Todd Bartkowiak, Ph.D. received his B.S. in Biology from Sam Houston State University and his M.S. in Biomedical Science / Immunology from MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Science. Todd did his Ph.D. research with Michael Curran, Ph.D. and James Allison, Ph.D., at MD Anderson. He joined the Jonathan Irish and Rebecca Ihrie labs as a Postdoctoral Scholar in 2018 to study brain tumor immunology. Todd’s project uses computational immunology to characterize tumor-infiltrating immune cells and develop new ways to activate immune responses against cancer.
Learn a bit about his research from Dr. Bartkowiak himself!
"The lateral ventricle constitutes a unique immunological niche in human glioblastoma."
When you were 5, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A scientist!
What was it about science that drew you to it?
I love understanding how complicated the human body is and how the immune system is able to recognize when things aren't going right.
If you could study anything, what would it be?
I think I am studying what I want to right now. My work combines all of my interests in immunology, cancer biology, stem cell biology, neurology, and immunotherapy.
What's next for you?
Hopefully a faculty position in academia!
Best way to pass the time while waiting on an experiment to finish:
Youtube.
What's the most fun "socially distanced" activity you've done recently?
The lab had a going-away party for a recently graduated student! Everyone brought their own food and beverages. We all wore masks, and maintained 6 feet of social distancing.
Keep up with Todd: 
