Dr. Jordon Gilmore is one of BIOE’s newest tenure-track faculty. Among Key Personnel on Sarah Harcum’s National Science Foundation EPSCoR Track II Advanced Biomanufacturing grant, Jordon was PI on a 2016 Tiger Grant. Clemson-Citadel Joint Program Director, Jordon is an alumnus of both The Citadel’s Electrical Engineering program and Clemson’s Bioengineering program. His interests include orthopedic tissue engineering, biomedical textiles, bioinstrumentation and control engineering. Editor
As the state’s life science engineering and technology economy quickly evolves, Clemson University and The Citadel are partnering to prepare our students for cutting edge careers. This new partnership is beginning with an exciting opportunity created by Clemson Bioengineering and The Citadel’s Electrical and Mechanical Engineering programs. The BS/MS program that has been such a success for CU BIOE undergraduates has been expanded to include Citadel engineering undergraduates seeking a Master of Science (MS in Bioengineering) or Master of Engineering (MEng in Biomedical Engineering) degree from Clemson.
Through The Institute for Graduate Education (TIGE), a collaboration of South Carolina colleges and universities, Citadel undergraduates will take Clemson graduate courses as a part of their BS degree program in electrical or mechanical engineering. Upon completion of the BS, the students enrolled in this five-year program will finish their MS or MEng degrees at the Clemson main campus or at Clemson’s affiliated graduate campuses in Charleston. Students interested in pursuing graduate level research opportunities may do so through the BS/MS program, working with Clemson Bioengineering faculty on the main campus or at MUSC. Those students primarily interested in industrial or regulatory opportunities can pursue the BS/MEng degree and focus on design-based projects incorporating Clemson-Citadel student teams.
The Institute for Graduate Education will foster collaboration between institutions and degree programs and facilitate the transfer of graduate coursework. The participating universities developed the Institute in response to the continuing education needs of professionals working in South Carolina companies and government organizations. The collaborating institutions, The Citadel and Clemson University, offer a variety of graduate courses that lead to master’s and doctoral degrees. In addition to a primary focus on South Carolina’s working technical professionals, The Institute seeks to use the digital availability of its courses to enhance learning at the participating universities.
The Clemson-Citadel BS/MS program is the perfect start to a state-wide collaboration with potential for success in so many areas. Bioengineering education is only the beginning. During my time at The Citadel, I benefited from personalized engineering instruction and world-class leadership training, both of which have empowered me to pursue my career goal in the academy. Opportunities at The Citadel allowed me to pursue both industry-focused education and undergraduate research.
And, as South Carolina’s life science technology economy quickly expands, the timing is perfect to formalize these opportunities for more students. I believe both institutions are uniquely equipped to address the need for life science engineering and technology training in a way that connects the resources available in the Lowcountry and the Upstate. I am also excited about the potential for business innovation and entrepreneurship education that will grow from joint projects and program curricula. Together, all of these elements will help us to achieve the goal of positively impacting South Carolina professionals and companies.
