Team

Julio Catalan works as the Logistics Coordinator where he ensures BABEC supplies inventory are organized, prepare Reagent Kits and Equipment for clients, schedule and make on-site deliveries. Julio also represents BABEC as a liaison with BIOScope projects in collaborations with participating community colleges.

Julio joined BABEC in May 2021 while completing his Biotechnology Manufacturing Assistant Certification at Skyline College and has been instrumental in drafting a new warehouse layout for inventory at BABEC’s Burlingame location and streamlining inventory documentation.  

Julio has an A.S. in Math and Science from the City College of San Francisco, possesses lifelong interest for the life sciences especially animal biology, and he enjoys walking and caring for his dog. 

Elizabeth leads BABEC’s curriculum projects and coordinates with teachers to help them bring hands-on labs to their classrooms. She joined BABEC in July 2019 and loves creating engaging, phenomenon-driven lessons that empower students through biotechnology. 

Before joining BABEC, Elizabeth taught biology and biotechnology at San Mateo High School. Before teaching, she worked as a professional research assistant in a lab studying a gene associated with Parkinson’s disease. When she is not working at BABEC, Elizabeth enjoys her time by dancing, traveling, reading and hiking.

Elizabeth received her BA in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from University of Colorado at Boulder and her Master’s degree in Education from Stanford University.

Michael works as a program manager supporting teachers in San Francisco implementing biotechnology lessons into their classrooms.  He is also on the Leadership team for the NSF funded National Biotechnology Education Center (also known as InnovATEBIO), where he focuses on pathway development for underrepresented high school students to careers in Biotechnology.  Before joining BABEC, Michael was Principal of Gateway High School where he focused on increasing access to STEM related classes and experiences. He also taught biology, biotechnology and AP biology courses during his 20-year tenure in San Francisco public schools.  

Most recently, he began teaching a Dual Enrollment Biotechnology course at Skyline College. Before his teaching career, he worked for Gilead Sciences in the department of Virology focusing mainly on HIV resistance to reverse transcriptase inhibitors.  

He is a devoted fan of reading, running, tennis, the Giants and 49ers, and spends much of his free time driving his kids to practices across town.

Michael graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Genetics and holds California Administrative and Life Sciences Teaching credentials.

Ying-Tsu leads BABEC in strategic and business development and oversees the growth of the BABEC team. She provides leadership on BABEC’s collaborative projects with educational and other nonprofit partners. This includes BioSCOPE, a collaborative project with several community colleges in the Bay Area. Her favorite motto is “continuous improvement” so BABEC can provide quality curricula, products and services to BABEC’s teachers, while improving productivity, efficiency and practices within BABEC.

Ying-Tsu joined BABEC in 2016 and has held several roles as project and operations directors in the past. She’s currently a Mentor-Connect Fellow and on the Leadership Team with InnovATEBIO where she champions the Supply Chain Hub. She is also a faculty member in the Biotechnology Program at CCSF, where she has taught since 2004.

Ying-Tsu received her PhD from Purdue University in agronomy and plant molecular biology. She is an active member of the Scouts of America, being the mom of two Eagle Scouts. She loves camping and hiking, always searching for the most breathtaking views in the world.

As the Operations Manager, Kitty Mei oversees the lab operations and the supply chain process throughout all the high schools in the Bay Area. She also serves as the webmaster for BABEC’s website.

Kitty joined BABEC in 2017 and was instrumental in developing the infrastructure for operating the lab during BABEC’s relocation to CCSF Mission Campus.