Tag: alum

Few students squeeze as much into four years as May 2026 biochemistry graduate Kristen Gulbrandsen. From leading student organizations and mentoring classmates to conducting nationally recognized research, she embraced every opportunity Clemson had to offer.

Taking significant advantage of Google Calendar, Kristen was able to balance an impressive list of campus involvements, serving as Public Relations Officer and later President of the Genetics and Biochemistry Club, representing the College of Science as a Student Ambassador, serving on the University’s Academic Integrity Committee, working as an Athletics Tutor in biology and chemistry, and participating as a sister of Alpha Omega Epsilon (AΩE).

“I like to make myself busy…These organizations provided me with a lovely support system when I have made lifelong friendships, especially through AΩE and the Genetics and Biochemistry Club.“

In addition to campus involvement, Kristen participated in extensive research during her undergraduate years via two different Creative Inquiries (CIs), the K-12 math competitions with Dr. Jason Brown from Physics and Astronomy and gut microbiota research with Dr. Anna Seekatz from Biological Sciences.

“Through Dr. Brown’s CI, I learnt skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and how to inspire the future in STEM! Dr. Seekatz provided me with a supportive space on how to conduct science in a responsible and inquisitive way. She helped develop my technical skills, along with teaching me how to think like a scientist…She gave me a plethora of opportunities to present my work locally, as well as nationally.”

Kristen came into Clemson “All In!” and one of the most valuable lessons Kristen learned at Clemson was that there is no single correct path through college. After feeling overwhelmed by the endless opportunities during her first semester, she realized that success comes from creating your own path.

“I figured out that there is not one “right” way, but infinite correct ways. As long as you enjoy what you are doing, you are gaining from the experience.”

Starting July 1st, Kristen will be attending a Ph.D. program in Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati.

“I am ecstatic to join their program, as their work there deeply inspires me.”

For genetics and biochemistry May grad Sydney Greer, Clemson became more than just a place to earn a degree — it became the place where she discovered confidence in herself. Whether she was performing with the Clemson University Steel Band, training service dogs for veterans, running trails through the Experimental Forest or conducting research in Dr. Shahid Mukhtar’s lab, Sydney embraced every opportunity to grow both as a scientist and as a person.

“I was involved in the Experimental Forest Trail Running Club, Clemson Battle Buddies, the Genetics and Biochemistry Club, and a Creative Inquiry project… I was also a member of the Clemson University Steel Band and Gigging Band. Having grown up playing the steel pan, I was excited to continue playing at Clemson. Being part of both groups was an incredible experience, and the rehearsals and performances gave me the opportunity to grow as a musician.”

Sydney is grateful for the academics and science courses, but she also learned invaluable life skills during her undergrad, embracing experiences that pushed her outside of her comfort zone.

“The most important thing I’ve learned over the last four years is confidence in myself. From public speaking to presentations and performing on stage, I’ve grown into someone who is far more comfortable taking on new challenges.”

Before coming to Clemson, Sydney recognized the Clemson ring and its tradition but says she didn’t fully understand the significance it held for those who wore it. Now, it holds special meaning and receiving hers is one of Sydney’s favorite memories.

“I wear mine every day, and it reminds me of the late nights studying in Cooper, the memories I made on and beyond campus, the experiences that shaped me and the incredible friends I met along the way.”

Sydney’s research involvement has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of her time as an undergrad student, her research projects where she served as the lead with PI Dr. Mukhtar even inspiring her to pursue her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology.

One of these projects is the investigation of drought responses in soybean root nodules with a multi-transcriptomic approach where Sydney uses single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to assess gene expression changes in response to extreme drought in the nodules. In the second project that is continuing through graduate school, she is researching the role of eccDNA in herbicide resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

“Working with these cutting-edge techniques has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this project, and I am excited to continue applying these powerful approaches to future research. I am incredibly excited to continue my journey here through a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology.”

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.”

Biochemistry alum Griffin Thomas ’25 plans to attend medical school but took a year to get his feet wet in industry conducting research with the Department of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC.

Lenox Hill Neurosurgery is a top destination for advanced cranial and spinal care, consistently ranking among the best hospitals in the world for neurosurgery by annual rankings in U.S. News & World Report.

