Tag: fellowship

Alumni Christine Hart ’18 and biochemistry major Caroline Argenti were recognized by the prestigious National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program, receiving three years of financial support for graduate study.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding students early in their graduate school careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or in STEM education. Recipients receive a $37,000 stipend and a full cost of education allowance, which covers their tuition and mandatory fees.

Caroline Argenti’s research focuses on expanding the field of nanotechnology with an emphasis on RNA (ribonucleic acid) therapeutics. Caroline has also been awarded the Goldwater Scholarship in 2024. After she graduates, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Christine Hart ‘18, researches the impact of global and anthropogenic changes on insect communities and how to address insect declines through research-based management solutions and equitable science education for K-12 students with language-based learning differences. She currently runs a small business providing educational support and consulting for students with learning disabilities and works part-time at Clemson’s Coastal Research and Education Center in a vegetable entomology lab run by Tom Bilbo, assistant professor of plant and environmental sciences.

Read more in the Clemson News article.

Trudy Mackay, director of the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics and the Self Family Endowed Chair of Human Genetics at Clemson is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on the genetics of complex traits and for groundbreaking research that uses Drosophila melanogaster — the common fruit fly — to study the genetic and environmental basis of human diseases.

Dr. Mackay has been elected a Laureate Distinguished Fellow of the International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI).

IETI’s vision is to promote sustainable and innovative practices through the harmonious development of natural sciences, engineering sciences, technological sciences and social sciences that intersect with engineering technology. IETI showcases the latest advancements in technology and science through forums, collaborations and publications.

The organization is honoring her pioneering work in the field of quantitative genetics, particularly her contributions to understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits and its profound impact on agriculture and human genetics. The IETI said Mackay’s innovative strategies have provided valuable insights into the complex interplay between genes and the environment, leading to practical applications in agricultural improvement and human health.

“This came as a total surprise – I had no idea I was even nominated! I am greatly honored to be a Laureate Distinguished Fellow of the IETI,” said Mackay.

Gracie Dellinger ’24, recent genetics and microbiology alum, was one of the six Clemson members recognized with the country’s most prestigious STEM-focused graduate research fellowship, awarded annually through the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship program helps ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the country’s scientific and engineering workforce by supporting outstanding students pursuing research-based graduate degrees at accredited United States institutions.

Gracie, originally from McClellanville, South Carolina, was a part of the Clemson Honors College and has been performing undergraduate research in EPIC with Dr. Kim Paul since the summer after her junior year of high school, focusing on the parasite that causes African Sleeping Sickness, a disease that can be fatal if left untreated. Last summer, Gracie attended a Research Experience for Undergraduates at UNC Chapel Hill, exploring different adaptations of an intestinal pathogen responsible for a hospital-acquired disease called C. difficile infection.

Gracie will be attending Duke University School of Medicine in the fall, where she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and microbiology. She was also awarded a fellowship called the James P. Duke Fellowship, which aims to attract and develop outstanding scholars at Duke.

Rick Boyles received the SC Rural Rehabilitation Fellowship for 2015-2016.

Graduate students Rick Boyles, Zach Brenton, Grace Kisirkoi, William Poehlman, and Stephen Nowak received the Wade Stackhouse Graduate Fellowship for 2015-16.