Meet the Team
We are research scientists who want to share our passion for science with you.
Parvin Shahrestani, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Shahrestani earned her doctorate degree in Biology from the University of California in Irvine, while working in the laboratory of Dr. Michael R. Rose. She then worked as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University prior to joining the faculty of the Department of Biological Science at the California State University in Fullerton. Dr. Shahrestani is passionate about science education and bringing scientific literacy to the public.
Melanie Garcia
Grad Student
Melanie is a Biology and French Major at Cal State University, Fullerton. Melanie has been an active member in the lab since 2016 and has assisted on various projects, presented research, and guest lectured for her peers. Melanie served as Lab Manager, where she helped maintain lab productivity, faculty relationships, and assisted with outreach. Melanie is excited to start a new chapter in the EAGR Lab as a Masters student Fall 2020.
Karen Walsh
Grad Student
Karen is a graduate student in the Shahrestani lab at Cal State University, Fullerton, who joined in Fall 2018. She currently leads the Longevity Selection project, which studies aging using experimental evolution and modern genomics, and takes pride in mentoring undergraduate students on her research team with transferable skills to succeed in their future careers. As Outreach Director, Karen is also eager to provide science learning opportunities to younger generations through community outreach events. Karen especially loves to share her love of the natural world with her young daughter, Charlie.
Madison Cheek
EAGR Alumnus
Madison is an alumnae of The Shahrestani lab having joined in the summer of 2016 and graduating in the spring of 2019. During her time in the lab she served as the Outreach Director, Co-team leader of the Sex Specific Mating Immunity (SSMI) project and partook in various conferences such as SCCUR, CabsCon2 and CSUPERB. Upon graduating from CSUF she began working at the Ocean Institute (OI) in Dana Point as a Science Instructor. Her hobbies include a love for music and the beach and she hopes to continue being an educator to students and the public on various STEM topics.
Robert Courville
Grad Student
Robert is a graduate student at Cal State University, Fullerton but will soon be moving to UC Irvine for his PhD! He plans to remain in collaboration with the EAGR lab further exploring all things surrounding the Drosophilamicrobiome and aging as well as mentor the future leaders of the project. During the duration of his Master's program, Robert has mentored graduate and undergraduate students on his team, as well as worked as a Teaching Assistant on campus teaching various laboratories. He also presented his research at numerous conferences such as: SCCUR, CabsCon, CSUPERB, and Drosophila. In his free time you can likely catch him watching any possible sporting event he can find! Go Lakers and Dodgers!