David Seong

 

David is the Rajagopal lab's newest undergraduate student, who currently works under the supervision of Kilang Yanger, PhD. He was born in South Korea but grew up mainly in Lexington Massachusetts. David is most likely going to major in biology. Eventually, he would like to become a medical doctor that also performs research.

 

David is investigating the role of the immune system on airway epithelial regeneration using mouse models. Specifically, he is examining how different types of macrophages affect the healing and regeneration process of the airway epithelial barrier. Focus points include the polarization of macrophages into M1 and M2 macrophages as well as the time frame of epithelial regeneration. Understanding the influence of the immune system on regeneration not only better elucidates the complex pathways involved in epithelial stem cell differentiation, but may also provide valuable information toward developing treatments for diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

 

What drew you to your field?

I liked the combination of molecular biology theory that provides the foundation and stem cells that provides a method of application and novel approaches to diseases. 

 

What do you do when you’re not in the lab?

I play cello in the Bach Society Orchestra and also enjoy playing tennis. 

 

Describe Rajagopal lab culture in 3 words:

Intensely tight-knit, hardworking.