Orry Elor

CEO, Scientist, Athlete, & Coach

I’m a PhD candidate at UCSF in the Nadav Ahituv Lab, developing functional-genomics tools to study hidden genomic features and improve gene-editing technologies. I also help lead The Mat Association, train as an athlete, coach others, and stay involved in the communities that shaped me.

Read the story Science Partner / support
UCSF / Ahituv Lab The Mat Association Coach Athlete
Orry Elor working in the Ahituv Lab
Orry ElorIn the Ahituv Lab — science, nonprofit work, training, and coaching.
Overview

I’ve been shaped by classrooms, labs, training rooms, family, teammates, coaches, and the people who kept opening doors.

01

Science

UCSF PhD candidate in the Nadav Ahituv Lab, focused on functional genomics, hidden genomic features, and gene-editing technologies.

02

Service

Helping build nonprofit work around wrestling, academic support, community, and athlete development.

03

Coaching

Coach shaped by serious rooms, university programs, and the responsibility to help athletes improve.

04

Athlete

Greco-Roman wrestling, strength training, and Jiu Jitsu all sit inside the same long practice of learning, adapting, and staying consistent.

Science

Functional genomics, gene regulation, and tools for clearer biology.

The science section stays concise on the homepage and links to a fuller page for collaborators, mentors, employers, and sponsors.

01

Functional genomics

I study how genomic features influence biology, with current UCSF work focused on building tools that can help reveal hidden mechanisms relevant to human health.

UCSF Ahituv Lab
02

Gene-editing technology

The public research thread is tool-oriented: functional genomics, gene regulation, CRISPR-linked approaches, and technologies that make biology easier to measure and improve.

Science page
03

Science shaped by training

Wrestling and the lab both reward patient work: repeat the basics, look carefully, test assumptions, and let the evidence change the next step.

Story page
Chronology

The journey, in order.

From early Greco-Roman results to college training rooms, graduate school, the lab, Jiu Jitsu, coaching, and community work.

First national Greco-Roman result

Started wrestling in high school, lost significant weight during the first season, and placed 5th at Cadet Greco Nationals. It was the first public marker of a new direction.

Result page

Junior Greco-Roman national title

USAW Junior Greco-Roman Nationals, 1st. A major junior result before the college training chapter.

Result page

Ohio State wrestling chapter

Ohio State listed Orry in its 2011–12 heavyweight group as a freshman from Walnut Creek, California.

Ohio State page

Northern Michigan / Greco-Roman focus

A 2018 Golden Gate Xpress profile notes that Orry transferred to Northern Michigan after freshman year at Ohio State and graduated in 2017.

Golden Gate Xpress profile

University Nationals and international dual experience

2013 includes a University Nationals Greco title, FILA Junior World Team Trials placement, and a USOEC Greco dual match win in Sweden.

Result cluster

Senior-level Greco-Roman push

Senior Nationals / Olympic Trials Qualifier, then 4th at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament at 98 kg.

Result cluster

Back to the Bay Area: graduate school and coaching

A 2018 Golden Gate Xpress profile connects Orry with SF State graduate study, CIRM fellowship context, assistant coaching, and training at SF State.

Golden Gate Xpress profile

Jiu Jitsu chapter

Started at Graciefighter Pleasant Hill in 2017; blue belt in 2019; purple belt ceremonies followed on August 20 and August 22, 2022.

BJJ timeline

Senior Nationals return result

Trackwrestling lists 7th at 2023 Senior Nationals in Greco-Roman 97 kg.

Result page

UCSF, nonprofit work, coaching, training, and documentation

UCSF lists Orry as a graduate student in the Ahituv Lab. The present chapter brings together research, service, coaching, training, and the road ahead.

UCSF Ahituv Lab
Training and education history

From Ohio State to Northern Michigan to San Francisco State to UCSF.

Each stop shaped a different part of the work: school, training, research, coaching, and community.

2011–2012
Training history
Ohio Stadium at The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University logo

The Ohio State University

Ohio State’s 2011–12 wrestling preview lists Orry as part of the heavyweight group as a freshman from Walnut Creek, California. This stays factual and linked rather than inflated.

Open source Ohio State 2011–12 wrestling preview; image: Dan Keck / Wikimedia Commons CC0; logo via Wikimedia Commons
After 2011–12; graduated 2017
Education + training
Northern Michigan University Academic Mall
Northern Michigan University logo

Northern Michigan University

A quieter but important chapter: Northern Michigan combined school with the Greco-Roman training-site environment. A 2018 profile says Orry transferred there after freshman year at Ohio State and graduated in 2017.

Open source Image/logo via Wikimedia Commons; National Training Site page via NMU
Fall 2017–2018+
Coaching + education
San Francisco State University sign
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

Back in the Bay Area, this chapter connected graduate school, coaching, training, and mentorship. SF State Athletics lists Orry as an assistant coach.

