Bree Grillo-Hill

Bree Grillo-Hill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at San José State University, part of the College of Science. She leads an active research laboratory focused on understanding how intracellular pH influences cancer cell behaviors.

Her research centers on identifying pH sensors that regulate cellular functions in disease contexts, particularly cancer. She has pioneered the development of innovative tools to measure and manipulate acid levels within cells—a significant first in the field—enabling deeper insights into metabolic dysregulation and disease progression. Her work bridges molecular biology, biochemistry, and cancer biology, with applications in understanding pathological cell behavior.

Grillo-Hill is deeply committed to student research training. Her lab actively involves students in hands-on research, with participants presenting their findings at prestigious conferences such as the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), the Annual Drosophila Research Conference, and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS).

She has successfully mentored students who have gone on to top graduate and medical programs including UC San Francisco, as well as positions in biotechnology firms like Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Beckman Coulter, and academic labs at the University of Pennsylvania. Her mentorship philosophy emphasizes transferable skills such as critical thinking and collaboration, preparing students for diverse career paths beyond the bench.

Her research team utilizes advanced techniques such as fluorescent protein imaging and live-cell microscopy, including custom-built inverted imaging systems. Projects in her lab include the development of novel fluorescent proteins to detect intracellular pH changes and the study of cell division dynamics in model organisms like Drosophila.