Reagan Keyser, BS
Undergraduate Institution: Alma College
Research mentor: Jill Kolezar, PharmD, MS, FCCP (Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics)
Research topic: Macrophage Functional States and Tumor Microenvironment Interactions, with Implications for Macrophage-Derived Nanoparticle Therapeutics
Background: I am from a small town called Hemlock in Michigan. I graduated summa cum laude with Departmental Honors from Alma College in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.
I have always known that I would follow a scientific path, but I did not focus specifically on cancer until college. During this time, I explored many different fields of research, which allowed me to see the wide range of directions that science could take me. My interest in cancer research began while working under Dr. Joel Dopke in an inorganic chemistry lab, where we focused on developing a molecule to aid in the targeted delivery of the emerging targeted therapeutic technique, Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Through this experience, I discovered a strong interest in developing and improving therapies.
However, I credit my time at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, as part of the Perrigo Undergraduate Summer Fellowship, for shaping that interest toward biological applications. There, I conducted research in Dr. Michael Cianfrocco’s lab, investigating the selective inhibition of kinesin by kinesin-binding protein. I found that I greatly enjoyed working with biological systems, and this experience expanded my technical skillset in ways that better suited my developing research interests.
I aim to obtain a PhD in biomedical sciences, focusing on cancer biology. I hope to lead my own lab, where I can contribute to advancing the field while mentoring others as they discover and pursue their own paths. At this time, I am still deciding whether I would prefer to pursue a career in academia or industry.
Throughout my undergraduate years, I was an active member of my college's IGEM team, where I eventually served as president. Our team’s project focused on developing a potential treatment for White-nose Syndrome, a fungal disease plaguing North American bat populations, contributing immensely to their population decline. Under my leadership, we competed at the Grand Jamboree in Paris, France, where our project earned a silver medal.
Although I love working in the lab, I also greatly enjoy engaging with the community through service. During college, I was heavily involved in many community-based volunteer initiatives. Through the Chemistry club and IGEM team, I worked to improve science literacy in rural communities by organizing and participating in community outreach events.
Additionally, I served as a site leader for Alternative Breaks, a student-led organization through which I organized and participated in service trips across the country, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, California, Michigan, and Virginia. These experiences focused on a range of efforts such as environmental stewardship, disaster relief, and supporting children's health.
One of my most impactful Alternative Breaks was organizing a service trip to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. During my first year leading this trip, we were given the opportunity to take a tour of one of their research facilities. I was blown away at the labs and knew that I had to be in there one day.
When I am not in the lab, I enjoy taking long, aimless walks while listening to music, working out, watching movies, reading, and taking photos of nature with my camera.