Open source Photo: Runner1928 / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA; logo/profile via SF State Athletics
Current
PhD / research
UCSF Mission Bay campus
University of California, San Francisco logo

University of California, San Francisco

Current research home in the Nadav Ahituv Lab. UCSF lists Orry as a graduate student developing tools to illuminate hidden genomic features and uncover mechanisms for improving human health.

Open source Photo: Payton Chung / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0; logo via Wikimedia Commons
Athletic milestones

Strength, wrestling, coaching, UCSF, and Jiu Jitsu milestones.

The athletic side is shown as a work history: Diablo Barbell, Ohio State, Westside Barbell, Northern Michigan, San Francisco State, UCSF, and Jiu Jitsu belt progression.

Before college
Strength foundation
Diablo Barbell public website image
Diablo Barbell

Diablo Barbell

Early strength training became part of the foundation for later college wrestling, Greco-Roman training, coaching, and Jiu Jitsu.

Open source Image/source via Diablo Barbell public website
2011–2012
Wrestling
The Ohio State University athletics setting
Ohio State wrestling logo

Ohio State wrestling

A serious college wrestling environment and part of the path that later shaped training, coaching, and standards.

Open source Ohio State 2011–12 wrestling preview; image: Dan Keck / Wikimedia Commons CC0
Around 2013
Powerlifting / conjugate method
Original Westside Barbell gym training floor
Westside

Westside Barbell with Louie Simmons

A strength chapter tied to Louie Simmons and Westside Barbell in Columbus, Ohio, and an early exposure to the conjugate training system.

Westside Barbell, Columbus, Ohio, around 2013.

Open source Image/source via Westside Barbell public website
After 2011–12; through 2017
Wrestling
Northern Michigan University campus
Northern Michigan University / Greco-Roman training site logo

Northern Michigan University / Greco-Roman training site

A Greco-Roman chapter where school and training lived in the same ecosystem. Public profiles connect this period to the Olympic Training Site and a 2017 graduation.

Open source Image/logo via Wikimedia Commons
2017–2018+
Coach / athlete
Orry Elor SF RTC headshot
San Francisco State coaching and training logo

San Francisco State coaching and training

A chapter where competitive experience became coaching, teaching, and helping athletes develop. Public 2018 coverage places Orry training at SF State and coaching under Jason Welch.

Open source Source via SF State Athletics / SF RTC headshot source
Current
Scientist-athlete
UCSF Mission Bay campus
UCSF — current training around PhD life logo

UCSF — current training around PhD life

The current balancing point: doctoral research, community work, training, coaching, and the next athletic goals.

Open source Photo: Wikimedia Commons; lab profile via UCSF Ahituv Lab
2017
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Graciefighter Pleasant Hill, 2017
White belt

Started Jiu Jitsu at Graciefighter Pleasant Hill

Orry started training Jiu Jitsu in 2017 at Graciefighter in Pleasant Hill, California.

Open source Cesar Gracie Academy / personal timeline
2019
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Blue belt, 2019
Blue belt

Blue belt — Cesar Gracie and Vini Nunes

Orry was awarded his blue belt in 2019 by Cesar Gracie and Vini Nunes.

Open source Personal BJJ timeline
August 20, 2022
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Purple belt with Cesar Gracie, August 20, 2022
Purple belt

Purple belt — Cesar Gracie, Pleasant Hill

Orry was awarded his purple belt by Cesar Gracie at Graciefighter in Pleasant Hill, CA.

Pleasant Hill ceremony with Cesar Gracie, August 20, 2022.

Open source Personal BJJ timeline
August 22, 2022
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Ralph Gracie San Francisco ceremony, August 22, 2022
Purple belt

Purple belt ceremony — Ralph Gracie, San Francisco

Orry also had a purple belt ceremony with Ralph Gracie in San Francisco, CA on August 22, 2022.

San Francisco ceremony with Ralph Gracie, August 22, 2022.

Open source Ralph Gracie academy / personal timeline
Greco-Roman competition history

Notable Greco-Roman results and participation.

A chronological view of key results, from Cadet and Junior Greco through senior-level competition.

July 21, 2008
Greco-Roman
Wrestling stance placeholder
GR

Cadet Greco Nationals — 5th

An early national placing after starting wrestling in high school. A Golden Gate Xpress profile later described this first season as a turning point physically and mentally.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
March 29, 2009
Greco-Roman
Wrestling scramble placeholder
1st

Northwest Cadet/Junior Greco-Roman Regional — 1st

A regional Greco-Roman win that showed the early progress was not a one-off and helped build momentum toward national results.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
July 20, 2010
Greco-Roman
Wrestling placeholder
Fargo

USAW Junior Greco-Roman Nationals — 1st

A junior national title in Fargo. Public Ohio State and Trackwrestling records make this a key marker before the college training chapter.

