We had fun exploring our creative side in a holiday event with cookies, frosting and toppings. It was a sprinkle of joy to end 2025!








We had fun exploring our creative side in a holiday event with cookies, frosting and toppings. It was a sprinkle of joy to end 2025!








The La Jolla Immunology Conference had many representatives from the Troemel Lab this year – Emily gave a talk, and James Tirtorahardjo, Tyler Bechtel, and Lakshmi Batachari presented posters. Excitingly, Lakshmi won an award for her poster!

Poster award recipients including Lakshmi Batachari (second from left)
The Troemel lab headed to the ocean for some kayaking, launching from La Jolla Shores with La Jolla Bike & Kayak. It was “shorely” a fun and challenging experience!

Joshua Joseph, Max Strul, Lakshmi Batachari, Desmond Richmond-Buccola, Yareni Soto, Jessica Raygoza, Eilish Murphy, Tyler Bechtel, Emily Troemel

Jessica Raygoza, Eilish Murphy
Lab members gathered at Emily’s house for a farewell party for Eilish Murphy and Marisa Tsunoda. We wish you the best of luck in your futures!

Tyler Bechtel, Desmond Richmond-Buccola, Eilish Murphy, Marisa Tsunoda, Jessica Raygoza, James Tirtorahardjo, Max Strul, Lakshmi Batachari

Marisa Tsunoda, Eilish Murphy
Our lab manager/SRA, Marisa Tsunoda, was naturalized as a US citizen. We celebrated with an American classic – apple pie!

Marisa Tsunoda
A few of our lab members decided to test their putting skills at The Loma Club. This begs the question, which is harder to get – a hole-in-one or a good round of microinjections?

Desmond Richmond-Buccola, Eilish Murphy, Marisa Tsunoda, Jessica Raygoza
We took a visit to the UCSD Craft Center and attended a ceramics sampler class, where we learned to make small clay bowls. Our aim was to embrace fun and creativity over perfectionism, which was a challenge!


Tyler Bechtel, Hannah Lewack (rotation student), Emily Troemel, James Tirtorahardjo, Desmond Richmond-Buccola, Max Strul, Lena Srun (rotation student), Lakshmi Batachari, Marisa Tsunoda
We gathered at Emily’s house on the Saturday before Thanksgiving for a potluck. An abundance of delicious food was shared amongst our lab members, as well as some members from our neighboring labs, the Pasquinelli lab and Perry lab.

Diana Lopez Cantu (Ackerman lab), Max Strul, Ke Gao (Perry lab), Hannah Lewack (rotation student), Ian Nicastro (Pasquinelli lab), Antoine Donati (Perry lab), Tyler Bechtel, Emelliah Vaught (Pasquinelli lab), Eilish Murphy, Marisa Tsunoda, Joshua Joseph, James Tirtorahardjo
For our lab outing, we participated in an improv class at Finest City Improv. We had fun thinking outside of the box with “yes, and!”

James Tirtorahardjo, Max Strul, Marisa Tsunoda, Skylar (from Finest City Improv), Lakshmi Batachari, Tyler Bechtel, Joshua Joseph
Congratulations to Katie Li and all her hard work in characterizing F-box protein FBXA-11 and thermotolerance!

Standing in back: James, Katie, Mario
In front: Max, Joshua, Emily, Marisa