investigate the many ways that selenium is vital for brain function. My work spans a range of topics, such as neuronal physiology, glucocorticoid exposure, metabolic disorder, and early life stress. Methodologies involve mouse models, primary cultures, electrophysiology recordings, behavioral tests, and cutting-edge spatial transcriptomics techniques. 

email: djtorr@hawaii.edu

Naghum

(Nia)

Alfulaij

Research Associate
Lab Manager

My background is mainly focused on Cell and Molecular Biology with a specialization in Neuroscience, specifically Alzheimer’s disease.  I also have a good foundation in Clinical Psychology. I currently am a Research Associate and Lab Manager in the Berry/Seale lab assisting with various selenium-related projects, mentoring students, and managing the lab. 

email: alfulaij@hawaii.edu

Jessica Nicholson

Ph.D. Student

My background is in cell and molecular biology with a focus in neuroscience topics. My current project is on the impacts of glucocorticoids on selenoproteins in the hippocampus. After my PhD I would like to be involved in research in neurodegeneration.

email: jnich@hawaii.edu

Kayla Colaruotolo

Ph.D. Student

I am a first-generation college graduate working towards my Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. I worked in biotech before deciding to pursue my Ph.D. and am currently studying selenium impact in lipid metabolism.

email: kaylacol@hawaii.edu

Noa Brenner

Postbac Student

I am currently a postbac student, graduated in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology with honors. My senior thesis focused on uncovering the phylogeny of selenocysteine lyase using bioinformatics techniques. I am currently applying to PhD programs in computational biology/bioinformatics.

email: brennern@hawaii.edu

Princess Santiago

Masters student
I am a first-generation undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry on the pre-med track. I am currently involved in selenium research surrounding metabolism and thermoregulation. I am working towards attending medical school in the near future. 

email: pjsantia@hawaii.edu

Alumni and current affiliation

  • Nadia Apo Takayama (position)
  • Brent Underwood (1st year college student)
  • Marissa Watanabe (PhD student, Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Program, UH Mānoa, HI)
  • Sydonie Swanson (Medical Laboratory Scientist postbacc student, Oregon Tech, OR) 
  • Adrie Mitchell-Butler (Undergraduate student, Center College, KY)
  • Pamela Toh (Masters student, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY)
  • Matthew Pitts (Assistant Researcher, JABSOM, UH Mānoa)
  • Ligia Watanabe (Postdoctoral Fellow, Univ. Lisboa)
  • Ashley Ogawa-Wong (Senior Regulatory Writer, Merck US Inc.)
  • Ting Gong (position)
  • Ann Hashimoto (Retired)
  • Christy Gilman (M.D., Gastroenterology Fellow, Univ. Virginia School of Medicine)
  • Alexandru Sasuclark (Ph.D. candidate, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, UH Mānoa)
  • Herena Ha (Ph.D. candidate, UH Mānoa)
  • Penny Kremer (position)
  • Elizabeth Nguyen-Wu (position)
  • Amanda Reyes (Associate Principal Investigator, Intertek Pharmaceutical Services)
  • Victor Young (position)
  • Victoria Ka’aha’aina (position)
  • Kyrillos Guirguis (Clinical Research Associate, The Queen’s Medical Center, HI)
  • Aleksya Batoon (position)
  • Katherine Hui (position)
  • Katlyn An (Graduate Student, UH-JABSOM)
  • Ashley Hanato (position)
  • Stella Maris Remigio (position)
  • Jun Kyoung Kim (Undergraduate Student, University of Pittsburgh)
  • Alyssa Vetter (position)