Jan Simper

About me

I was born in Switzerland to a Czech family but immigrated to the US when I was very young, although I still speak Czech fluently. I was first introduced to the medical field when I was very young through my father and grandmother who were both doctors, but I was also interested in finding out more about the world around me and human health which pushed me towards research. I lived in both Minnesota and Arizona with the latter where I went to college at Arizona State University. I majored in Biomedical Engineering in college and did some work in epigenetics and regenerative medicine before solidifying my interest in infectious disease. I did a post-bac at the NIH in Bethesda working with infectious agents before attending school at UT Health San Antonio. San Antonio reminds me a lot of where I grew up in Arizona so I love the warm climate and affordable cost-of-living, and trying new foods and experiences with my cohort!

Hobbies/Interests

Working out, soccer, reading, rock climbing, video games, hanging out with friends

Research Topic

Innate immune factors in tuberculosis

Why I chose MD/PhD

I chose the MD/PhD for the opportunity to use my clinical understanding of infectious diseases to inform my research to find treatments for these global diseases and make an impact on the health of people worldwide.

Why I chose MD/PhD at UT Health San Antonio

There are too many reasons to list here, but one reason I chose MD/PhD at UT Health San Antonio due to the collaborative environment, including with the Texas Biomedical Research Institute where I do my research on infectious disease.

Post-bac work or other affiliations

Postbac (IRTA) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases