Tha Luong is a Ph.D. student in Immunology, Graduate Biomedical Science program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She received a master’s degree in microbiology from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa in 2020. Her master project was to examine a methodology to conquer one of the main drawbacks of phage therapy using directed evolution to broaden the host range of a phage cocktail in the bacterial host Serratia marcescens. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the talented program at Vietnam National University of Sciences and her undergraduate project focused on developing a microbial fuel cell to detect iron, a common heavy metal pollution, in ground water. She joined the Dr. Jennifer Pollock and Dr. David Pollock lab in January 2023. Her ongoing research in the lab is to explore mechanisms of the interplay between immune and endothelium system in diet-induced obesity models.
Q: Do you have any particular experiences, interests, or passions that have shaped you as a researcher?
A: My passion to become a scientist comes from my childhood hobby of reading science fiction books. In these books, scientists usually appeared so powerful, and their knowledge could save the world. Although scientists in real life are far different, it is undeniable that applications of scientific knowledge make crucial contributions to the enhancement of people’s health and lives, industries, economy, and environment all around the world.
Q: How did you come to specialize in your field of research?
A: I just follow my passion and curiosity.
Q: What thought/philosophy/principle has helped you during difficult times?
A: Just try your best and let things happen the way they want.
Q: How do you hope your findings will impact the broader community? In other words, what do you hope to achieve with your current research?
A: I hope to have useful findings in the interplay between immune systems and endothelin system in obesity.
Q: What are you most looking forward to being part of the KUH PRIME TL1 #KUHmmunity?
A: I am looking for learning opportunities and networking with other peers and professors in the field.