PhD Spotlight: Devin Kenney, PhD
Devin Kenney, PhD, is a January 2025 graduate of the PhD Program in Microbiology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. During his time in Graduate Medical Sciences, Devin’s dissertation research focused on human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the factors that contribute to mild versus severe COVID-19 disease. Devin successfully defended his dissertation and now works as a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Associate Professor Mohsan Saeed, PhD. Learn more about Devin below!
What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic?
My dissertation project was focused on understanding human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and understanding what factors contribute to mild versus more severe COVID-19 disease. My work was unique in that I used mouse models engrafted with human tissues to be able to study human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in a controlled model system. These mice were engrafted with human lung tissue alone or with a human immune system and lung tissue. Through this work we were able to identify specific innate immune cell populations that are critical for effective control of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We were also able to use these mouse models to identify gene signatures and proteins that are important during the viral life cycle.
While I did not intend to study this particular topic, I found myself excited about working on and developing mouse models that had the potential to bridge the gap of human and mice. This, combined with the ongoing pandemic, helped me realize that I wanted to work on furthering our understanding of how our immune system responds to emerging pathogens.
Why did you choose to do a PhD?
I decided to do a PhD during my undergraduate degree because I really enjoyed working in a research lab and mentoring students. Before joining the PhD program, I took a position as a post-bac to determine which field of study I wanted to do my PhD in. During my time as a post-bac, I realized that I wanted to stay in the academic environment and eventually become a professor.
How would you describe a typical day as a PhD student?
I don’t think there is a typical day for most PhD students, especially when working in a research lab. But my day always starts with coffee.
What is one of your best memories from the time in your PhD?
While I had a lot of great experiences in my PhD, some of my favorite memories were when I was able to attend conferences. I really enjoy being able to connect with scientists from all over the world and learn different perspectives for approaching research. I have also met many friends through conferences and built long lasting relationships.
Did you face any unexpected challenges during your time in your program? How did you overcome them?
I faced a few unexpected challenges in my PhD. Most notably, my PhD just began when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. When starting my last rotation, I had the option to work on a project focusing on SARS-CoV-2, so I jumped into working on a virus that no one knew about. This proved to be very challenging and was made more difficult by the restrictions on in-person work. However, I felt fortunate to be able to go into the lab and continue working on my projects through this time. To compensate for the lack of in-person connections, I made sure to attend conferences on Zoom, present my work whenever possible at virtual meetings and build up a network of collaborators.
A second challenge that I had to face was when I was directly involved in a misinformation incident. A paper that I was co-authored on was incorrectly interpreted by a news outlet, leading to significant impacts on our research and negative attention to our work. During this time, I and other authors received threats, which was something I would never have expected to happen during my PhD. Thankfully, BU and faculty were highly supportive during this time and the issues were able to be resolved over time. From this experience, I learned how critical it is as a scientist to take extra time to make sure we clearly and effectively communicate our work.
What are your next steps?
Currently, I am working as a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Mohsan Saeed, and my hope is to start my own research laboratory. I have also submitted a grant that would allow me to obtain an independent position and will hopefully hear back on that soon. Ultimately, I would like to pursue my own research program focused on understanding why men and women respond differently to infections and immune stimuli.
Is there anyone in your life who inspired your decision to pursue this career path?
I was initially inspired to pursue research by a professor, Dr. Chifuru Noda, during my undergraduate studies. At the end of my freshman year, he approached me and suggested that I should join a research lab. The following year I joined my first research lab and fell in love with science.
Do you have any advice for future PhD students or anything else you would like to share?
I think one of the most important things I learned during my PhD was the importance of collaborations and networking. Both academic and industry research is becoming extremely competitive at all levels but having a strong and extensive network makes it much easier to be successful. Putting in a few extra hours of work to help on projects with other labs or seeking out opportunities to work with companies can go a long way in paving the road for a successful future.
What do you like to do for fun in Boston?
While in Boston I really enjoy going to seasonal markets and going to museums, but I much prefer to go out of the city to hike and camp.