Darby Ballard

Biography

Undergraduate
Texas A&M University

Undergraduate Degree
BS, Biomedical Engineering

Lab
Dr. Jim Song

Research Interests
T cells, autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, machine learning, immunoengineering

What excites you about joining Texas A&M School of Medicine for your PhD studies?
I’m thrilled to be able to tie engineering and medicine together to progress the field of immunology. The prospect of working with faculty and my peers is extremely exciting and I’m looking forward to growing in such a diverse and collaborative environment.

If you could meet any scientist throughout history, who would you want to meet and why?
I would love to have met Hildegard von Bingen. Hildegard progressed the fields of medicine, botany, and history during a time when women were rarely involved in the scientific community. She explored the development and treatments of numerous diseases and the therapeutic properties of plants, some of which are still used in modern medicine. She was both diligent and innovative, characteristics that I strive to incorporate in my studies.

Tell us something you are passionate about apart from research.
My passions include exploring new places, experimenting with new recipes, and taking care of my plants and pets.