While it was hard at first to be alone in a new country, I was lucky to quickly make friends with other international students. These were bonds that helped turn a strange place into a second home.

I knew I wanted to be a scientist because of my love of nature and biology. My parents are very adventurous and love the outdoors, they inspired my passion for science.

When choosing a PhD I knew I wanted a project that had the potential to make a difference to patients. Working with a team of highly accomplished immunologists who could support my growth was also very important to me. I found both at the Snow Centre.

My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of cell death in T cells – critical players in the immune system. We’re investigating how T cells transition from a resting to an activated state.

What we really want to know is why our immune system sometimes mistakenly attacks our own healthy tissue and organs – and whether we can target and turn off disease-causing activated cells, while preserving healthy ones.

What’s exciting is the hope that our research may eventually lead to the development of new treatments for patients with immune deficiencies.

Become a Snow PhD Scholar: The Snow Centre has dedicated funding for PhD scholarships that provide support for early-career researchers in both clinical and basic science disciplines. Find out more about the program.

–

Header image: Jasmine Yang