Dr. Masa Matsumoto is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathobiology.
When did you begin working at the College of Veterinary Medicine?
I started working at the College of Veterinary Medicine in August 2023.
Describe your role at the college.
I am a research faculty member with a specialization in research related to infectious diseases caused by bacteria. Specifically, I investigate the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus to understand how it triggers skin inflammation.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is the process of formulating my own hypothesis to understand the mechanism by which Staphylococcus aureus triggers skin inflammation. If I can consider the various possibilities that may occur in vivo during infection and prove them through experiments, I will be the first person in the world to discover them. Since I have had the opportunity to work under excellent mentors, I hope to provide as much support as possible to the students who will join my laboratory in the future, so that they can experience the fun of science.
Complete this sentence: My most memorable day at work was…
…when my research was featured in a major newspaper. I was happy that the newspaper company was interested in my research, which took six years to complete. I also read many positive comments on social networking sites from patients who read the newspaper, which motivated me to work even harder toward drug discovery.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I spend most of my time with my family, but apart from that I enjoy running and playing tennis.
What is something your co-workers may be surprised to know about you?
I played competitive soccer for about 20 years, although this is not particularly surprising to my co-workers. I am not currently on a soccer team, but hope to kick a soccer ball with my daughter on the weekends.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
I would love to visit Machu Picchu in Peru someday!
Do you have a favorite restaurant or place in the Champaign/Urbana area?
I just started living in Urbana in August 2023, so I don’t know much about restaurants yet. But we are planning to try Silvercreek Restaurant in Urbana because the pictures on the menu look delicious. Apart from that, I love ramen (noodles), so I am planning to try some of the popular ramen restaurants in Illinois. I would be very happy if I can find a great ramen restaurant in the Urbana/Champaign area.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
I love to do exercise, so I ride my bike to the college every day. During the winter months when I can’t bike, I would like to go to the gym instead!
Do you have any pets?
We have two cats, Biscuit and Charlotte. These two cats are siblings and always play together. They are part of our family and we hope they live a long life without illness or injury.
