Entered Program: 2021
Thesis Advisor: Jeffrey Bush, PhD
Luke was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology in 2020. While at UCLA, Luke was a member of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. He commissioned into the US Army Reserve as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation, and currently serves as a General Engineer Officer. During his time at UCLA, Luke conducted research under Dr. Andre Nel and Dr. Qi Liu at the California NanoSystems Institute. His research focused on the engineering of biodegradable nanoparticles for selective delivery of antigens to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, which have the ability to induce immune tolerance through the generation of regulatory T-cells.
Luke’s research interests include the cellular and molecular processes, signaling pathways, and mechanisms that govern craniofacial development. However, he looks forward to further exploring other disciplines such as biomaterials while at UCSF. In his free time, Luke enjoys being outdoors, hiking and surfing whenever possible. He also loves a good book, and is passionate about food and travel.
