University of North Texas 
The UNT College of Science is pleased to welcome Dr. Ikjot Sohal to the UNT Biological Sciences department this semester as a new Assistant Professor.
The UNT College of Science is pleased to welcome Dr. Ikjot Sohal to the UNT Biological Sciences department this semester as a new Assistant Professor. Dr. Sohal is a cancer researcher who completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology with a focus on Nanotoxicology at University of Massachusetts-Lowell and has been working as a postdoc at Purdue University.
“During my Ph.D., I gained extensive training in traditional and biophysical aspects
of cell biology by studying the toxic effects of food additive nanomaterials on gut
epithelium. I developed a mucus-secreting co-culture model of gut epithelium and demonstrated
its physiological relevance over the traditional monoculture model in studying the
toxicity of food additive nanomaterials.,” he explained. “In my postdoctoral work,
I focused on studying intercellular crosstalk in cancer and gaining extensive experience
in translational biology.”
Dr. Harrison Keller, the current president of UNT, has indicated a strong interest in developing cancer research expertise at the University, and Dr. Sohal is one of our first cancer biology faculties. He said he is excited to develop a strong cancer-focused research program and will be spending the semester setting up his research lab in the Science Research Building and beginning development of a new course on cancer biology.
“The research in my lab is focused on developing an intricate understanding of how cancer cells communicate with normal cells to promote tumor growth and metastasis, particularly in difficult-to-treat cancers,” said Dr. Sohal, who is actively looking for new graduate students, technicians, and post docs to join the research group. "Our ultimate vision is to translate these insights into novel therapies that target cancer-promoting crosstalk.”
Dr. Sohal said one of the reasons he chose to join UNT was the school’s commitment to its students, especially first-generation students which make up over 40% of our student population.
“As a first-generation college graduate myself, this shared mission resonates with my values and offers a meaningful platform to contribute to the academic and personal growth of my students,” he said. “My decision to join UNT was also shaped by the university’s clear investment in its faculty and the collaborative environment I've encountered since arriving.”