Sylvia Torres Odio

Biography

Graduate Program
PhD Medical Science

Entrance Year
2018

Previous Degree
Master in Molecular Biology

What are your career goals? How does the graduate program support you to prepare for it?
My ultimate goal is to establish my own research laboratory, studying the interplay between mitochondria and antiviral responses, to hopefully develop therapeutics and vaccines against emerging viral threats. The graduate program has helped me to gain expertise in different research areas and to broaden my scientific training with writing classes and networking skills.

What would you say your biggest accomplishments are so far?
I would say that being awarded with and F31 pre-doctoral fellowship is my biggest accomplishment so far.

Lab
West Lab

Research Focus
Cancer, Cell and Developmental Biology
Cardiovascular, Lymphatic and Metabolic Disease
Genetics, Genomics and Network Biology

Describe your research project
In my research project I studied different ways mitochondria, a cell organelle involved primarily in energy production, engage the immune system. The role of mitochondria in immunity and inflammation is a less explored contributor of many pathologies such as: autoimmunity, cancer and neurodegeneration. This area of research will help to identify specific components of each disease at cellular level and that way help designing more effective treatments.

Why did you choose the School of Medicine at Texas A&M?
I chose the PhD program at the MED because it covered several areas of interest and gave me the possibility to expand my knowledge in different areas of immunity and pathogenesis.

How did the program help you prepare for your independent research project?
Overall, the program offered a broad spectrum of research tracks and classes that have helped me to gain knowledge in host-pathogen interaction. I also have the possibility to learn new techniques and gain expertise in molecular and cellular immunology. The different seminars and symposiums offered in the program gave me the possibility to present my research and get important feedback from researchers in different fields.