Faculty
Pouya Dini, DVM, PhD, PhD, Associate Professor
Diplomate, American College of Theriogenologists
Diplomate, European College of Animal Reproduction
Laboratory Director and co-Founder
Dr. Dini is an associate professor in the Department of Population Health and Reproduction and is a Diplomate in the European College of Animal Reproduction and the American College of Theriogenologists. He obtained his DVM degree from Azad University in Iran. His first PhD was a collaboration between Azad University and the University of Ghent, in Belgium and his second PhD was a collaboration between the University of Ghent and Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky.
Ph: 530-752- 0440
pdini@ucdavis.edu
Publications Page Google Scholar ORCID ResearchGate Scopus UGent
Stuart Meyers, DVM, PhD, Professor Emeritus
Diplomate, American College of Theriogenologists
Laboratory co-Founder
Dr. Meyers is an emeritus professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology and is a Diplomate in the American College of Theriogenologists. He obtained his BS and DVM degrees from Michigan State University, his MS degree from Oregon State University, and his PhD from the University of California, Davis.
Embryologists and Postdocs
Alejandro de la Fuente
DVM, MSc, PhD, Chief Embryologist
Dr. de la Fuente is a Project Scientist. He obtained his DVM degree from the University of Concepcion, Chile, and the University of Cordoba, Spain, and his MSc and PhD degrees from the University of California, Davis.
Kazuki Takahashi
MSc, PhD, Embryologist
Dr. Takahashi is a Postdoctoral Scholar. He obtained his MS and PhD degrees from Iwate University in Japan.
Jamie Norris
PhD, Computational Biologist
Dr. Norris is a Postdoctoral Scholar. He obtained his PhD degree from the University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Carol Huang
MSc, Laboratory Coordinator
Carol received her MSc from the University of California, Davis.
Graduate students
Soledad Martin-Pelaez, DVM, Dipl. ACT
Doctoral student, Animal Biology Graduate Group
Katarzyna Malin, DVM
Doctoral student, Animal Biology Graduate Group
Postdoctoral fellows and visiting scholars
Flàvia Freitas Azevedo Menezes, DVM, MS, 2023-2024
Katarzyna Malin, DVM, 2023-2024
Thadeu de Castro, DVM, MS, PhD, 2022-2023
Daniela Orellana Guerrero, DVM, MSc, DACT, 2020-2021
Undergraduate and Veterinary Professional Students (Recent)
Bridget McLaughlin (06/2025 - )
Ana Mollaeifard (06/2025 - )
Isabella Ionazzi (2025 -)
Itzel Tirado Perez
Jazmin Orozco
Danielle Myers
Savannah Hammick
Julianne Nussbaum (Y2 DVM program)
Sophia Schmidt (Y2 DVM program)
Previous Graduate Students
Machteld van Heule, DVM, Animal Biology, 2025
Alejandro de la Fuente, DVM, MS, Animal Biology, 2022
Morgan Orsolini, MS, Animal Biology, 2022
Momoe Kato, PhD, Animal Biology, 2022
Animals we work with
Horses, cows, goats, and sheep