When Bomsoo Cho was an elementary school student in Korea, his father bought him a microscope with which he observed flies and leaves. It was at that point he decided to become a biologist. “The view from the microscope was so beautiful to me,” he says. “It was like a small universe.”

As a first-year cell and molecular biology PhD student, Cho is still captivated by the view in the microscope. Due to the abundance of neural cells in fruit fly eyes, Cho monitors them as a model for the study of neural development, looking specifically for phenotype defects that indicate problems with signaling in the brain.

Fruit flies are ideal tools for Cho’s research since they have many progeny and have a brief lifespan.

During the three mandatory lab rotations of Cho’s first year, he chose to join Janice Fischer’s lab because her focus is classical genetics, which coincides with his interest in genes that regulate neural development.

Cho graduated from Korea University in Seoul with a master’s degree in biochemistry, and worked at a biology venture company researching cancer. Wanting to further his career and potentially become a professor, Cho applied to UT, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Purdue University in Indiana. Deciding Anderson’s focus on applied biology was not what he wanted and Indiana’s climate too frigid, Cho chose UT and is very glad he did.

Bomsoo Cho

“The cell and molecular biology program is well organized and students can use expensive equipment at any time,” he says. “And Austin is an excellent place to live.”

Cho’s favorite aspect of the program so far is the coursework, which he calls “very tough.” He was a research assistant last year, but says he’s excited to be a teacher’s assistant this year. As a T.A., he can improve himself in areas “other than research” such as teaching ability, English skills and building relationships with students.

When Cho is not busy with biology, he spends time with his two children - a three year old and a six-month old. He also enjoys the raccoons that come to his apartment porch looking for food. “I had never seen a raccoon before coming here, but I like them very much,” he says.