Ready to change the world for the better

At the recent Clemson commencement services, more than 400 undergraduate students and almost 100 master’s and Ph.D. students from the College of Science crossed the stage to accept their degrees. How joyous to see their smiling faces and share in their excitement on the day they’ve worked so hard to reach.

Graduates from Science included Erin Jones, a genetics major who researched brain-eating amoeba while also serving her community as an emergency medical technician, and Shay Douglas, a biological sciences major whose Clemson journey has been shared with her twin sister, Tina. There was also Lucas Ayres, whose chemistry Ph.D. is equipping him to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University.

They and their classmates, friends and fellow Tigers who also earned their degrees are now taking their next steps, whether joining the workforce or pursuing further education. Science graduates have accepted positions at pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and medical systems. They’ve enrolled in medical, pharmacy and dental schools and in graduate programs at universities like MIT, Duke, Emory, Texas A&M and right here at Clemson.

These new alumni join the thousands of other Science alumni, just like you, who are changing the world for the better, exemplifying the power of the paw in improving lives and livelihoods. Please join me in congratulating them and wishing them a bright (solid orange) and fulfilling future!

Go Tigers!

The College of Science’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and the Department of Physics and Astronomy have new leaders — sort of. Colin Gallagher and Chad Sosolik were named director and department chair, respectively, after having served as interims.

Clemson researcher Feng Ding has discovered a cause of blood vessel damage in the brain that plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia. The research could lead to new therapeutic interventions for the devastating disease.

Clemson University Professor of Biological Sciences Norman Wickett was a part of an international team of researchers that built the most extensive flowering plant tree of life to date.They analyzed DNA from thousands of species, one of which hasn’t been seen alive since 1875.

Dr. Stoney Abercrombie agreed to organize a medical mission trip to Honduras after he heard a physician and pastor talk about the needs of the people there. He had no idea the trip would be the beginning of an international nonprofit organization, Volunteers in Medical Missions.

The College of Science invites all Golden Tigers to the SCIENCE Alumni Breakfast during the 2024 Golden Tiger Reunion. The breakast will be held on Friday, June 14, from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. Gather with some fellow SCIENCE Tigers and leaders to hear about the innovative, groundbreaking initiatives being pursued by the College of Science. RSVP here.

Several College of Science faculty and staff were honored for excellence during the College’s annual awards day. The awards recognized teaching and research excellence, outstanding performance and outstanding student service and engagement.

Thao Tran, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, capped off a remarkable year by being named Clemson University Junior Researcher of the Year. It was the latest of several honors for Tran, who is working to unlock the power of quantum technology.

Elizabeth Caldwell, a third-year genetics major, was recognized for her commitment to raising accessbility awareness and ambition to influence health care policy related to her rare disease research. She is Clemson’s fourth Truman Scholar since 2017 and the University's fifth recipient in 42 years.

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