College Profile 2023

Accelerate CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

“Science is essential. It satisfies the need to comprehend the world around us. It inspires creativity and opens our eyes to new understandings. Scientific discoveries drive the innovations of the future — often in unexpected ways. In today’s increasingly complex world, the solutions to big problems will be brought to life only through a steadfast commitment to advancing human knowledge.”

Cynthia Y. Young DEAN

Mission and Vision

Table of Contents

2 WELCOME 3 DEGREE PROGRAMS A look at degree programs offered in the College, and faculty numbers. 4 SCIENCE STUDENTS AT A GLANCE Enrollment and student success. 6 CENTERS OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH EXCELLENCE The College of Science leads two COBRE-funded centers. 7 DISCOVERY Achieving national and global prominence. 8 NOVEL THERAPIES Better understanding of DNA repair proteins could lead to new cancer treatments. 10 UNRAVELING MYSTERIES What role does genetics play in addiction? 12 NORTHERN LIGHTS Researchers launch rockets to study energy exchange. 13 BALANCING THE EQUATION Women add up in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. 14 SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH GRANTS 15 RESEARCH BY THE NUMBERS Elevating science learning experiences. 20 THE SCIENCE OF THE GAME Where Tiger fans see tackles and touchdowns, Amy Pope sees physics. 22 WHAT LIES BENEATH A tiny parasite has implications for the fishing industry — and our planet. 24 PATH TO SUCCESS COSMIC program helps College of Science students flourish. 25 STUDENT EXCELLENCE Student success is at the forefront of everything we do. 26 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Experiential learning offers unique educational opportunities for students. 27 ENGAGEMENT Embracing a culture of inclusive excellence where each person can thrive. 28 ‘WHEN SPIDERWEBS UNITE’ The Science Outreach Center develops a graphic novel and after-school program. 30 REACHING OUT Students mentor elementary and middle schoolers through CU-REACH. 31 ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Tigers on Call connects students with health pros. 32 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Clemson grad brings medical care to rural Alaska. 16 FACULTY EXCELLENCE 18 FACULTY RISING STARS 19 LEARNING

MISSION We elevate Clemson’s local relevance and global impact through excellence in scientific discovery integrated with learning and engagement. VISION We will be a world-class college of science that tackles tomorrow’s scientific challenges, prepares the next generation of leading scientists, and fosters a scientifically informed society.

1

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

T he Clemson University College of Science brings together the life, physical and mathematical sciences, fostering excellence at every level and seeking high-impact and transformational experiences. The college’s four departments and one school offer 30 undergraduate and graduate degrees that prepare students for an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. Welcome to the College of Science

As part of a land-grant university, we understand the value of local relevance and the responsibility of improving the

lives of South Carolinians. As an aspiring world-class College of Science, we recognize the importance of global impact through innovation and discovery and the cultiva tion of the next generation of leaders.

Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Physics and Astronomy

Biological Sciences

Genetics and Biochemistry

Chemistry

2 CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Degree Programs

PHYSICAL

LIFE

MATHEMATICAL

Undergraduate degree programs B.S. Biochemistry B.A. Biological Sciences B.S. Biological Sciences B.S. Genetics B.S. Microbiology Graduate degree programs Biological Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.) Microbiology (M.S., Ph.D.) Environmental Toxicology (M.S., Ph.D.) Genetics (M.S., Ph.D.) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.S., Ph.D.)

Undergraduate degree programs B.A. Mathematical Sciences B.S. Mathematical Sciences Graduate degree programs Mathematical Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.) Data Science and Analytics (M.S., online only)

Undergraduate degree programs B.A. Chemistry B.S. Chemistry

B.A. Physics B.S. Physics Graduate degree programs Physics (M.S., Ph.D.) Medical Biophysics (M.S., Ph.D.) Chemistry (M.S., Ph.D.)

