Dr. Rajandeep Sekhon leads the Clemson University team participating in a four-year, $6 million National Science Foundation collaborative grant for the project “Collaborative Research: FEC: Converging AI, Biomechanics, and Genomics to Engineer Lodging Resilient Field Crops.”
Dr. James Morris is part of a team that was awarded a NIH grant, “Optimization of N. fowleri inhibitors for rodent efficacy and validation of target.”
Dr. Hong Luo received the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) 2026 Distinguished Service Award for his contribution in fundraising and service as member of the SIVB Board of Directors.
Senior genetics and Honors College student Jennifer Covel was chosen to represent Clemson University at the 20th annual ACC Meeting of the Minds Undergraduate Research Conference.
Five Department of Genetics and Biochemistry faculty members were promoted at the beginning of the Fall 2026 semester: Lindsey Beebe to senior lecturer; Lukasz Kozubowski to professor; and Miriam Konkel, Lela Lackey and Fabio Morgante to associate professor with tenure.
Genetics and Biochemistry students Elizabeth Polatty and Addison Vondersaar have been selected to explore global policy issues through the Honors College’s selective Dixon Global Policy Scholars program.
Graduate students Alp Ummet, Fengge Chang, Vijay Shankar, Xiaotong (Stone) Chen, Zhaohui (Charlie) Chen, Ryan Watts and Ming Liu attended national and international conferences presenting posters and giving oral presentations.
Alexandra Harrington, an Honors College student and biochemistry and genetics double major with minors in Spanish studies and microbiology was selected for a Fulbright teaching assistantship in Galicia, Spain.
Ph.D. student Xiaotong (Stone) Chen received the Society for In Vitro Biology 2026 Philip R. White Memorial Award for his outstanding research.
In this CI, students participate in tissue sectioning, advanced microscopy and histological analysis to assess plant anatomy and analyze how drought and other stressors alter plant tissues, helping them gain a better understanding of how environmental pressures affect agricultural systems.
“Dr. Mukhtar is as enthusiastic about working with undergraduates as he is about his own research,” wrote one student nominator for the Phil and Mary Bradley Faculty Award. “Even from my first conversation with him, I could tell he’s incredibly passionate about what he does and that he’s excited about including new students. He makes sure I know that he believes in me as a scientist … I’ve learned many important research skills, and I feel more confident in the lab because of him.”
Dr. Mukhtar says that the Carr Family Endowed Fund, which was established with a gift from Chalmers and Lori Anne Carr, owners and operators of Titan Farms, provides support for CI projects related to fruit and vegetable crop production, agriculture industries and rural economic development. will help provide students with a more immersive research experience and expand access to research technology to tackle real world agricultural challenges.
Phil and Mary Bradley helped launch the CI program in 2005 with a gift of $100,000. Since that time, they have continued to support CI by endowing the faculty award since 2006. The Bradleys’ generous gift allows each recipient to receive a plaque and salary supplement.
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.”
Department of Genetics and Biochemistry students Elizabeth Polatty and Addison Vondersaar have been selected to explore global policy issues through the Honors College’s selective Dixon Global Policy Scholars program, which provides students with the tools to change the world through a combination of public policy coursework and a transformative study abroad trip to Europe, all while applying academic theory to real-world issues.
Over the next two to three years, Elizabeth and Addison will have the opportunity to explore global concepts in more detail through coursework and faculty-guided research focused on global policy issues, before developing their own policy proposals.
The Dixon Global Policy Scholars program was established through an endowment from the Dixon family. Joseph E. Dixon ’39 and his wife, Carolyn, were dedicated members of the Clemson community and active supporters of their local community.
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.”
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.”
The Clemson University College of Science recognized some of its most outstanding undergraduate and graduate students during an awards ceremony on April 9.
The following G&B students were recognized.
Ryan Mehlem: Outstanding Undergraduate in Discovery Award
Ryan Mehlem, an Honors College student with a biochemistry major with minors in cluster engineering and business administration, has built an outstanding research record across multiple labs, spending more than four years studying thermal adaptation, azole tolerance and gene expression in Aspergillus fumigatus.
This award is given to a graduating senior who has performed outstanding original research in the sciences.
Katie Barfield: Blue Key Academic and Leadership Award
A genetics and sociology major with a minor in gender, sexuality and women’s studies, Katie Barfield has worked in Miriam Konkel’s lab, participated in research at Johns Hopkins University and has conducted a greenhouse assay at the Institute of Subtropical and Mediterranean Horticulture in Malaga, Spain.
The Blue Key Academic and Leadership Award recognizes one student in each of the colleges at Clemson who has distinguished themselves in academic scholarship and campus leadership.
Jerry (Rui) Che: Outstanding Graduate in Discovery
Jerry (Rui) Che is a Ph.D. candidate in genetics and during his graduate studies, Che helped create a new research method that made it possible to study how certain molecules inside cells are controlled, leading to the identification of important pathways involved in how cells process nuclear RNA. He also discovered two human genes, which he named RMP24 and RMP64 and helped develop an E.-coli-free cloning method and a way to build much larger DNA libraries for genetic research. The new cloning method was patented.
This award honors doctoral students in the College of Science who have made distinctive and discernable contributions to their field.
Ava McKee: SciSAB Outstanding Board Member
Ava McKee has been a member of Science Student Advisory Board for three years, most recently serving as grant officer and will step into the role of vice president for outreach next year. As grant officer, she led the coordination of SciSAB’s grant in aid of research award program, applications increasing by 91%, and helping award $6,200 in funding. Her plans as vice president for outreach next year are to increase volunteering opportunities and strengthen the partnership with the Science Outreach Center.
Senior Katie Barfield and alum Søren Spina were recognized by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), a highly competitive award that supports outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Katie, a genetics and sociology double major and Breakthrough Scholar studies the questions at the intersection of genetics, genomics and human health. Her research has explored transposable elements and translational regulation while also examining how science can better serve diverse communities. Søren is studying at Ohio State University.
The GRFP recognizes early-career scientists and engineers who demonstrate exceptional promises for leadership and innovation and provides three years of financial support over five years, including a $37,000 annual stipend and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance to the institution.
