At the Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.
In the session “Biotechnology approaches for animal and crop improvement and environmental risk assessment of genetically engineered organisms” of the Society For In Vitro Biology 2025 Meeting in Norfolk, VA.
At Lanzhou University as a part of their seminar series.
At the International Pastureland and Forage Industry Congress 2025 in Hulunbuir, China.
Dr. Stephen Dolan and Ph.D. students Jessica Aycock, Shafi Mondal and Lindsay Pauls attended the Gordon Research Seminar & Conference on Microbial Adhesion and Signal Transduction in Newport, RI, where all three gave research presentations.
Zane Tolbet, a Ph.D. candidate, gave an oral presentation at the Midwest DNA Repair Symposium at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Fabio Morgante was invited to speak at the CM Statistics 2024 conference in London and at Clemson University for the Medical Biophysics Seminar Series. The titles of his talks were “A variational empirical Bayes approach to multivariate multiple regression, with applications to polygenic prediction” and “Exploiting Complexity to Improve Phenotype Prediction,” respectively.
Post doctoral fellow Anurag Chaturvedi gave an oral presentation, titled “Unravelling toxicogenomics: From single cell to populations” as part of a workshop at the Drosophila Research Conference in San Diego.
Dr. Robert Anholt presented a workshop presentation skills and was a panel member of a grant review writing session at the 2025 SC INBRE Career Development Workshop at the USC School of Medicine in Columbia, SC. He also served on the NIH Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group for Program Projects: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1.
Dr. James Morris received the grant “Optimization of delivery of HEX for treatment of primary amebic encephalitis” from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences/NIH.
Dr. Rajan Sekhon received a $2.4M NSF grant, titled “BIO-AI: RESEARCH-PGR: Harnessing Multi-Omics and AI/ML to Unveil Nutrient Recycling Mechanisms in Maize Senescence,” a collaboration between Clemson University (lead), Cornell University, and the University of Florida. The project uses systems genetics and AI/ML to identify key mechanisms of maize leaf senescence and nutrient remobilization, guiding improvements in nitrogen use efficiency, grain quality, and crop resilience.
Graduate students Xiaotong Chen and Zhaohui Chen were awarded travel grants to attend 2025 Society for In Vitro Biology Meeting held in Norfolk, VA in June.
Dr. Andrew Jezewski was awarded a South Carolina Department of Agriculture – Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (SCDA-ACRE) grant to study “Biocontrol of Salmonella using nutritional yeasts.”
Post doctoral fellow Anurag Chaturvedi received a $25,000 grant from the Clemson University Research Foundation to develop high-throughput screening of drugs using Drosophila.
Doctorate student Zane Tolbert pictured winning an award in the middle.
Ph.D. student with Dr. Jennifer Mason, Zane Tolbert, was awarded second place for his poster presentation titled, “Nascent strand degradation and genomic instability in FANCD2 and FANCA deficient cells requires RAD54L-mediated fork reversal” at the Inaugural Symposium on Genome Integrity and Chromatin Regulation at UNC-Charlotte.
Dr. Michael Sehorn received the Clemson University National Scholars Program Award of Distinction.
Biochemistry alum Adam Gatch ’25 has received a Fulbright research award to study abroad in Munich, Germany at Ludwig Maximilian University. Adam has respectfully declined the Germany Fulbright offer after earning a Churchill scholarship earlier in the spring.
Ph.D. student under Dr. Stephen Dolan, Jessica Aycock was honored with the Cell Press Best Poster Award at the Gordon Research Seminar & Conference on Microbial Adhesion and Signal Transduction in Newport, RI.
Graduate student Xiaotong Chen was awarded the first prize for poster presentation competition in the 2025 Society for In Vitro Biology Meeting.
Dr. Robert Anholt joined the Advisory Board of the Blackland Charity Initiative, Ghana.
Graduate student Bibhu Simkhada attended the summer course on Neurobiology of Drosophila at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. He also won second place in the Clemson iGRADS video competition and the people’s choice award for his video on Sanfilippo disease.
Dr. Kim Paul recently celebrated 20 years with Clemson Univeristy.
