Lab Members

Apolo Ibanez Rincon, MS (Fall 2023 – present)

A graduate of CSUSB with extensive research experience (also in the Horner Lab), Apolo took a gap year to work in Dr. Natalie Holt’s lab at UC Riverside. Now he is interested in exploring the interactions of age, exercise, and biomechanical properties of soft tissues and currently overseeing an NIH funded project that includes over 100 mice, 5 undergraduates, and 1 PI!

Daisy Xiong, MS (Fall 2022 – present)

As an undergraduate, I worked with invertebrates and looked at the effects of organic substances, called chalcones, on parasitic nematodes. I am excited to start my graduate program and learn new things about animal morphology with the Horner Lab members. My thesis project still has to be determined but it will involve observations of sceloporus lizards in urban vs. natural environments. 

As an undergraduate, I worked with invertebrates and looked at the effects of organic substances, called chalcones, on parasitic nematodes. I am excited to start my graduate program and learn new things about animal morphology with the Horner Lab members. My thesis project still has to be determined but it will involve observations of sceloporus lizards in urban vs. natural environments. 

Miles Valencia, MS (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022)

I find ecomechanics intriguing and am interested in studying the relationship between form and function in musculoskeletal systems, and how these relationships change in different environments. My current research investigates tendon remodeling in mice (Mus musculus) from exercise regimens with varying mechanical loading. Currently a PhD student with Dr. Manny Azizi at UC Irvine.