PhD in Immunology Alum Spotlights: Keith Eidell Shares His Journey from Graduate Student to CAR-T Researcher

Keith Eidell, a graduate of the Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) PhD in Immunology program, shares his experience studying T cell biology, publishing impactful research, and transitioning into postdoctoral work at MIT’s Koch Institute. Read on to learn how Tufts helped shape his scientific career and why he recommends the program to future students interested in therapeutic science and immunology.

Why did you choose to pursue this degree?

"I chose the immunology PhD program because the field of immunology has been growing and has become more and more prominent in many contexts of human health, particularly in developing engineered cell-based therapeutics."

Why did you choose Tufts to pursue your degree?

"I chose to pursue my PhD in Immunology at Tufts due to the long history of great training of students from the graduate school over the years. The areas of T cell biology were particularly interesting to me and the availability to pursue my research pursuits at Tufts was very strong. I was also very impressed with the mentorship I received from my advisor and my thesis committee members."

What was the focus of your research, and what questions were you trying to answer?

"The focus of my research at Tufts was studying the cellular and molecular membrane dynamics of T cells in relation to the immune synapse with target cells. This work I have further transitioned into my postdoctoral research at MIT."

How would you describe your experience in the program?

"My experience at Tufts PhD program in Immunology was extremely strong. I had great mentorship from my direct advisor and had great support from my thesis committee members with constructive feedback on my thesis research. I developed the critical thinking, technical skills and independence I needed, in order to further pursue my scientific career in my postdoctoral work."

What was your favorite aspect of the program?

"My favorite aspect of the graduate program was giving talks annually at the student seminar workshop series all graduate students in the program present at every year. It was a great opportunity to present work to the program faculty and students and get their feedback on my results and direction of work. The other aspect I really appreciated was gaining my independence in the last few years of my thesis work and publishing papers."

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

"My proudest accomplishment was publishing my main project on different membrane integrins and related signaling proteins and how these proteins and corresponding dynamics control T cell activation. Taking an idea from discussion, through lab bench work, to publication, was very fulfilling."

How has completion of the program helped you advance your professional goals?

"Completing my PhD at Tufts from the Immunology program really set me on the path to achieve my future goals in research. I transitioned my PhD work into Postdoctoral research at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, developing CAR-T cell therapeutics. I extended my PhD work into different in vivo mouse models trying to understand why some B cell hematological cancers evade cytotoxic CAR-T therapy and eventually cause relapse in a significant number of CAR-T treated patients."

What do you want a prospective student to know about Tufts?

"Prospective students should know that if they attend and achieve great things in the Immunology program that it can really develop them for pursuing impactful therapeutic science that can potentially save many patients lives."

Related links:

Request Information
Program Overview
Admissions Process