Suzann joined UC Irvine in 2025 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She graduated from Boston University (B.S.) and the University of Nevada, Reno (Ph.D.) before completing her postdoctoral training in GI physiology and cancer biology at the University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center. She fills her free time with running, hiking (especially near the Sierra Nevada mountains), baking, laughing at her border collie’s antics, spending time with family, and reading epic fantasy books.

Her goal as an early stage investigator is to build an inclusive research team that fosters kindness, curiosity, and a passion for advancing biomedical discovery.

Ikrame earned her doctoral degree in Epigenetics and Oncology from Paris Diderot University in France, where she trained in Dr. Pierre-Antoine Defossez’s laboratory. She then completed her postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Sha Sun at the University of California, Irvine, where she studied the role of the long non-coding RNA XIST in ovarian cancer progression and development. Ikrame joins the Duan Lab as a Project Scientist, driven by her interest in translating basic research into clinical applications and gaining a deeper understanding of cancer cell plasticity. Outside of the lab, she enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Rebeca is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Prior to joining the graduate program, Rebeca worked in the laboratory of Dr. Aimee Edinger in the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology. Her research interests merge the areas of cancer biology and drug screening. Rebeca aspires to grow a career in the pharmaceutical industry where she hopes to develop novel drugs for cancer and other diseases. When she’s not in the lab, she can be found spending time outdoors, including the numerous nearby OC beaches, parks, and mountains. She has two pet rabbits, Bobba and Muffin, who are incredibly loved and spoiled. 

Juliette is a first-year graduate student in the UCI Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. Program. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Pharmacology in 2025, where she performed research into the role of extracellular matrix stiffness in regulating breast epithelial cell differentiation. Following graduate school, Juliette aspires to continue in R&D in the pharmaceutical industry. She is no stranger to Orange County, having lived here with her parents and brothers (and new puppy!) for most of her life. Outside of school, she is an avid sports fan and less avid cinephile, spending most of her free time doing something within those two realms.

John graduated from UCLA, where he studied biochemistry with an emphasis on the pre-medicine track. John is an aspiring physician, and he joins the lab with a strong interest in translating basic cancer biology to the clinic. John is an avid pickleball player who playfully challenges anyone to play anytime and anywhere. His hobbies include playing piano (from K-pop to 80's grooves) and exploring new and popular food venues (he’s a self-confessed foodie). Pictured to the right is one of his favorite photos of himself: “Someone asked me to make creamed corn, and another friend took a photo of me carrying the groceries.”

The lab welcomes John’s great sense of humor and is excited to cultivate his interest in translational medicine!

Jordan is a rising third year Pharmaceutical Sciences Major at UCI who is an aspiring Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. In his spare time, Jordan volunteers as an occupational martial artist and teaches Karate to children with special needs. In this role, he supports and challenges children with special needs by designing creative obstacles and building friendships in the process. Outside of school and volunteering, Jordan is a self-taught guitarist and he enjoys teaching others how to play. His hobbies include playing basketball, American Football, cheering for the Warriors and 49ers (his Bay area home teams), working out, and eating great food. A fun fact about Jordan is that he is 25% Filipino, 25% Vietnamese, and 50% Chinese!

Jayden is a rising third-year Pharmaceutical Sciences major at UCI who plans to specialize in Medicinal Pharmacology. Following graduation, Jayden aims to gain clinical experience and apply to professional schools. Jayden works as a mathematics and English tutor at Irvine Kumon – UTC, where he fosters an uplifting environment for students ages 3–7 to build confidence and critical thinking skills. He finds the most fulfillment in helping students learn from their mistakes with resilience and in providing individualized instruction that brings out the best in each child. Outside of academics, Jayden enjoys dancing, especially with the KKAP Dance Team (UCI’s K-pop dance club), singing karaoke for hours on end, and documenting his explorations in Orange County through photography. In joining the Duan Lab, Jayden aims to develop practical laboratory skills that will support his future career, while approaching each day in the lab with curiosity and passion.