Dr. Aaron Carlin

Biography

Aaron Carlin received his Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Philosophy from UCLA before enrolling in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of California, San Diego. He joined the laboratories of Dr. Victor Nizet and Dr. Ajit Varki to pursue his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. During his graduate studies, Aaron demonstrated that group B Streptococcus (GBS) uses molecular mimicry through direct protein interactions to engage sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins (Siglecs) on human innate immune cells, impairing their antimicrobial functions and increasing GBS pathogenesis. After completing medical school, he joined the Physician Scientist Training Program at UCSD, where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases. Aaron then trained as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Chris Glass, where he developed unbiased genome-wide methods to study how viruses subvert transcription. He was appointed Assistant Professor at UCSD in 2019 and currently leads research that focuses on host-pathogen interactions, particularly how pathogens manipulate host immune responses.

Research Interests