Naegleria fowleri is a rare and complex infection that is severely underresearched. After a case was confirmed in the state, the news outlet WYFF reached out to Clemson University’s Eukaryotic Pathogen’s Innovation Center and its post doctoral fellow Dr. Jillian MeKon, who focuses on these organisms.
Located at Clemson’s Center for Human Genetics in Greenwood, SC, graduate student Kathryn Howe recently completed her first year of Ph.D. research under assistant professor Dr. Tara Doucet-O’Hare.
“When I was taking classes in high school, I fell in love with chemistry and biology and really enjoyed learning about cancers and genetics.”
It was this love for science that led Kathryn to pursuing her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at Mercer University in GA.
“While I was there, I was an active member of the marching band and served as band captain for two years. I love the classes and the chance to get involved in research early in my education.”
Kathryn’s primary research at Mercer was focused on bacteria and trying to design and test small molecules that would inhibit the production of biofilm without killing the bacteria.
“I also got to spend some time in Peru measuring the amount of mercury in the air around small-town gold shops and working with the engineering department to design and install mercury capture systems. It was through these projects and many others at Mercer that made my love for research really began to grow.”
After graduating, Kathryn took a position as a research technician at Johns Hopkins in the Gastroenterology Lab, gaining insight into academic labs, Ph.D. programs, clinical trial research and the versatility of the mouse model, which inspired her to pursue our Ph.D. program in genetics.
“I am currently working on transposable elements and their role in cancers, neurodevelopment and therapeutics. We use the chicken embryo model for a lot of our developmental work and the eggs come from right here at Clemson Poultry farm.”
Kathryn is a member of the Genetics and Biochemistry Graduate Student Association, where she plans to schedule social events for the Greenwood campus and encourage cross-campus interaction between the grad students.
“I chose Clemson for my Ph.D. because of the resources they had for their students, the involvement of the students in each step of their thesis project and the supportive and friendly faculty and staff in the G&B department.”
After obtaining her Ph.D. Kathryn hopes to stay on the research side of things, continuing to work in a research lab setting, specifically cancer and genetics.
Senior genetics and biochemistry student Gabbie Gardiner spent her summer in Charleston, South Carolina participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) researching a protein called PTP1B with Dr. Lalima Katyayani Madan.
“This summer, I conducted research at the Medical University of South Carolina focused on developing more precise cancer therapies by studying a protein called PTP1B (Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B).”
PTP1B plays a critical role in cellular signaling and has been linked to diseases like breast cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. However, designing drugs that target it specifically has been extremely difficult due to similarities it shares with other proteins.
“My project aimed to overcome this challenge by exploring how PTP1B can be inhibited allosterically – meaning, by targeting areas outside the active site that control the protein’s shape and function.”
By combining lab-based protein purification and activity testing with computational analysis of over 250 crystal structures, we can begin to understand how the protein shifts between different conformations. This research led to findings that will lay the groundwork for creating highly specific inhibitors that could one day be used in targeted cancer treatments.
While not in the lab, Gabbie took in all that Charleston had to offer: the beach, amazing restaurants, yoga, Pilates and more!
“I love going to the beach; my favorite beach is Sullivan’s Island Beach. I’ve also loved trying a ton of restaurants in the area. I can’t pick a favorite; they are all so good.”
This summer at MUSC was invaluable to Gabbie, reiterating her passions for research and science.
“This summer really opened my eyes to what research is all about. I learned how to work with proteins in the lab, analyze data, and think through problems when things didn’t go as planned. Being part of a project that could actually help lead to new treatments for cancer made the work feel really meaningful. It confirmed for me that I want to keep doing this kind of work in the future as a doctor and scientist.”
HELEN LARKIN
Senior biochemistry student Helen Larkin spent the summer on the University of Michigan’s campus in Ann Arbor, MI researching how circulating tumor cells can cause inflammatory effects in a patient.
“I participated in the Cancer Research Summer Internship Program (CaRSIP) through the Rogel Cancer Center and the University of Michigan Medical School. I worked in Dr. Sunitha Nagrath’s lab, which is in the Department of Chemical Engineering.”
Helen found this internship on the program’s website. When looking for internships, she would go through the websites of graduate schools that she was interested in and see the summer research internship positions available.
