JOIN US! Students welcome. Please contact Dr. Tomida for details. 🙂
Dr. Tomida joined the Department of Biological Sciences at UNCC in 2018 as an assistant professor. Previously, Dr. Tomida worked as an instructor in Dr. Richard Wood’s laboratory at MD Anderson Science Park, Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis. There he studied human DNA polymerase zeta (pol ζ) from the REV7 (also known as Fanconi anemia gene FANCV or MAD2L2) side, eventually discovering a new interaction site for REV7 in REV3L, the catalytic subunit of pol ζ. Dr. Tomida also studied REV7’s role in DNA damage tolerance mediated by mammalian pol ζ. He completed his Ph.D. in medical science at Kyoto University’s Radiation Biology Center (RBC) in Japan, where his research focused on mechanisms of translesion DNA synthesis. Afterwards, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Minoru Takata at the RBC, where he examined repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks in the context of Fanconi anemia. Dr. Tomida’s expertise in protein complex methods led to his encounter with FAM35A, a previously unstudied protein, in 2011. FAM35A is frequently deleted in prostate cancer, and preliminary evidence indicates a function for this gene in cancer development. Dr. Tomida’s long-term research goals are to elucidate acquisition of metastasis and resistance in prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers and, most importantly, to facilitate discovery of therapeutic and prognostic targets for both chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Graduate Students
Sara Kabir, Ph.D. candidate
Sara completed her B.S in Biology at George Mason University and earned an M.S in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. She worked as a biologist at ATCC and then transitioned to the USDA where she altered soybean proteins using agrobacterium tumefaciens. In 2021, Sara moved to Charlotte, where she began teaching biology courses at CPCC and then at UNC Charlotte. She plans to pursue a PhD degree in Molecular and Cell development and hopes to apply her studies to the field of cancer research.
Megan Biller, MS candidate
Megan earned her B.S. in Biology from East Carolina University before joining the lab in Summer 2020. Her research interests include processes involved in genome instability associated with human disease and cancer. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a research career to help advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.
Undergraduate Students
Ronya Alhumaidi, undergraduate researcher
Ronya is a senior biology major who plans to apply for medical school after graduation. Ronya is active in many student organizations including UNCC MSA.
Chkylle Boado, undergraduate researcher
Chkylle Boado is a biology major who joined the lab in Summer 2021. She is an EMT, a member of many student organizations and passionate about serving her community. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school.
Alexandra Saffa, undergraduate researcher
Alexandra Saffa is a biology major at UNC Charlotte. She joined the lab in the Spring of 2022. Upon graduating in 2025, Alexandra plans to attend medical school to pursue a career in dermatology, where she will utilize her passions for research, science, and art to preventatively and therapeutically advance the dermatological community at large.
Sarah Nipper, undergraduate researcher
Sarah Nipper is a sophomore biology major and chemistry minor who is a member of the UniversityHonors College program. She plans to attend graduate school to pursue a degree in Forensic Science after
 graduation.
Former members: Thank you for your hard work! 🙂
Graduate Students
Parul, M.S. (August 2019 – May 2021) – RA at Mozza Foods
Bridget Wilkinson (Fall 2021)
Undergraduates
Angela Duong (Summer 1, Summer 2, Fall 2019) – accepted to Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry
Tirtha Patel (Fall 2019)
Kylie Fackrell (January 2019 – May 2020) – accepted to Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
LoriAnn Bobins (January 2019 – May 2020) – accepted to High Point University Physician Assistant Program
Summer Bond (August 2019 – May 2021)
Katherine Norman (January 2020 – May 2021)
Jayline Zavala (March 2020 – May 2021)
Nayeli Chowdhury (Spring 2021)
Salem Tedder (Fall 2021)