John J Colicelli

John J Colicelli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has been affiliated with UCLA since November 1990, where he teaches undergraduate, medical, and graduate students while mentoring PhD and postdoctoral fellows. His administrative roles include Vice Chair of Biological Chemistry and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs.

• Born and raised in New Jersey to first-generation Italian American parents
• Bachelor's degree in chemistry from Rutgers University
• Doctoral studies at Columbia University under retrovirologist Stephen Goff
• Postdoctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory focusing on RAS proteins and tumorigenesis

His research centers on signal transduction mechanisms and tumorigenesis, particularly investigating RAS protein pathways and their implications in cancer biology. His work bridges molecular biology with translational applications in medical science.

As an openly gay man, he reflects on the importance of challenging assumptions about identity in academic environments, advocating for authenticity in professional settings despite historical concerns about prejudice.