Reed T
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Washington University in St. Louis
Expertise
Immunology, microbiology, bioinformatics, mechanical engineering, math, engineering/biology simulations
Bio
I am an immunology PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis. Currently, I working on research to develop an mRNA vaccines against strains of influenza and coronavirus. In my undergrad, I studied biological engineering and biochemistry at Purdue, and conducted bioinformatics research. In my spare time, I enjoy running, reading about philosophy (particularly ethics), and studying ways to improve human longevity. I care a lot about science and critical thinking, and am excited by the opportunity to mentor students as they develop these skills.Project ideas
Characterizing the immune response to a novel bacteria
Mice will be infected with a newly discovered bacteria, and changes to the populations of major types of immune cells will be measured via histology. For a more detailed characterization, flow cytometry and/or scRNA-seq could also be used to look for more specific changes in the immune system. Based on these results, depleting antibodies will be used to assess the function of each component of the immune response.
Optimizing protocol for in vitro meat cell culture
Different scaffolds, temperatures, and supernatants will be tested for how effectively they enable the growth of muscle cells from a particular animal. A range of mixers and heat sources will be manufactured and evaluated. Experiments can be conducted in the presence and absence of bovine serum, and downstream processing steps (shaping, packaging) can also be evaluated.