Benjamin Smith, Ph.D.
Weill Hall Room 251
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2751
Lab: 510.642.2901
Ben joined the MIC team in October 2025, bringing 20 years of light microscopy and image processing experience. Ben started his microscopy journey during his Ph.D. studies in Genome Sciences at the University of Washington. After graduation, he took a graduate faculty position at the University of Oklahoma where he helped to setup and manage the first light microscopy core facility at the university. In 2016, Ben joined the Vision Sciences program at UC Berkeley where he designed and built custom optical and electrical systems for researchers, as well as published several papers on image processing methodologies. As director of the MIC, he seeks to share his passion for science and microscopy with Cal and the greater Bay Area. When not at the MIC, Ben enjoys caving, tree climbing, rock climbing, and cycle touring.
Luis Alvarez, B.S.
Weill Hall Room 251
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2751
Lab: 510.643.8069
Luis joined the MIC Team following an internship in August 2022. He handles training users on the laser scanning confocal microscopes and is eager to learn all things Microscopy. Luis earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Davis, as well as an optical microscopy certificate from Merritt College. Outside of the lab he enjoys spending time with his wife Ana, along with family and friends. They enjoy nature hikes, attending sporting events, and traveling to new destinations.
Cherise Stanley, M.S.
Cherise is arriving at the MIC with 15 years of molecular wet lab experience. She will be taking over all things slide-scanner related along with helping to train new users on the laser scanning confocal microscopes. She is excited to learn all things microscopy. Cherise loved her undergrad at Cal so much she decided to never leave. Outside of the lab she enjoys traveling, reading, swimming, and baking.
Joie Pham
Dylan Torres
AIM2025 (Left to Right): Adeela Syed (UC Irvine), Holly Aaron, Luis Alvarez, Feather Ives (Merritt Biosciences), Cherise Stanley
Holly Aaron, M.S., Director 2001 – 2025
Feather Ives, M.S.
Anita M. Flynn, PhD.
Nathaniel Harrison
Marianna Afremov
Anna Jacobowitz
Elin (Saeyoung) Lee
Conrad Lee (intern)
Tallyn Burton
Christian Williams
Claire Liang
Alina Choi
Ashley Jones
Evalyn Juan
Jen-yi Lee, Ph.D.
Mo Kaze, Ph.D.
Ana Robles, B.S.
Jeff Li
Brandon Azali
Sam Coleman, M.S.
Sophie Blanc
Ariel Kent
Priscilla Ng
Cliff Ng
Stella Breslin
Esther Kim
