Tag: graduation

It will be strange not to see Gabbie Gardiner around the teaching labs in Poole anymore. Gabbie is graduating this May with dual degrees in genetics and biochemistry, along with a minor in Spanish, after serving as a student laboratory assistant.

“I have worked as a student laboratory assistant for the G&B [Poole] teaching labs for the past four years.” 

Gabbie Gardiner has always kept busy, whether serving as an academic mentor and Assistant VP of Intellectual Development for the Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, acting as a Health Professions Advising Ambassador, or leading as Community Outreach Chair for The Period Project on campus. She has also been involved in organizations ranging from Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society to the Spanish Club and Hablemos Club.

Some of Gabbie’s extracurriculars were academic in nature as well, having worked in research labs aside from the teaching labs.

“I was a part of Dr. Métris’ Creative Inquiry exploring environmental DNA and RNA and Dr. Boccuto’s Health Genetics lab exploring Phelan-McDermid Syndrome.”

Gabbie has made many memories during her tenure at Clemson. However, when asked what her favorites are, a few come to mind.

“When we made it to the Elite 8 last year in basketball. I prefer watching basketball over football (sorry). An honorable mention for another favorite memory was winning Cribb Floor 5’s Resident of the Month for October 2022.”

Gabbie has gained a confidence over the last four years and has learned not to be afraid to speak up and talk to your peers and professors.

“Many of my opportunities have come from simply asking and not being afraid of being denied.”

After graduation, Gabbie plans to take the MCAT and work as a medical assistant until she moves to Spain to teach English in October as a gap year.

May graduate Britana Myers knew she wanted to study genetics after gaining an interest in high school.

Britana was a part of Clemson Honors College, the College of Science Mentoring and Inclusion Collaborative (COSMIC) Program and was a Student Phonathon Caller for the Clemson Annual Fund.

In addition, Britana performed research in Dr. Michael Sehorn’s, focusing on a project that includes creating a mutation in the human SSB1 protein.

Britana’s advice for undergraduate students is to seek assistance from professors, advisors and peers.

“The best thing I learned in the last four years is that you should always ask for help when you need it. It’s better to be vulnerable and admit when you don’t know something.”

Britana loved spending late nights studying and goofing off with her friends, which she will continue to do as she is pursuing a master’s in genetics with our department starting in the Fall of 2025.

National Scholar Elizabeth Caldwell graduated with a degree in genetics in May 2025 and is headed to Yale University for a master’s degree in public health.

Since her freshman year, Caldwell has worked with Michael Sehorn, associate professor of genetics and biochemistry, focusing on DNA damage repair pathways in various disorders, including a rare immunodeficiency disease. Her passion stems from her own underresearched disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Her love for research led her to the highly selective pediatric oncology education program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the summers of 2023 and 2024, where she researched rare, cancerous mutations related to leukemia. On campus, Caldwell founded the Tigers 4 Accessibility club and volunteered at the Clemson Free Clinic.

Caldwell has been named a Truman Scholar and has received Clemson’s Norris Medal, the Matt Locke Leadership Award, the College of Science Outstanding Senior in Science Award, the Riley Institute’s Upstate Diversity Leadership Award, Dr. William Marcotte Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award and the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry Outstanding Senior in Genetics Award.

Our G&B seniors graduated yesterday and among them was biochemistry student, now alum, Ruxi Xia. An international student from China, Ruxi enjoyed the strong biochemistry program Clemson had to offer, setting her up for future successes in research.

“I wanted a strong biochemistry program to set me up for success in cancer research as it has been my career choice since one of my family members passed from cancer.”

Ruxi was an intern at the Clemson Light Imaging Facility and participated in lab research at the Nanobiotechnology lab.

“I have worked on many independent immunofluorescence staining projects, learned to operate wide-field and confocal microscopes, and coordinated an imaging contest that receives entries from all over the world for that past three years.”

She has served as co-director for the Clemson Paw Pantry, president of the Clemson Chinese Students and Scholars Association and community service coordinator for the Clemson Rotaract Club, tutored at the Academic Success Center and acted as member of CUSG Campus Advancement committee.

“I have really enjoyed getting to help the community whether that is helping at the Clemson Community Care, local farms, and other shelters in the community.”

Her favorite moment during her undergrad was receiving her college ring at the Clemson Ring Ceremony with her best friends.

Ruxi plans to attend Columbia University for a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering.

Natalie Shay, genetics student graduating this May, has been emersed in research, clubs and the community since she arrived, research being one of Natalie’s top priorities.

“During my freshman and sophomore year, I was in a CI with Dr. Marc Birtwistle where I helped study cancer diagnostics and pharmacology.”

Junior and senior year, Natalie developed an interest in neurobiology, resulting in an undergraduate researcher position in Dr. Julia George’s lab, where Natalie studied gene expression in the brains of zebra finch embryos, particularly DNA methylation changes.

“These experiences shaped me as a scientist, and I couldn’t be more thankful for them!”

Natalie was also the president of the Biochemistry and Genetics club, and her favorite course was Epigenetics; she loves figuring out how so many factors affect our gene expression beyond just our DNA sequence.

Natalie is grateful for the lifelong friends that she has made at Clemson over the last four years.

“It was awesome to find friends who love science as much as I do!”

After graduation, Natalie will be joining Dr. Jessica Larsen’s lab to pursue a master’s degree in bioengineering, her overall career goal to research and develop gene therapies.

“I’m glad I get to stay at Clemson a little bit longer!”