Anthony Covarrubias, PhD •  Cell Biologist

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I am a

Cell Biologist

Anthony Covarrubias, PhD

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Classic Cars.

My father painted cars, so I grew up around car culture my whole life. I have a 1954 Chevy truck, kind of like the ones you see in those classic Christmas postcards. I try to work on my cars as much as I can, and I’ve been rebuilding the skills I had as a kid when I’d hang around the car shop. On Saturday mornings, I sometimes go to meetups where you just pull up and chat for an hour or two with other people into classic cars. It’s a big thing here, so I also love checking out more formal shows around Southern California.

Gardening.

I've been a gardener since I was a little kid. My wife and I have big gardens in our front and back yards, so we're always pruning, planting, pulling weeds, and visiting gardens around our city. We love cooking, so we try to grow a lot of the foods we eat. It still amazes me how you can take a seed, even if it’s all dried out, and if you put it in the soil and add water, it can blossom into amazing fruits or vegetables. It's probably one of the reasons I got into science. I think it’s a fascinating and beautiful thing.

Hosting Barbecues.

Barbecue is a hobby for me; I love trying out different techniques. I can easily spend a day watching YouTube videos for different regional styles, like Carolina ribs, Tennessee dry rub, Texas-style brisket, or California tri-tip. And then having all of our friends over to hang out and enjoy it.

Fishing.

Most of my favorite things involve doing something outside. On a nice day, my friends and I are really into fishing. Southern California has a lot of beautiful lakes and access to the ocean, so we’ll head to a pier and enjoy the time outside. There is a lot of mackerel around here, and when I was in Northern California, we’d go crabbing. It’s a way to relax and stay connected with people.

Sports.

I’m a big sports fan. I’m a 49ers guy, and growing up in LA you’ve got to be a Dodgers fan. Lakers too. I watch all the major sports, and especially enjoy watching games with friends. During football season, we’ll watch every 49ers game and take turns hosting a BBQ and watch party for everyone.

A Little About Me

  • I never had a lot of family support, so I looked for support in my community.

    I grew up in South LA in the 90s, and most of the people in my community didn't graduate high school. I had to keep myself focused and motivated, and I surrounded myself with supportive people. It feels good knowing the folks in the community I grew up in are rooting for me.

  • I prioritize taking care of the people and environments around me.

    I’m a new dad and love spending time on the beach with my wife and son, so I think it’s important to do my part to keep it clean. I’ll often volunteer for clean-up days or pick up trash on long walks. I try to put the time in to take care of the things I value.

  • I’m a big champion for supporting more diversity in STEM.

    Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of role models like myself to look up to in STEM. One of my big motivations for becoming a professor was to change that image for the next generation. STEM fields are a big part of our workforce and future, and I want to see the people in these fields be just as diverse as our society.

  • I have a hard time staying still.

    Whether it’s engaging my mind or my physical self, I like to keep myself busy. I’m always doing something – gardening, BBQing, working out, or watching documentaries that challege my thinking. I hate feeling bored.

  • I want to do work that benefits my communities.

    I often think about the bigger picture in science. Many people in my community growing up faced diseases like diabetes, and I saw a big gap in access to treatment for the elderly and people of color during the pandemic. It really drove home the importance of making sure public health and medicine can reach and serve everyone.

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MY ADVICE

“A lot of success is really just perseverance. We fail over and over and over, and then hopefully, we start to improve."

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WHO I AM

People describe me as..

  • Determined

    I had to make my own path, and that meant a lot of hard work and self-motivation. I’ve always stayed focused and committed to making the life I want happen.

  • Kind

    I think we can get wrapped up in our own world, so I think it’s important to put effort into being a good person. I try to show kindness to my family, my friends, my coworkers, and to always try to have empathy for other people.

  • Inquisitive

    I'm always reading or researching something that I'm really curious about. I have lots of random hobbies or things that I really want to understand, whether it’s good barbecue or how to get the best crop of veggies.

  • Open-Minded

    I'm smart when it comes to what I know, but there's also so much I don't know. So I always try to be open-minded and listen to other people's suggestions. I try to reflect on when I might be wrong as well.

My Accomplishments:

BS in Biochemistry from UCLA

PhD in Biological Studies in Public Health from Harvard

Ford Fellowship

UC PPFP Fellowship

The Basics:

Pronouns: He/Him

Title: Assistant Professor

Institution: UCLA

Expertise: Aging; Immunology; Metabolism

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Where to Follow Me:

TWITTER →
LAB WEBSITE →

“Science is like art. Your tools in your lab are like your paint, your brush, your crayons, or your chalk. You have these questions you're trying to ask, but a limited amount of tools to answer them. So you have to be very creative.”

— ANTHONY COVARRUBIAS

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tandem Photo • Illustrator: Nicole Medina

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