Cristina Soto Alvarez joined the Byers Lab in 2024 as a Program Manager. She earned her Master of Science in Global Health from the University of California, San Francisco, and her B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA. Cristina is deeply passionate about research that promotes health equity in minority populations, particularly among Veterans. Her interests include projects focused on dementia, PTSD, and mental health, as well as advancing research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ARDR).
Originally from Peru, Cristina has lived throughout California and now calls San Francisco home. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active—whether it’s lifting weights at the gym, practicing Pilates, or heading outdoors for a weekend hike.
Cristina Soto Alvarez, MS
Program Manager
Yixia Li, MPH
Data Manager
Yixia Li, MPH is a Senior Statician responsible for leading statistical analyses and driving insights at the Byers Lab, and joined our team in 2015. She received her Masters in Public Health from West Virginia University, with an emphasis in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Her curiosity is sparked by big data management and analysis, where she loves uncovering hidden patterns and insights that inform our research. Outside of work, Yixia enjoys hiking and swimming. Originally from China, Yixia studied medicine before earning her MPH from West Virginia University and joining our team in California.
Randall joined the Byers Lab in 2020 as a Staff Research Associate for Dr. Byers and is currently a PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research focuses on the epidemiology of late-life suicide in the US veteran population, with particular emphasis on antipsychotic medications, frailty, and PTSD. He is especially interested in using pharmacoepidemiology methods to help shape clinical guidelines and inform regulatory decisions. One of the projects he found most exciting in the lab explored CNS medication use in the context of suicidal behavior.
Now based in Baltimore, MD, Randall balances his academic work with love for the outdoors. When he’s not analyzing data, you can find him hiking, backpacking, or rock climbing—always chasing his next adventure!
Randall Kuffell, ScM
Staff Research Associate
Ryan Clark, BA
Staff Research Associate II
Ryan Clark is a dedicated researcher in the Byers Lab with a passion for mental health and a commitment to improving the lives of Veterans. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology from San Jose State University and further expanded his expertise at the University of California, Berkeley. At the lab, Ryan works on a range of exciting projects, focusing on areas such as PTSD, suicide prevention, substance use, and neuropsychological disorders. He's also exploring career paths that bring together his interests in mental health, science, and medicine—and he’s eager to see where this journey leads!