Rethinking research career paths: How two U of T Immunology alumni are creating impact outside the lab

As they pursued their respective paths through the University of Toronto’s Department of Immunology, Reese Whittaker (MSc ’24) and Tae Joon (TJ) Yi (PhD ’13) never suspected they’d one day be teammates — but today they work side by side at the Krembil Foundation.

The private family foundation is dedicated to advancing medical research through funding grants, with a particular focus on high-risk, high-reward approaches in neurodegeneration, primarily Alzheimer’s disease and the immunological focus on arthritic diseases, with a focus on psoriatic arthritis. Whittaker and Yi along with research team colleague Kate Williams help to identify, evaluate and support innovative research projects with potential to transform understanding of neurodegenerative disease.

In this conversation, Whittaker and Yi reflect on how their training within U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine has shaped their careers and share insights from working at the intersection of science and philanthropy.
 

How did you each arrive at the Krembil Foundation?

Yi: After completing my PhD, I explored a range of jobs, including roles in biotech, startups and nonprofits. While looking for a long-term career, I realized I was most interested in nonprofit work because it allowed me to contribute to something larger than a company’s bottom line. I discovered the Foundation through a LinkedIn post by a U of T colleague, which eventually led me to apply.

Whittaker: I first learned about the Foundation through U of T’s Applied Master’s Program in Immunology. The program includes an internship component, and by that point I knew I didn’t want to stay on a traditional research path. I was interested in scientific communications and wanted to explore opportunities outside the lab. When the Foundation posted an internship opportunity, the master’s program manager Korosh Kianizad (PhD ’15) circulated it to our class and also reached out to me directly because we had previously discussed my career interests. He thought it would be a good fit, so I applied. I started as an intern, and after the internship was completed, I was fortunate to be hired full-time as a research program coordinator.

Yi: I had actually reached out to the Applied Master's Program to see whether there were students who might be a good fit for that internship. Reese's name came up, and I immediately remembered her from an immunology lab course I had taught. She stood out to me as a very strong student who showed a high level of diligence — exactly the kind of quality we were looking for in a role that requires careful evaluation of research, attention to detail and strong communication skills. So, when the position was posted and Reese applied, everything lined up really well.

What attracted you, and perhaps researchers in general, to work at the Foundation?

Yi: A common thread among our team is that we all wanted to stay connected to research without necessarily becoming principal investigators. The Foundation provides that opportunity. There’s a strong element of intellectual stimulation, but in a role that is less tied to the pressures of lab work. The nonprofit aspect is also appealing because the work is focused on helping advance research rather than being driven primarily by commercial goals.

Whittaker: One of my favorite parts of the job is having discussions with researchers and being able to learn directly from the experts. We get to ask questions, explore ideas, stay current with the literature and see developments across many different fields. It allows us to remain involved in research while viewing it from a broader perspective than we would have in grad school.

How do your jobs currently intersect?

Whittaker: Although we each manage our own portfolio of projects, we work very closely together. We meet weekly as a team to share updates on active grants and discuss new opportunities moving through the pipeline. Ahead of board meetings, we conduct roundtable reviews where one team member leads the discussion and the others provide feedback and ask questions. We have different scientific backgrounds — TJ and I trained in immunology while our colleague Kate comes from neuroscience — which creates valuable perspectives when evaluating proposals. Even though there is independence in our day-to-day work, collaboration is a major part of how we operate.

Yi: My role as scientific director is often more externally focused. I spend a significant amount of time meeting with scientists, identifying projects that align with the Foundation’s goals, and maintaining relationships with current grantees. Once those discussions happen, they feed into our internal evaluation process. I bring back information from researchers, we discuss it as a team, and together we decide which opportunities should advance to the board. Reese plays a central role in helping translate complex science into materials that are accessible and useful for decision-making.

How have your U of T Immunology education and connections benefited you in your job?

Yi: One of my most influential experiences was taking part in U of T’s Graduate Professional Development course. It exposed me to career possibilities beyond academia and forced me to think seriously about what jobs are out there. The program helped me develop skills that were instrumental in landing my first position outside academia. Equally important were the relationships built through U of T. Over time, I realized that networking doesn’t have to be forced, it’s about forming genuine relationships and learning from people. Those connections have consistently opened doors throughout my career.

Whittaker: I also benefited greatly from the Graduate Professional Development program. One assignment required us to explain our research in plain language, which is remarkably similar to what I do today. My role often involves distilling highly technical science into something accessible without losing its scientific value. The Department of Immunology was also excellent at maintaining connections among students and alumni. Through mentors, alumni conversations and networking opportunities, I gained a lot of practical advice about internships and careers that helped guide my transition into this role.

What have you learned from working at the Krembil Foundation that you wouldn’t know if you had followed a more traditional research path?

Whittaker: One of the biggest surprises was discovering the world of neuroimmunology. I came from an immunology background with little exposure to neuroscience. At the Foundation, I became fascinated by research exploring the relationship between the immune system and the brain, particularly work examining the gut-brain axis. It opened my eyes to how interconnected these fields are and exposed scientific questions I never would have encountered in my previous training.

Yi: It’s also taught me how different the broader research landscape looks when viewed from above rather than from inside a single laboratory. I realize now that during my PhD and postdoctoral training, I was extremely focused on my own area of expertise. At the Foundation, I saw just how vast fields like Alzheimer’s disease research really are. Seeing research from this wider perspective has fundamentally changed how I think about scientific progress and collaboration.

What current projects are you most excited about?

Yi: What excites me most is identifying the next breakthrough before it becomes obvious. The Foundation supports high-risk, high-reward research, which allows us to consider bold ideas that may not yet have extensive preliminary data. Rather than looking for what is already successful, we try to identify emerging fields that could transform Alzheimer’s disease research in the future. I attend a lot of conferences, and I really enjoy speaking with scientists about their next big idea — the spark that could eventually become an entirely new direction for the field.

Whittaker: I’m particularly excited about the Foundation’s investments in neuroimmunology. Researchers are increasingly questioning whether Alzheimer’s disease is driven solely by amyloid beta plaques (small brain lesions caused by misfolded proteins) and are exploring the role of immune cells, inflammation, microglia and even possible autoimmune mechanisms. We have several grants in this space, including projects led by researchers who are bringing new perspectives into Alzheimer’s research. It’s an exciting moment because multiple hypotheses are emerging, and it will be fascinating to see which ideas lead to the next major advances.