Kamika Kaur

B.S. in progress at University of michigan
I am an undergraduate student studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Asian Studies in the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts. I've been a Lab Tech within the Spence Lab since my very first day at the University of Michigan. For the past two years, I've worked and trained under Ansley Semack Conchola (M.D./Ph.D. Student) to assist in her work with human lung development in vitro using tissue characterization and modeling with functional assays and organoid models (3D culture systems). She worked on exploring the role and function of an epithelial cell type, discovered using single cell RNA sequencing, that is found in the human lung during development. I'm currently working for and learning at the TTML.
For the Fall 2023 semester as a part of my MCDB 300 independent study within the Spence Lab, I will be working on mapping the Pediatric Alveolus using human tissue samples from the Pediatric Lung Cell Atlas and single-cell RNA sequencing data that is being compiled by Dr. Tristan Frum. Additionally, this mapping will aid in Ph.D. student Sydney Clark’s work on developing alveolar epithelial-immune-endothelial organoid co-cultures. Her goal is to explore if these different cell types can be combined into a singular organoid culture and be used to model the interactions of cells found in the alveolar niche.

Fun Fact: I am a big time supporter of denim on denim, absolutely love coffee, and only write in cursive most of the time!