Griffin is not new to research. While an undergraduate he performed research in Dr. James Morris’ lab where he studied the metabolism of T. brucei and Nagleria Fowleri.

This also isn’t Griffin’s first time at Lenox Hill. One summer, he had the opportunity to shadow in the Department of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital – the very same department he works in now.

“This experience affirmed my passion to pursue a career in medicine and my interest in neurosurgery.”

Griffin is using his time at Lenox Hill to hone in on and perfect his research skills before applying to medical school and is finding his time valuable.

“It’s going great! I’ve really enjoyed learning how to use clinical research and technology to optimize patient care. I’ve spent a lot of time exploring ways to incorporate AI into neurosurgical practice.”

Congrats and continued good luck to recent graduate Griffin!

Margo Courtney’s ’21 experience in research labs and creative inquires (CI) during her undergraduate experience at Clemson prepared her for her career at Ionis Pharmaceuticals in San Diego, CA.

“My time in research labs and my CI prepared me well to feel comfortable in the [Ionis Pharmaceuticals] lab and the background in genetics and biochemistry has made it very easy to understand the concepts of our therapies and the diseases we work to treat.”

Margo was a genetics and biochemistry double major with a minor in life sciences and worked at the Academic Success Center as a peer tutor for general and organic chemistry.

“Orgo was probably my favorite class of all of college!”

Margo was member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and held an executive position as the academic achievement chair. She also worked in Dr. Will Richardson’s lab for a CI in the biomedical engineering department.

“We developed in vitro tissue culture platforms to create technologies to control fibrosis related to heart failure.”

After graduating in May of 2021, Margo moved to San Diego to work for as a Research Associate II at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, a company that focuses on developing RNA-targeted therapies, specifically Antisense Oligonucleotides for a variety of diseases.

“It’s been a great experience, and I can see the ocean from my lab which is pretty fun! They really helped develop my skills both professionally and in the lab. I often times am asked to present my research, help with publications and attend conferences so it has the feel of academia even though I’m working in industry.”

Margo works for the Genome Integrity Group, where they mainly focus on age-related diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. Margo’s main concern is working to identify a target and relevant treatment of Huntington’s Disease (HD).

“I make in vitro neuronal models for the disease starting with iPSCs, then differentiating them into neurons or organoids, and finally try to model the repeat instability of the repeat in HD in these cell models with the hope of reversing somatic instability with our various therapies.”

The day-to-day at work changes depending on the specific project she is working on or protocols, but it mainly entails working in the lab doing cell culture, treatment and downstream analysis of Next-Generation Sequencing or qPCR.

“I knew I enjoyed the lab and wanted to spend some time in industry out of school to figure out what specific type of genetic research and science related path I wanted to go down.”

Margo’s time in industry motivated her academically to obtain her Ph.D. Last year she started back in school at Clemson in the Healthcare Genetics and Genomics (HGG) Program. Going back to school and getting a higher degree will open doors to careers that truly interest her. Margo hopes in the future to stay in industry but lean more into the translational science that is highlighted in the HGG program.

“Becoming a medical science liaison would be great to bridge the gap between my knowledge of genetic research and clinical practice as I have always loved discussing, teaching and communicating scientific concepts and ideas to make it more accessible and impactful for others hopefully in the neurodegenerative or aging field.”

Biochemistry alum Adam Gatch ’25 has received a Fulbright research award to study abroad in Munich, Germany at Ludwig Maximilian University. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities to pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach.

Adam has respectfully declined the Germany Fulbright offer after earning a Churchill scholarship earlier in the spring, which allows students to undertake a one-year master’s program in STEM fields at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The Churchill Scholarship is seen as the most prestigious and competitive international science, mathematics and engineering award for post-undergraduate researchers.

Adam’s proposed project at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich would have explored how early-stage medin aggregates interact with amyloid-beta in the brain, advancing a novel line of inquiry in Alzheimer’s research.

At Clemson, Adam conducted extensive biophysics research in the lab of Dr. Feng Ding, exploring molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease. Gatch also volunteered at the campus food pantry, worked as a tutor and gained clinical experience as an emergency medical technician (EMT). He plans to one day lead an interdisciplinary laboratory dedicated to neuroscience discovery while working in academic medicine.