In the Nagrath lab, Helen worked on researching the effect of glioblastoma extracellular vesicles (EVs) on neutrophils. In other words, Helen looked at how circulating tumor cells can cause inflammatory effects in a patient and potentially contribute to malignancies.
“This project has involved cell culture, flow cytometry, and different types of assays. I have learned a lot about new techniques and experiments from being there. This has been an incredibly valuable experience. I feel more prepared to apply to graduate school this fall and I have a better understanding of what life in graduate school will be like.”
Department of Genetics and Biochemistry assistant professor and member of the Center for Human Genetics Dr. Miriam Konkel is part of a team of scientists that have produced the most complete and accurate look at the human genome to date, even in regions that have long been considered too complex to resolve.
“The greatest advancement in this work is that we can get into these really difficult regions and build the structure and show the genetic variation within them, and now investigate how they are contributing to phenotypes or disease,” said Dr. Konkel.
The team of 65 individuals, making up the Human Genome Structural Variation Consortium, represent a variety of the world’s populations. The team assembled near-complete genomes, advancing the scientific exploration of complex genetic structural variation.
Naegleria fowleri is a rare and complex infection that is severely underresearched. The news outlet WYFF reached out to Clemson University’s Eukaryotic Pathogen’s Innovation Center (EPIC) and its post doctoral fellow Dr. Jillian MeKon, who are focused on these organisms.
The week of July 7th the South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed a case of Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, in the state. On Tuesday, July 23rd, the patient succumbed to their illness.
“Naegleria is incredibly rare. So there are not that many people that work on it,” Jillian said. “It’s incredibly important, and something that I don’t want to ever be forgotten about.”
The group is actively conducting studies within the Jim Morris lab on campus to develop drugs for patients in hopes of lessening the severity of the disease and extending life. The Morris’ lab in EPIC used the enzyme HEX to further Naegleria fowleri research. The group said it led to hope for possible groundbreaking treatment.
“We are working very hard in finding a better treatment, because it is absolutely necessary. We need to work on the root of administration. So, figuring out exactly how to deliver that drug to the patient,” Jillian said.
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.”
Clemson University has held a special significance in Madeleine Greer’s family ever since her grandfather graduated in ’61. This connection was a key consideration for her as she selected her university.
“I chose Clemson because it’s always been an important place to me and my family. My family has been going to Clemson games since before I was born and with it being close to where I grew up, we always visited and grew a connection with the university.”
Madeleine is from Greenville, SC and went to Greenville High School, where she skipped a grade between her sophomore and senior year. In high school, Madeleine enjoyed being a part of the school’s tennis team, eventually becoming team captain.
As a genetics major, Madeleine is eager to explore how our genes are inherited and how they shape our identities.
“I’ve always been curious about how traits are passed down and why people are the way they are. I think it’s really interesting how our genes shape so much about us and I’m excited to learn more about it.”
Madeleine has plans when she gets on campus not just academically but with extracurricular activities, planning to go through sorority recruitment and joining the club tennis team.
Even as an incoming freshman, she has goals for her future after graduating with her genetics degree.
“With my genetics degree I plan on going to medical school and becoming a doctor specializing in either IVF or gynecology.”
Madeleine, we can’t wait to see you on campus!
Alexandra Hart
When incoming biochemistry freshman Alexandra Hart attended her mother’s doctoral hooding ceremony at Clemson University in 2021, she knew it was an experience she would never forget.
“Seeing Clemson for the first time is something I would love to relive. Honestly, I don’t think there is a college that could provide me with an experience like Clemson has. You can really tell that Clemson cares about their students, especially their incoming students.”
Coming from Charleston, SC, Alexandra went to Berkeley Middle College High School a top magnet school in partnership with Trident Technical College. At Berkeley students can complete all requirements of a high school graduate while pursuing an associate degree and other certifications provided by the technical college.
Alexandra was not only busy with her academics in high school, but she was also involved in many extracurricular activities within the school and the community.
“At Berkeley I earned my high school diploma and associate’s degree in science. I participated in varsity cheerleading, varsity tennis and multiple volunteer organizations, including a few local, youth-based non-profits.”
