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Bryant Colin

Graduate Student

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About Bryant

Bryant Colin was born and raised in Oklahoma City. After 18 years in the Sooner State, he moved south to Houston, Texas, where he earned a degree in bioengineering from Rice University. His passion for research was sparked during his time as an undergraduate researcher in the O'Malley Lab at Baylor College of Medicine, where he studied molecular biology related to HIV and autoimmunity. Inspired by his work in immunology, Bryant shifted his focus toward cancer research, interning at Seagen in the Potency Assays group.

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After graduating from Rice, Bryant joined Seagen full-time, where he developed cell-based potency assays to characterize antibody-drug conjugates used in targeted cancer therapies. After two years in Seattle, he relocated to Chicago to pursue his PhD in molecular engineering at the University of Chicago, joining the Esser-Kahn lab.

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Outside of the lab, Bryant enjoys staying active, often lifting weights at the gym or playing soccer. Having developed a love for hiking and snowboarding during his time in the Pacific Northwest, he now spends his time exploring Chicago’s outdoor spaces, like running along Lake Michigan. When he’s not outdoors, Bryant loves exploring the city's diverse food scene, reading, and enjoying a craft beer or cocktail with friends.

Education

B.S., Bioengineering, Rice University (2020)

Favorite Quote

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”

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-Marcus Aurelius

Scientific Hero

Andrew Huberman

Favorite Paper

"Toll-like receptors: Sentinels of the immune system"

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Medzhitov, R., & Janeway, C. A.

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Nature Reviews Immunology. 2002 Jul; 2(7): 507-514. DOI: 10.1038/nri855

If you could be a piece of lab equipment, what would you be?

Thermal cycler – capable of amplifying potential and making the most out of anything.

Bryant's Research

Bryant’s research focuses on discovering small molecule immunomodulators that can direct T cell fates and enhance vaccine responses. Using high-throughput screening, he aims to identify compounds that selectively boost T cell-mediated immunity, creating more effective and durable vaccines. By advancing novel adjuvant systems, Bryant's work seeks to offer a new level of precision in controlling immune responses, with broad potential to transform vaccine development and therapeutic approaches in infectious disease and cancer.

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