Genetics and Biochemistry News

Verdin twins have passion for the sciences

Posted on by Kate

Eli Verdin, who is one minute younger than his twin brother Zack, always knew he would end up at Clemson, while Zack was more interested in the University of South Carolina. At the last minute, Zack changed his mind and enrolled at Clemson with Eli.

Both share an affinity for the sciences and graduated in May 2025 with degrees in biochemistry.

“It’s beneficial, both of us being biochemistry majors and taking similar classes, so a lot of times we help each other study,” Zack said.

While at Clemson, Eli and Zack conducted DNA repair research in assistant professor Jennifer Mason’s lab. After meeting Mason in a first-year genetics course, they started conducting research in her lab on a specific protein in the homologous recombination pathway, which repairs DNA. Eli and Zack say they’ve developed both research skills and life skills, such as time and project management while in Mason’s lab.

The twins were also involved in Prisma Health’s MedEx Academy program and volunteered with the Clemson LIFE Program and the Paw Pantry.

Eli hopes to go into orthopedics while Zack is eager to be a part of emergency medicine. They both were accepted to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville and will start in the Fall of 2025.

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GBGSA 2025 Awards

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At the 2025 Spring Research in Symposium (RIP) Genetics and Biochemistry graduate meeting, the G&B Graduate Student Association honored their outstanding students with awards.

  • Outstanding 1st Year: Shafi Mondal
  • Outstanding Masters Student: Jordyn Hock
  • Outstanding Junior (2nd/3rd year) Ph.D. Student: Jessica Aycock
  • Outstanding Senior (4+ year) Ph.D. Student: Bharath Kunduru
  • Most Invovled: Sabrina Pizzaro
  • Most Graduate Spirit: Arohi Singhal
  • Research Rockstar: Zane Tolbert
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May 2025 Grad – Griffin Thomas

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A Clemson native, May ’25 alum Griffin Thomas was a familiar face in the Life Sciences Building (LSB) during his undergrad, something that he looks back fondly on.

“Every day I looked forward to going to the LSB, knowing I would get the chance to talk to a past professor, a friend studying in the atrium, a member of the Genetics and Biochemistry staff or a member of the support staff.”

Griffin was a biochemistry major with minors in genetics and social sciences and was named an Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovations Center (EPIC) Seifert Scholar, served as the president of the Clemson Rotaract Club, a volunteer with the Cottingham Hospice House and a clinical research assistant in the School of Nursing.

Arguably, his most important work while at Clemson was his research in Dr. James Morris’ lab within EPIC where he studied the metabolism of T. brucei and Nagleria Fowleri in order to elucidate potential therapeutic targets.

After graduation, Griffin will be conducting research with the Department of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC for a year prior to attending medical school.

“I hope this opportunity will prepare me to provide more informed and comprehensive care to my future patients and prepare me for a career in neurosurgery.”

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May 2025 Grad – Ruxi Xia

Posted on by Kate

Our G&B seniors graduated yesterday and among them was biochemistry student, now alum, Ruxi Xia. An international student from China, Ruxi enjoyed the strong biochemistry program Clemson had to offer, setting her up for future successes in research.

“I wanted a strong biochemistry program to set me up for success in cancer research as it has been my career choice since one of my family members passed from cancer.”

Ruxi was an intern at the Clemson Light Imaging Facility and participated in lab research at the Nanobiotechnology lab.

“I have worked on many independent immunofluorescence staining projects, learned to operate wide-field and confocal microscopes, and coordinated an imaging contest that receives entries from all over the world for that past three years.”

She has served as co-director for the Clemson Paw Pantry, president of the Clemson Chinese Students and Scholars Association and community service coordinator for the Clemson Rotaract Club, tutored at the Academic Success Center and acted as member of CUSG Campus Advancement committee.

“I have really enjoyed getting to help the community whether that is helping at the Clemson Community Care, local farms, and other shelters in the community.”

Her favorite moment during her undergrad was receiving her college ring at the Clemson Ring Ceremony with her best friends.

Ruxi plans to attend Columbia University for a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering.

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May 2025 Grad – Natalie Shay

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Natalie Shay, genetics student graduating this May, has been emersed in research, clubs and the community since she arrived, research being one of Natalie’s top priorities.

“During my freshman and sophomore year, I was in a CI with Dr. Marc Birtwistle where I helped study cancer diagnostics and pharmacology.”

Junior and senior year, Natalie developed an interest in neurobiology, resulting in an undergraduate researcher position in Dr. Julia George’s lab, where Natalie studied gene expression in the brains of zebra finch embryos, particularly DNA methylation changes.

“These experiences shaped me as a scientist, and I couldn’t be more thankful for them!”

Natalie was also the president of the Biochemistry and Genetics club, and her favorite course was Epigenetics; she loves figuring out how so many factors affect our gene expression beyond just our DNA sequence.

Natalie is grateful for the lifelong friends that she has made at Clemson over the last four years.

“It was awesome to find friends who love science as much as I do!”