Alexandra is coming in as a biochemistry major with a genetics minor with the hopes of completing the bachelors-to-master’s program. She chose biochemistry after taking a Principles of Biomedical Sciences course her first year of high school.
“It made me realize how much I enjoyed working in a lab setting and helped my constant curiosity about life!”
When Alexandra arrives on campus she plans on getting involved by participating in Club Cheerleading, the Black Student Union and the Biochemistry & Genetics Club.
“I am beyond excited to enter Clemson University this August, and I keep a countdown for the move-in day on all my devices. I still can’t believe I am going to Clemson! Go Tigers!!”
Meilani Wijetunga
Clemson was the perfect choice for incoming biochemistry freshman Meilani Wijetunga, who wanted to study in-state and fell in love with the campus like many before her. She also saw inspiring opportunities here for her as a woman in science and couldn’t wait to receive her acceptance letter.
“I heard how great Clemson’s STEM program and internship opportunities were and couldn’t wait to explore them! I applied for early action in October, so when I got my acceptance in December. I was so excited to accept!”
In high school, Meilani was a varsity athlete, playing varsity soccer and volleyball. When Meilani arrives on campus, she cannot wait to get settled and get into her classes as well as get involved in clubs and organizations such as the College of Science Mentoring and Inclusion Collaborative (COSMIC), which is an award-winning peer mentoring program intended to support incoming students with their transition to Clemson by matching them with upperclassmen mentors who come from similar backgrounds and share similar interests.
Meilani is a student who is coming in with a plan, knowing where she wants her future career to go, and Clemson’s biochemistry program is going to help her reach her goal of becoming a pathologist or pharmaceutical researcher one day.
“I wanted to study biochemistry because I’ve always been interested in working in labs and helping people from ‘behind-the-scenes.’ The numerous opportunities and beautiful area made me eager to call Clemson home!”
Kayla Poulias
Kayla Poulias, high-jump track and field star, dancer and survivor is coming into Clemson this fall as a freshman genetics major with big dreams. Clemson is not new to Kayla or the Poulias family as her brother graduated from Clemson this spring as well.
“I chose Clemson because my brother went there and I also fell in love with tiger town whenever I visited!”
Kayla is originally from Ontario, Canada but moved to South Carolina when she was ten and attended Fort Mill High School where she participated in varsity track and field and the HOSA – Future Health Professionals Club.
Kayla is excited to see all the clubs Clemson has to offer and to meet new people when she arrives on campus in August. In her free time Kayla enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.
“One fun fact is I did aerial silks for 5 years but all forms of dance even pointe for 15 years!”
Kayla’s choice to study genetics comes both from a passion for it and from a personal, medical experience when she was in middle school.
“I choose genetics because I’ve always had a passion for genetic research since 8th grade when I actually had a very rare noncancerous tumor in my leg. I’m hoping to study the genetic sequences from tumors to help find more targeted therapy techniques for patients.”
As a travel lover, study abroad was an important factor when deciding where to attend college for genetics sophomore Maddie Smith. This summer, she jumped at the opportunity to study abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico through the Faculty-Directed: Global Experiences in Health Professions Program.
“I love travelling and getting to experience different cultures and landscapes different from my hometown. Clemson has been so supportive of my dream to go abroad, and this dream come true did not disappoint!”
During the three weeks that Maddie was in Mexico, she shadowed doctors, gained insight on traditional medicine, studied the Spanish language and learned the history of Mexico.
“While in Oaxaca, Mexico, I was shadowing in local hospitals and clinics to gain insightful experience within healthcare settings and gain a global perspective on public health.”
Maddie and the other students lived with a host family during their stay. Each day they would have clinical rotations, Spanish lessons and lectures to attend. As busy as Maddie’s days were, she did occasionally get some free time.
“In our free time, I would do my assignments, take much needed naps, go to dinner with friends and explore the city! I loved going to the market to see all the local goods they were selling!”
Grateful for this experience, Maddie hopes this will follow her into her future career as a physician.
“Through this experience, I have learned that we are very fortunate in the US to have a top-notch healthcare system. When I am a practicing physician, I hope to use my global healthcare perspective to be patient and respectful of my patients and their life experiences.”
