Albert L. Gonzales, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Albert L. Gonzales is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. After graduating from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a degree in Biology, he obtained his Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado with Professor Scott Earley, Ph.D. He completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont under the mentorship of Mark. T. Nelson, the Chair and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pharmacology. In 2020, Dr. Gonzales joined the faculty of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Dr. Gonzales’ laboratory is focused on understanding the active role capillary networks play in sensing and responding to the metabolic needs of the tissue and the mechanisms ensuring the point-to-point delivery of oxygen and nutrients and the removal of metabolic waste. Dr. Gonzales’ laboratory employs a broad range of modern experimental approaches and techniques, including ex vivo pressurized vasculature tissue preparations; high-speed high-resolution Ca2+ imaging, and patch clamp electrophysiology.
Meet the Team
Post Doctoral Scholar
Vidya Murthy, Ph.D.
Vidya is a dedicated and highly motivated professional with a strong background in computational modeling, data analysis, and biomedical engineering. During her graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), under the mentorship of Dr. Josh Baker, she developed a computational model for thermodynamics of muscle contraction. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from UNR, and earned a Master of Technology in Biomedical Signal Processing and Instrumentation and a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to research. She is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge and is excited to continue her journey in the realm of biomedical engineering with the Gonzales Lab where she will be working on pericyte contractility using both wet lab and computational biology.
Post Doctoral Scholar
Alex Aupetit, D.Sc.
Alex obtained both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Science from the University of Poitiers in France, where he specialized in electrophysiology and vascular physiology. He went on to earn his PhD in Physiology and Medicine from the University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, France, with a focus on the metabolic function of the adipose tissue microvasculature in the context of obesity. Joining the Gonzales lab in 2024, Alex is dedicated to investigating the active role of capillary networks in sensing and responding to metabolic cues.
Post Doctoral Scholar
Tayde Quiroz. Ph.D.
Dr. Tayde Quiroz-Acosta is a biomedical scientist from the universidad nacional autónoma de México (UNAM). Her doctoral research focused on the regulation of ion channels by membrane lipids and the modulation of calcium channels by neurotransmitters. She specializes in electrophysiology and molecular biology, with expertise in patch-clamp techniques, cell culture, and fluorescence microscopy.
Lab Technician
Melissa Kiley
Melissa is a volunteer in the lab with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from George Fox University. She plans to attend medical school in the near future and hopes to apply the skills and knowledge she gains in the lab throughout her medical career.
Lab Technician
Amanda Lu
Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno where she worked as an undergraduate researcher in the Gonzales lab. She plans to continue her time in academia and eventually further her education through medical school.
Graduate Student
Most Murshida Begum
Murshida Begum completed her Bachelor’s (B. Pharm) in Pharmacy from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh. She did her Master’s (M. Pharm) in Pharmacy from the same university in thesis track. Her Pharm Thesis was in Phytopharmacology titling “Isolation,
characterization and biological activity of the bioactive principles from the leaf of Piper betle." After completing my M. Pharm, She has joined Primeasia University, Bangladesh as a Lecturer in Pharmacy and worked there for 3 years. She did her second Master’s in Nutrition from Nutrition Department at University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). In Master’s, her thesis title was “A systematic review on online resources on dietary management of hyperphosphatemia in people with chronic kidney disease.” She has started her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Physiology and Pharmacology department at UNR School of Medicine from Fall 2023
MD/PhD Student
Shaun Suranowitz
Shaun obtained his Bachelor's degree in neuroscience from the University of Washington. Shaun is interested in the role of the microvasculature in glioblastomas.
Undergraduate Researcher
Hunter Nguyen
Hunter is an undergraduate Biology student at the University of Nevada, Reno and is planning to graduate in Spring 2027. As a member of Dr. Gonzales' Lab, he hopes to integrate the research experience and skills developed in the lab into a future career in medicine.
Undergraduate Researcher
Hallee Hughes
Hallee is currently an undergraduate student pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at the University of Nevada. She is conducting research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), where she investigates the effects of diabetes induced hyperglycemia on pericytes and microvascular function in the retina and pancreas. She looks forward to contributing to a better understanding of diabetic microvascular disease.
Undergraduate Researcher
Siddhi Arya
Siddhi is an undergraduate student majoring in Public Health. She is interested in medicine, biomedical research, and academia. Through her work in the lab, she hopes to develop research skills, contribute to ongoing projects, and gain hands-on experience that will support her future career in healthcare and scientific research.
Past Members
Ahmed Eltanahy, MD
Priscilla Jeyaraj
Audrey Marcelyn
Elena Franco
Joshua Rios
Shreya Dadwal​
Patrick Voss
Shipra Goswami
Cristian Franco
Marisela Dagda
Caoimhe O'Neill
Maya Blenkinsop