CRS Scientist Spotlight on Teresa Chou

Teresa Chou is an MSTP student conducting research in Dr. Jeffery Goldstein’s lab. She is also a CRS T32 trainee. Teresa's research focuses on placental inflammation.

Thesis mentor: Jeffery Goldstein, MD, PhD 

Thesis title: Mapping the spatial and functional immune landscape of the placenta in chorioamnionitis, Group-B Streptococcus infection, and SARS-CoV2 infection. 

What brought you to join the CRS community and what is your current position? 

I am an MD PhD student in Dr. Jeffery Goldstein’s lab. Prior to medical school, I studied the neuroendocrine control of reproduction under Dr. Pamela Mellon at UC San Diego. I was drawn to Northwestern because of the strength of the reproductive sciences, hosting brilliant scientists and leaders in the field. So far, it has been an excellent place for my physician scientist training, and I am so grateful to learn from this community! 

Could you describe your research? 

The Goldstein lab’s research focus is the placenta, a black box into pregnancy. I study placental inflammation, which is contextualized by a uniquely dynamic gestational immune response that must carefully balance fetal tolerance and while still being able to block and respond to pathogens. In particular, I’m interested in how placental macrophages respond to bacterial Group B Streptococcus and viral SARS-CoV-2 infections. Our lab works closely with the lab of Dr. Lee Cooper, who specializes in developing machine learning and digital pathology software applied to cancer biology. We leverage this partnership to deeply characterize the placenta using computational techniques. 

What aspect(s) of CRS do you find most valuable?  

CRS offers a community that is diverse in research topics, techniques, and lived experiences. I have found the formal programming, from RRUs to workshops, fantastic opportunities to share ideas and perspectives within the community. I have especially enjoyed the small-group trainee sessions with invited speakers, who have given me invaluable advice and guidance on career and beyond. 

What has been the most valuable aspect to your training as a reproductive scientist? 

The CRS Predoctoral Training Program has been incredibly valuable to my training as a reproductive scientist. Because the Goldstein lab is fully computational, being a trainee in this program has allowed me to continue learning new reproductive science techniques. As part of the program’s Academic Accelerator Program, I had the opportunity to visit the Aronoff lab at Indiana University to learn their placental membrane transwell assay. I also took the Medical Management of Fertility course (REPR_SCI 415), where we learned how to perform techniques like intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo biopsy. These experiences have been inspiring to me as a young reproductive scientist and I am excited to see how the field will grow. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to young scientists starting in their journey in science?  

Don’t let the fear of being “bad” at something keep you from trying something new. Instead, embrace being a new learner, and give yourself grace when you make a mistake. This advice has been so helpful to me as I transitioned from wet lab to computational work at the start of my PhD. 

What do you think will be the next big contribution in the reproductive biology field?  

I am excited by the development of spatial transcriptomic techniques and the prospect of measuring spatially-informed gene expression at the single-cell level. Many reproductive organs are highly heterogenous (like the placenta or the ovary), and spatial transcriptomics can offer a high-resolution window into tissue function and cellular interactions. I think this technique will augment our understanding of many reproductive pathologies. 

What hobbies do you have outside of the lab?   

Outside of the lab, I love rock climbing, painting, and hanging out by the lake (when weather permits). I also have a pet snake and it’s been a joy to watch her grow!