New faculty bring expertise in native bees, air quality, human genetics and chemical synthesis to USC Dornsife > News > USC Dornsife – USC…

Four professors join the biological sciences, chemistry, Earth sciences, and quantitative and computational biology departments. [2 min read]

Clockwise from upper left, Laura Melissa Guzman, Jazlyn Mooney, Elias Picazo and Sam Silva are the newest USC Dornsife faculty members. (Photos: Courtesy of Guzman, Mooney, Picazo and Silva.)

A new cohort of faculty arrive at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences this spring, ready to tackle urgent problems, such as declining bee populations, invent new chemical reactions and untangle questions surrounding our genetics.

Laura Melissa Guzman| Gabilan Assistant Professor ofBiological Sciences

Academic Focus:In my research, I use quantitative and computational tools to learn about biodiversity and to inform potential conservation actions. Right now, Im working on modeling the distribution of native bees in North America and determining whether native bees have been declining across the continent. Im also identifying potential causes of that decline.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I am an avid fan of fiber arts. I love crocheting, cross-stitching, sewing, etc. I also love dog training; my dog and I do competitive dog sports.

Favorite book youve read lately? My Brilliant Friendseries by Elena Ferrante.

What food or condiments will we always find in your kitchen? Everything! I love cooking and have an overflowing pantry with every type of spice I can get my hands on.

Jazlyn Mooney| Assistant Professor ofQuantitative and Computational Biology

Academic Focus:My work focuses on deciphering a populations history using genomic data. Once we understand a populations history, we use that information to learn about variation in the genome and disease.

What do you like to do in your spare time?Look for vinyl (records), especially Japanese pressings of records.

If you could invite one person to dinner, living or dead, who would you select?What would be on the menu?Amy Winehouse, for New Mexican food.

Favorite book youve read lately? Sabriel by Garth Nix.

Elias Picazo | Assistant Professor ofChemistry

Academic Focus:Nearly 80% of new pharmaceuticals and most new materials are prepared synthetically. My group invents chemical reactions to enable the synthesis and characterization of novel pharmaceuticals and materials. We pay close attention to the abundance and toxicity profiles of the reactions chemical ingredients to improve pharmaceutical and material affordability, utility and application.

What do you like to do in your spare time?I like to exercise! I enjoy running.

If you could invite one person to dinner, living or dead, who would you select? What would be on the menu? My wife, for pizza Fridays.

What food or condiments will we always find in your kitchen?Fruit!

Sam Silva| Assistant Professor ofEarth Sciences

Academic Focus:My work is all about improving our understanding of air quality and climate change. I am specifically focused on studying the chemical composition of the atmosphere using computer modeling, data science and artificial intelligence techniques.

What do you like to do in your spare time?I have two kids under 2. That keeps me busy these days!

Where is your favorite place to travel?Tucson, Arizona. I love all things Sonoran Desert!

What food or condiments will we always find in your kitchen? Realistically? Mustard and a way-to-hot hot sauce that I ambitiously bought and cant actually handle.

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New faculty bring expertise in native bees, air quality, human genetics and chemical synthesis to USC Dornsife > News > USC Dornsife - USC...