Building the future of olfactory research: An MBR graduate spotlight

For Liam Lee, MBS26, pursuing the MS in Biomedical Research (MBR) at Tufts was an opportunity to dive deeper into a scientific question that had long fascinated him: how the sense of smell works and regenerates. After coming from a clinical background in the United Kingdom, Lee sought a program that would allow him to develop laboratory research skills while contributing to meaningful scientific discovery. Working alongside Brian Lin, PhD, and James Schwob, MD, PhD, he focused his research on human olfactory stem cell biology and the development of models that could advance our understanding of tissue regeneration. Now a research technician, Lee reflects on his experience in the program, his proudest accomplishments, and the advice he would give future students.

Why did you choose to pursue the MS in Biomedical Research degree?

"Coming from a clinical background in the UK, I wanted to explore the basic science behind one of the areas that fascinates me most, which is the sense of smell. The MBR program provided a great opportunity to develop wet-lab skills and fully immerse myself in this research."

Why did you choose Tufts to pursue your degree?

"Tufts was an easy choice for me because of the incredible work done in the lab by Dr. Jim Schwob and Dr. Brian Lin. Their research in olfactory stem cell biology was exactly what I wanted to learn more about."

What is the focus of your research, and what questions are you trying to answer?

"My research focuses on understanding how the human olfactory epithelium differentiates, maintains, and regenerates its cell populations. Because reliable in vitro culture systems for human olfactory tissue are not yet fully established, my primary work centers on building these foundational models. Specifically, I investigate the signaling mechanisms between horizontal basal cells and their niche to determine how to generate mature olfactory epithelium from a single stem cell population."

How would you describe your experience in the program?

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the program, thanks to the dedication from both the program director and my lab mentors. The curriculum offered a balanced mix of coursework and dedicated bench time. Taking classes alongside PhD students provided a healthy challenge that sharpened my thinking, while weekly journal clubs made exploring new literature an engaging routine."

What was your favorite aspect of the program?

"Definitely the student talks! It was fascinating to hear about the others work across different labs and it was also rewarding to share my own progress."

What is your proudest academic or professional accomplishment while at Tufts?

"My proudest accomplishment was successfully completing my Master's thesis on optimizing an in vitro model for the human olfactory epithelium. While there is still progress to be made, we uncovered some truly exciting findings that have opened up promising avenues for future research."

How has completing the program helped you advance your professional goals?

"It provided the link between my clinical background and basic science discovery I was looking for."

What do you want prospective students to know about Tufts?

"It’s a great institution filled with brilliant scientists, who also happen to be kind and approachable human beings."
 

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