Hello! I’m Marco, and I’m turning tiny cells into big ideas!
My Journey
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve thought science was the coolest thing ever and dreamed of becoming a biologist. Growing up, my parents loved a spotless house, which meant the only pets I was allowed were fish. Young me took that limitation a bit too seriously and I became a lifelong aquatic enthusiast. Whether I was peering at fish through my aquariums or watching them through goggles on a scuba dive with my dad, those experiences fueled my passion for aquatic biology and science in general.
When it came time for college, I received a scholarship to attend my local but awesome university, UC Riverside (UCR). While there isn’t much marine biology in a chaparral like Riverside, the surrounding farmland is home to some incredible plant biology research. From my freshman through senior year, I worked at the USDA Salinity Laboratory under Dr. Devinder Sandhu, studying salinity tolerance in almond rootstocks. That experience sparked my appreciation for plant biology and research as a whole.
During my junior year, I was accepted into the NIH funded MARC U STAR program, which provides support to young scientists in STEM looking to make a career in academia. I credit this program for deepening my understanding of the academic world and preparing me for graduate school. I hope to pay that mentorship and support forward throughout my journey in science.
After graduating from UCR with a B.S. in Biology in June 2021, I moved to Berkeley that summer to begin my Ph.D. in the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology at UC Berkeley. My goal was to merge my interests in aquatic biology with my growing expertise in plant science to study photosynthetic algae. I was thrilled to rotate in the lab of Dr. Sabeeha Merchant — a world-renowned scientist and pioneer in algal research. During that rotation, I had the chance to work with senior scientist (and certified cool dude) Jeff Moseley, where we worked on making human milk fat from algae. I officially joined Sabeeha’s lab soon after and have been here ever since.
Now in my fifth year of graduate school, I’ve had an amazing time working on projects ranging from noncanonical gene expression in algae to bioengineering designer lipids. Looking ahead, I hope to one day open my own lab that harnesses the power of algae to make new discoveries and tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges.
A Little More Personal
Spending time with my family and friends is my top priority. During graduate school, I met my lifelong partner and now wife, Kaia. Whether we’re relaxing on the couch after a productive day or exploring our next Bay Area adventure, we always strive to live life to the fullest.
I make it a point to visit home often. Here’s Kaia and me spending Christmas with my computer-wiz twin brother and the best parents anyone could ask for — my mom and dad. I couldn’t ask for a better family!
It’s an even greater time when our families come together, and I get to visit my mother- and father-in-law in China. They treat me like their own son!
I’m also the adoptive dad of two cats: Poppy, a clever but sassy calico, and Wonton, her mischievous and affectionate stepbrother. Together, they keep Kaia and me constantly entertained!
And I still love geeking out over aquariums. At home, my wife and I care for a 20-gallon freshwater planted tank and a 30-gallon saltwater reef — our little underwater worlds.
Fun fact: the fish pictured below (who still doesn’t have a name) has been with me since high school!
And if I’m not in lab or taking care of my zoo of an apartment, chances are I’m playing far too much Super Smash Bros Melee.
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