Month: May 2026

For May graduate Kylie Towery, orange runs deeper than school spirit — it’s woven into her story. Raised in a Clemson family and shaped by undergrad years of service and involvement on campus, Kylie recently graduated from the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry ready to carry that legacy forward.

Throughout her time at Clemson University, Kylie made service a central part of her college experience. She dedicated much of her time to volunteering through Volunteers4LIFE, serving as a one-on-one mentor for ClemsonLIFE students as a traditional course volunteer and a Cooking Club volunteer. Beyond campus, she supported others as a volunteer with the Crisis Text Line and as a Child Life Department volunteer with Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Upstate.

Aside from volunteer work, Kylie was a member of the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority, holding various leadership roles, played intramural volleyball and founded Clemson’s Pre-Genetic Counseling Club.

“During my final semester, I had the pleasure of founding the Pre-Genetic Counseling Club here on campus to give back to my Clemson community and help serve students prepare for a career in GC. I am beyond excited to be advising the club from afar for the years to come!”

For Kylie picking a favorite memory over the last four years is difficult. A few things come to mind immediately – from all the sporting events to building her sorority family to meeting other Clemson girls while studying abroad, and having her dad turn her Clemson ring – it’s hard to pick just one.

“I came to realize that while we are here for an education, we are also here to be happy, find friends, and make memories…I do think that the best memories in Clemson are formed on the nights you least expect it, and that is something I miss already.”

Kylie matched to her top choice genetic counseling program and will be moving to Houston to get her master’s at The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences this fall.

“I found my passion for genetic counseling through Clemson and the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry have been given countless opportunities to chase that dream fearlessly since…It’s been a blessing.”

You may recognize biochemistry alum Katie Cross from her involvement with Delta Gamma, the Clemson Club Swim Team, the Clemson Panhellenic New Member Mentor Program or the many labs and Creative Inquiries she dedicated herself to before graduating this May. Whether she was mentoring new students, conducting research or balancing an incredibly full schedule across campus, Katie left a lasting impression on the Clemson community through both her leadership and enthusiasm.

Katie says she truly loved and savored every moment of her undergraduate experience at Clemson. Like many students, what she treasures most is the people — peers, faculty and staff who shaped her journey.

“The best thing that I’ve learned in the past four years at Clemson is how important it is to develop strong relationships with as many people as you can. Establishing relationships with the people with whom you interact daily will be the most genuine and rewarding part of your Clemson experience and set you up for great success after graduation.”

One Clemson memory Katie says she will never forget is walking into Death Valley for the first time as a freshman.

“The sights, the sounds, the people… it was electrifying. While it sounds cliché, it was the first time I truly felt like I was a part of something bigger — the Clemson family.”

This fall, Katie will begin the next chapter of her academic journey at the University of Florida, where she will pursue a Ph.D. in plant pathology.

“As a recipient of the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean’s Award, I’ll spend my first semester rotating through labs and immersing myself in new and exciting areas of research!”

Katie also shared a note of gratitude for the Genetics and Biochemistry department:

“I would not have accomplished nearly as much without the support from the Genetics and Biochemistry Department. While the coursework did an excellent job preparing me for what’s ahead, the faculty, advisors and department staff — special shoutout to the AMAZING Kate Price!! — have always been incredible resources for anything I ever needed. Thank you Clemson G&B for being the best department ever!”

The Microbiology Society, together with the British Mycological Society recently announced that Dr. Stephen Dolan and graduate student Shafi Mondal as the joint winners of the 2026 Tony Trinci Award. 

The award is given annually to a researcher deemed to be presenting the best mycological science at one of each Society’s main scientific meetings.

“I’m very grateful to receive the Tony Trinci Award from the British Mycological Society and the Microbiology Society,” says Dolan. “It is a real honor to be recognized in the name of Professor Trinci, whose work helped shape our understanding of fungal growth by linking underlying cellular processes to complex biological behavior. 

Shafi Mondal is currently pursuing a PhD in Stephen Dolan’s lab where is research focuses on polymicrobial interactions involving the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. 

“In particular, I investigate how A. fumigatus remodels its transcriptional landscape in the presence of bacterial species commonly found in the cystic fibrosis lung, and how these changes contribute to tolerance against clinically and environmentally relevant stressors,” says Mondal.

Mondal sees receiving the Trinci award as an encouraging step as he continues to develop as a researcher in mycology, hoping to improve understanding of fungal pathogens and the challenges they pose to human health.

In mid-April Dolan and Mondal travelled to the UK to present their award presentations at Microbiology Society’s annual conference. Mondal’s presentation was titled “Cross-Kingdom Microbial Interactions Reveal Genes Driving Stress Tolerance in Aspergillus fumigatus” and Dolan’s was titled “Interkingdom Cross-Talk Between Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an In Vitro Model of Respiratory Co-infection.”

Over the last year and a half, a group of seven students have been part of a Creative Inquiry led by Dr. Heidi Anderson to develop interactive tools to aid in learning biochemistry content.

From this group, a web-based application called ‘Aminole’ (based off of the New York Times game ‘Wordle’) was developed to aid students in learning the twenty common amino acids. The game has been used by Clemson students in introductory biochemistry courses and was well-received as a fun and engaging way to aid in the learning process.  

In April, four of the students along with Dr. Anderson traveled to Anaheim, CA to present a poster about the game at the National Science Teacher Association conference.  

“I am so proud of the team of students who have dedicated time and creativity to make this idea come to life,” says Dr. Anderson. “Seeing Aminole presented at a national conference and being so well-received was encouraging to the students and myself.

Play now at aminole.net.