Open source Ohio State 2011-12 wrestling media guide + Trackwrestling
May 26, 2013
Greco-Roman
Northern Michigan University campus
1st

ASICS University Nationals Greco — 1st at 120 kg

A University Nationals Greco title during the Northern Michigan / Olympic training-site period, linking school with high-level Greco-Roman development.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
June 23, 2013
Greco-Roman
Wrestling stance placeholder
2nd

FILA Junior World Team Trials Greco Challenge — 2nd

A World Team Trials placement that kept the international Greco-Roman pathway visible and competitive.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
October 31, 2013
International dual
Northern Michigan University campus
USA

USOEC Greco dual in Sweden — match win

USA Wrestling reported Orry among the USOEC athletes who won matches in a Greco-Roman dual in Härnösand, Sweden — useful international dual experience.

Open source USA Wrestling / TheMat.com
December 19, 2015
Greco-Roman 98 kg
Wrestling placeholder
5th

Senior Nationals & Olympic Trials Qualifier — 5th

USA Wrestling’s 2016 Olympic Trials preview lists Orry Elor, Walnut Creek, Calif., as the 2015 Olympic Trials Qualifier fifth-place finisher at 98 kg.

Open source USA Wrestling preview + Trackwrestling
April 10, 2016
Greco-Roman 98 kg
Wrestling stance placeholder
OTT

U.S. Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament — 4th

A fourth-place finish at the 2016 Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament. It belongs in the story because it shows both proximity to the goal and the need to keep rebuilding.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
June 5, 2016
Greco-Roman 98 kg
Wrestling placeholder
2nd

University Greco Nationals — 2nd

Trackwrestling lists Orry taking 2nd at 2016 University Greco Nationals at 98 kg.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
April 22, 2018
Greco-Roman
Orry Elor headshot
1st

Open Greco 130 — 1st

Trackwrestling lists Orry winning Open Greco 130 at the 2018 CAUSA Kids/Greco/Freestyle/Open event.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
December 17, 2023
Greco-Roman 97 kg
Wrestling stance placeholder
7th

Senior Nationals — 7th

Trackwrestling lists Orry placing 7th at 2023 Senior Nationals in Greco-Roman 97 kg.

Open source Trackwrestling profile
Updates

Writing, training notes, journal entries, and social highlights.

A practical hub for blog posts, training updates, nutrition notes, weight-trend summaries, social highlights, and RSS.

Placeholder wrestling image
Featured · 2028

Road to 2028: work, learning, and community

Training, learning, community, and the routines behind a long athletic goal.
Training / nutrition / weight

A public journal for the work behind the work.

Training, nutrition, recovery, and competition prep make more sense when they are shown with context.

training · May 24, 2026

Training week check-in

A weekly training summary: focus, sessions, recovery, lessons, and the next adjustment.

sessions: 6 · minutes: 420 · focus: base-building and technical consistency

nutrition · May 23, 2026

Nutrition journal

Food, calories, hydration, and performance notes with context rather than noise.

calories: public range optional · focus: protein, hydration, travel meals

weight · May 22, 2026

Weight trend check-in

Weight updates are most useful as trends, context, and performance notes rather than isolated numbers.

weightTrend: trend-focused · focus: health, performance, competition context

recovery · May 21, 2026

Recovery and sleep check-in

Sleep, soreness, mobility, recovery tools, and the training adjustments that follow.

sleep: 7h average · focus: mobility and consistency

Photos and clippings

Profiles, photos, videos, and source links.

Profiles, interviews, source pages, and visual references in one place.

Open source
Affiliations

Labs, teams, gyms, schools, and organizations connected to the work.

Each card links out and explains the relationship, instead of just dropping a logo.

Ahituv Lab Graduate student in Nadav Ahituv's lab San Francisco State Wrestling Assistant coach history The Mat Association Nonprofit cofounder University of California, San Francisco PhD candidate / graduate researcher LinkedIn Professional profile New York Athletic Club Greco-Roman wrestling club affiliation
science

Ahituv Lab

Graduate student in Nadav Ahituv's lab. Functional genomics, gene regulatory elements, and therapeutic targeting of gene regulation.

wrestling

San Francisco State Wrestling

Assistant coach history. A coaching and mentorship chapter connected to wrestling development in the Bay Area.

nonprofit

The Mat Association

Nonprofit cofounder. A community organization connecting combat sports, academic support, and character development.

media

LinkedIn

Professional profile. Best public destination for employer-facing career details until the CV page is finalized.

wrestling

New York Athletic Club

Greco-Roman wrestling club affiliation. Public UCSF profile language connects Orry's Greco-Roman wrestling to New York Athletic Club competition.

education

Northern Michigan University

Undergraduate path and Greco-Roman training base. A major chapter combining school, Olympic Training Site wrestling, and early research exposure.

Interactive map

A life organized like a mat: center, edge, reset, return.

This is the signature interactive section: click a point to move between science, training, coaching, nonprofit work, and the 2028 path.

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