José Pablo Vázquez-Medina

Research Bio

José Pablo Vázquez-Medina is an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley.  He studies mechanisms of adaptation to natural and anthropogenic stressors in marine vertebrates and the role of oxidative stress and redox signaling in pre-clinical models of disease at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. His research group aims to understand the physiological mechanisms that drive extreme adaptation in marine vertebrates and the contributions of redox biology to the progression of several diseases. Current projects include 1) the physiological consequences of chronic stress exposure in marine mammals, 2) cellular mechanisms underlying the diving response, and 3) the regulation of the antioxidant protein peroxiredoxin 6.

Research Expertise and Interest

marine mammals, pre-clinical models of disease

In the News

Is English the lingua franca of science? Not for everyone.

English has become the de facto language of science: International conferences are held in English, the world’s top scientific journals are in English and academics in non-English speaking countries get promoted based on their publications in English language journals. Even scientific jargon is in English — most non-English speakers use English terms and don’t bother inventing equivalent words in their native languages.

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent terms
2026 Spring

  • Human Physiology  [INTEGBI 132]  

  • Directed Undergraduate Research  [INTEGBI 191]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [INTEGBI 199]  

  • Special Study in Integrative Biology  [INTEGBI 298]  

  • Graduate Research  [INTEGBI 299]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [INTEGBI 99]  

  • Thesis Course  [INTEGBI H196A]  

  • Thesis Course  [INTEGBI H196B]  

  • Supervised Research: Biological Sciences  [UGIS 192C]  

2025 Fall

  • Directed Undergraduate Research  [INTEGBI 191]  

  • Undergraduate Student Instructor for Integrative Biology Courses  [INTEGBI 194]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [INTEGBI 199]  

  • Special Study in Integrative Biology  [INTEGBI 298]  

  • Graduate Research  [INTEGBI 299]  

  • Marine Mammals  [INTEGBI 41]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [INTEGBI 99]  

  • Thesis Course  [INTEGBI H196A]  

  • Supervised Research: Biological Sciences  [UGIS 192C]  

2025 Summer

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [INTEGBI 199]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [INTEGBI 199]  

2025 Spring

  • Human Physiology  [INTEGBI 132]  

  • Directed Undergraduate Research  [INTEGBI 191]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [INTEGBI 199]  

  • Special Study in Integrative Biology  [INTEGBI 298]  

  • Graduate Research  [INTEGBI 299]  

  • Thesis Course  [INTEGBI H196B]  

  • Supervised Research: Biological Sciences  [UGIS 192C]