Kyler L
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Stanford University
Expertise
Microbiology, Microbiome, Bacteriology, Pathogens, IBD, Intestine, Immunology
Bio
I am a microbiologist & immunologist by training with an extensive background in intestinal immunology and the gut microbiota. I was born & raised in Northern California, did my B.S. in Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and obtained my Ph.D in Microbiology & Immunology at Stanford University. I currently work as a Principal Scientist in the biotechnology sector at a company in the San Francisco, CA Bay Area. I am interested in developing therapies for inflammatory diseases. This has involved understanding how microbes colonize environmental niches (such as our intestines) and interact with our immune system & the resident microbes that live there. Our gut is an immunological hotspot that involves complex host and microbial interactions. During my Ph.D, I studied how a bacterial pathogen called Salmonella competes with the microbiota in order to colonize the mammalian gut. At my current job, I'm currently trying to help research how new and novel biological therapeutics affect our immune system in the gut to treat diseases such as IBD, celiac, and arthritis.Project ideas
[Beginner] Scientific Interpretation and Communication
One of the most challenging (and exciting!) aspects about being a scientist is being able to effectively read a given article, understand whether that article is accurate and/or noteworthy, and then communicate that information to others. Here we will learn how to read primary scientific articles, extract the relevant information necessary to understand it, and then learn how we can recreate that information into various forms of communication suitable for different audiences. Skills obtained in this section will include: 1) learning how to effectively read a primary scientific article even without having any background into a given field, 2) learning how to see whether an article is trustworthy and reasonable, and 3) learning how to communicate that information to different audiences via your choice of either a written, verbal (i.e. presentation / podcast / etc.), and/or visual-style of communication (i.e. presentation / YouTube video / art / etc.).
[Intermediate] Project Development
Bacteria are incredible organisms that can be found throughout nature. For example, they can live in our guts in order to metabolize dietary fiber from the food we eat, or can be found in the ocean producing oxygen we breathe. In this project, we will work on choosing a microbiology-focused topic using Google Scholar and PubMed literature searches, developing a hypothesis by reading and interpreting scientific review articles, and then creating and writing a “Specific Aims” project proposal that is required by undergraduate honors thesis projects and major fellowship/grant-awarding organizations such as NSF, NIH, etc. Skills obtained in this section include: 1) Learning how to choose a scientific topic by searching for and reading scientific articles; 2) learning how develop a hypothesis to test an idea that major organizations might consider fundable; 3) learning how to turn that hypothesis into a written grant proposal (Specific Aims); and 4) learning how to present this proposal to a general audience.
Final Notes
Our goal is to develop reading, writing, and communication skills necessary during college in order to become a biologist. You do not need a background in microbiology. All projects will be accompanied by background lessons whenever necessary.
Teaching experience
I have mentored multiple undergraduate students at UC Berkeley, Stanford, and through Polygence. My mentees have gone on to write honors thesis projects, win undergraduate research fellowships, win local county science fairs, and have developed the basic skills necessary to work in research labs.Credentials
Work experience
Education
Reviews
"My experience with Kyler was amazing. I originally didn’t have much experience writing scientific articles and his expertise was extremely helpful. He knew exactly how to guide me through synthesizing my research clearly. Also, he was very helpful teaching me how to find useful research articles, understand scientific knowledge, and interpret scientific figures. These are all skills that I know will be helpful in the future. Finally, he guided me into thinking about my future in Biology and how to best use this experience for new opportunities."
"It was a great experience to have sessions and learn materials with Kyler! Throughout the program, I got more familiar about how to write a research proposal and what I'll do in the future."