After graduation, Natalie will be joining Dr. Jessica Larsen’s lab to pursue a master’s degree in bioengineering, her overall career goal to research and develop gene therapies.

“I’m glad I get to stay at Clemson a little bit longer!”

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Faculty and staff win college-wide awards

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On Thursday, May 1, the College of Science celebrated its faculty and staff with awards and recognition at its annual awards ceremony. Many genetics and biochemistry departmental members were honored with nominations and awards.

Alison Starr Moss – Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer Award

James Morris – Dean’s Distinguished Professor Award

Heidi Anderson – Excellence in Teaching Award

Rick Moseley – Outstanding Staff Member Award

G&B Advising and Registration Services Team – Oustanding Team Award

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May 2025 Grad – Kailie Greer

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The last four years of her undergraduate studies, graduating biochemistry senior Kailie Greer, has spent trying new things and meeting new people. From studying abroad to participating in a Creative Inquiry (CI) Program, Kailie has fully taken advantage of the experiential learning that Clemson has to offer.

Kailie was a part of Dr. Scott Pratt’s Advancement of Assisted Reproductive Technologies for Cattle and Other Species CI and studied abroad in Florence, Italy last summer at the Institute of Lorenzo de’ Medici (LdM) in Florence, Italy, which is noted as one of the most distinctive and well-established study abroad institutions in Italy. In addition, Kailie worked part-time at Crossroads Animal Hospital in Seneca, SC.

Upon graduation, Kailie is taking a gap year and working at Salt Marsh Animal Hospital in Kiawah, SC before applying to veterinary school.

“Clemson has brought me so many opportunities and I am forever thankful for the four years I had here.”

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Sehorn honored with faculty award

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Associate professor Michael Sehorn has been awarded the 2025 Ted G. Westmoreland Faculty Excellence Award, which is presented annually to honor a distinguished faculty member who has made exemplary contributions to undergraduate student success at Clemson University.

Dr. Sehorn is a member of the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center and the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies with a research focus on DNA repair and genome stability. Dedicated to student mentorship, Sehorn has guided numerous undergraduates to postgraduate education at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania and on to win major awards, including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship, Norris Medal, Truman Scholar and Beckman Scholar.

In addition, his long-standing engagement with Creative Inquiry Program is evident through his service on the CI + UR Advisory Committee and as a Creative Inquiry Fellow. As an experiential learning ambassador, Sehorn supports the Clemson Elevate initiative by advising and facilitating experiential through research.

He developed two courses that provide pre-med students with clinical research and shadowing experiences. Additionally, Sehorn is the faculty advisor for the pre-med Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-health organization. He has led multiple Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation Faculty Learning Communities to enhance teaching effectiveness.

The Ted G. Westmoreland Faculty Excellence Award recipient receives a monetary award of $1,000 and a plaque. Additionally, the faculty member’s name is added to the perpetual Dr. Ted G. Westmoreland Award for Faculty Excellence plaque on display in the Class of 1956 Academic Success Center Building.

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Caldwell receives 2025 Norris Medal

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Genetics senior and Honors student Elizabeth Caldwell has been awarded the 2025 Clemson University Norris Medal.

The Norris Medal has been awarded since 1908 and was established under the terms of the will of the Honorable D.K. Norris, a life trustee at Clemson. The medal is given each year to a graduating student who, on the basis of exceptional scholastic achievement and leadership ability, is judged by the University Scholarships and Awards Committee to be the best all-around student. Recipients of the Norris Medal have their names affixed to a bronze plaque located in Hendrix Student Center.

Elizabeth was also a 2024 Truman Scholarship recipient and a member of the 2021 National Scholars Program cohort. She co-founded and is the president of the Clemson University Tigers 4 Accessibility, a student organization dedicated to improving accessibility, awareness and acceptance for people with disabilities. In addition, Elizabeth is a member of Phi Delta Epsilon medical fraternity and is a student representative on the University’s Accessibility Commission.

During her undergraduate degree, she has been involved in Dr. Michael Sehorn’s lab focusing on DNA repair pathways with implications for genetic disease. In the summer of 2024, Elizabeth was a Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program intern at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which allows students to conduct world-class laboratory research while exploring pediatric oncology’s clinical side.

After graduating, Elizabeth will pursue a master’s degree in public health at Yale University.

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May 2025 Grad – Disha Qanungo

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During genetics senior Disha Qanungo’s undergraduate degree, she has been involved in a “Human Remains Recovery” course, traveled oversees to learn about microbial pathogens, volunteered at the Shifa Clinic and participated in an MUSC internship, just to name a few.

Disha says that her favorite part of the Genetics and Biochemistry Department is the advisors, whom she notes visibly show their best interests for their students. In her very limited free time, she enjoys cooking and ice skating.

Disha dreams of creating free clinics for women and children in developing countries. Upon graduating in May, Disha will be spending the summer preparing to take the MCAT on August 2nd and subsequently applying to medical school. During Disha’s gap year, she will apply to work at We are Sharing Hope SC as a clinical specialist in Organ Donation.

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