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From lab bench to classroom: Stowers postdocs expand their impact through education

By stepping into classrooms and community programs, Stowers postdocs strengthen their ability to translate complex science.

13 February 2026

Ian Freed, Ph.D., discusses teaching and mentorship opportunities available to him as a postdoctoral researcher at the Stowers Institute.

The best part of teaching, Ian Freed, Ph.D., says, is the moment a student’s expression changes, and a difficult idea suddenly makes sense. “What I really enjoy is seeing that ‘click’ when a student first understands a new concept, and I was the person that explained it.”

Freed is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the lab of Stowers Investigator Linheng Li, Ph.D. During his graduate training, he used microfluidic technologies to study circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer and helped develop a tool that “double-checks” leukemia cells by using one technique to highlight key proteins and another to spot changes in the cells’ genes, all in the same sample.

Freed recently appeared on KSHB 41 NBC discussing his research in the Li Lab related to cancer. Watch the segment here.

“I love connecting complex biology to real-world impact,” he explained. At the Institute, he’s currently interested in how mucus and the cells that produce it influence the immune system through the gut.

Postdoctoral researchers, including Freed, are encouraged to find ways to take their science into the real world as well. Many visit classrooms, help teach summer programs, and participate in community science events.

Freed has served as a mentor for the Stowers Summer Scholars Program twice, guiding undergraduate students through eight-week lab projects where students explore questions, read scientific literature, and perform hands-on laboratory research.

A look at Freed's research

Pictured above is a cross section of intestinal villi. The intestine is coated in mucus, and is produced by specialized cells called goblet cells (yellow). Goblet cells can also “sample” the environment, and help educate the immune system on what’s “good” and what’s “bad.” The pink is a fluorescent tracer that mimics particles found in the gut, and can be seen “sticking” to the goblet cells. The cyan color are immune cells, which can receive the particles.

The image above is a close-up of the tip of an intestinal villus, where one can see goblet cells (yellow) actively sampling their environment. Some goblet cells have perfect overlap of yellow and purple signal. This is called a “goblet cell-associated antigen passageway,” or a “GAP.” These goblet cells connect with immune cells (cyan), which can then migrate to lymph nodes and educate the immune system on what it just sampled. These phenomena have implications in food allergy, tolerance, and immunity. The image was taken by 2025 Summer Scholar Jenna Kramer, who Freed mentored.
 

This image depicts C. elegans, a tiny (~1 mm) worm commonly used in biology research. Here, it has been fed bacteria engineered to produce a fluorescent protein (red). The green signal marks the worm’s own cells. The Li Lab is exploring whether engineered bacteria can be used to deliver specific molecules to goblet cells in the gut, potentially influencing how the immune system responds. Because C. elegans is transparent, scientists can quickly confirm that the bacteria are producing and releasing their cargo before testing them in more complex systems.

“Getting out into the community not only allows me to help others who are interested in pursuing science as a career. It’s also a really great chance for me to strengthen my own science communication skills,” he explained.

Ian Freed, Ph.D.

Freed has also taken his science into the Kansas City education system. He delivered a guest lecture at Rockhurst University, walking juniors and seniors through the realities of building a scientific career and volunteered as a judge for a high school poster session through the KC STEM alliance.

For early-career scientists considering their next step in academia, industry, or beyond, Freed believes teaching is a key part of career development. “It forces scientists to adapt explanations to different learners and to translate complex ideas for anyone,” he said.

“It’s such a benefit that the Institute and its faculty not only encourage postdocs to participate in outreach – they support us by making sure we are aware that such opportunities are available to us.”

Learn more about the Postdoc Community and PostdocEdge program at the Stowers Institute. You can check our careers page for open postdoc positions, or contact the lab you are interested in.

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