Fall Instructional Faculty

T/TT faculty 2026 goal: 180

2 0 2 2

159

89

2 0 1 7

153

77

n Tenured/Tenure Track (T/TT) Faculty

n Non T/TT Faculty

3

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

College of Science Students at a Glance

12% of University Undergraduates 24% of Clemson Honors College

85,522 Undergraduate student credit hours (SCH) 6,534 Graduate SCH 345:1 Undergraduate SCH per instructional faculty

Undergraduate enrollment by unit

Graduate enrollment by unit

Biological Sciences:

Biological Sciences:

1,794

270 101

118

Chemistry:

Chemistry:

Genetics and Biochemistry: Physics and Astronomy: Mathematical and Statistical Sciences:

Genetics and Biochemistry: Physics and Astronomy: Mathematical and Statistical Sciences:

515

70

73

77

190

181

Total undergraduate:

2,690

Total graduate:

699

4 CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

College of Science Students at a Glance

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

WOMEN

BLACK

HISPANIC

➧ 70.6% ➧ 52.5% University

➧ 7.2% ➧ 5.4%

➧ 9.4% ➧ 7.9%

College of Science

College of Science

College of Science

University

University

Student Success

Freshman Retention Rate

Six-year Graduation Rate

2017

90.2%

81.6%

2021

92.7%

84.9%

64% In-state

36% Out-of-state

All numbers are for Fall 2022 unless otherwise noted.

5

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence

The National Institutes of Health’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program supports the establishment of innovative, state-of-the-art biomedical and behavioral research centers across the country. COBRE programs may receive three, five-year grants to develop a critical mass of investigators and to improve research infrastructure. The College of Science leads two COBRE-funded centers.

Center for Human Genetics

Scientists at the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics are working to unravel the secrets of human illness by advancing our under standing of the fundamental principles by which genetic and environmental factors determine and predict both healthy traits and susceptibility to disease. The CHG addresses research and clinical opportunities in human diagnostics and epigenetic therapeutics, advancing personalized medicine for intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, cancer, diabetes, heart dis ease, and disorders of the immune and nervous systems. The center is housed in Self Regional Hall, a 17,000-square-foot building that opened in 2017 on the campus of the Greenwood Genet ic Center, which has a long history of excellence in the field of medical genetics and caring for families impacted by genetic diseases and birth defects. CHG was founded in 2018 and received a $10.6 million COBRE grant in 2021.

Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center

Eukaryotic pathogens cause some of the most devastating and intractable diseases in humans, including malaria, amoebic dysentery, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and fungal meningitis. Many eukaryotic pathogens are classified as bio terrorism agents or neglected tropical diseases. While many of the diseases are often thought of as “third-world” diseases, climate change and ease of international travel has increased such infections in the U.S. The Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, or EPIC, is an interdisciplinary research cooperative that includes scientists from multiple Clemson departments and Col leges, is housed on campus in the Life Sciences Facility. EPIC was founded in 2013 and received a COBRE grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2016.

6 CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

DISCOVERY

ACHIEVE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL PROMINENCE THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. Our scientists’ research increases basic scientific knowledge and produces critical advances in the life, physical and mathematical sciences. Working with internal and external partners, we have blurred discipline boundaries to accelerate discovery. We are tackling tomorrow’s grand challenges and improving lives to enhance our impact in South Carolina and beyond.

NOVEL THERAPIES

Summertime: For many of us, summer means more time soaking up the sun. But sun rays contain ultraviolet light that damages DNA, the part of cells where genetic information is stored. An hour of unprotected exposure to the sun can cause up to 200,000 “lesions,” or areas of damage, in a single cell. A better understanding of DNA repair protein could lead to new cancer treatments

8 CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

During replication, a cell copies its entire genome so that when it splits in two, each of the daughter cells con tains all of the genetic information. Sometimes human DNA is damaged by natural processes or environmental factors such as sunlight. Fortunate ly, cells have repair pathways to fix damage so faulty DNA is not passed on to the daughter cells. When those mechanisms fail, mutations, which are permanent changes to the gene, occur. Several mutations are usually needed before a cell becomes cancer. Through a four-year, $792,000 research scholar grant from the American Cancer Society, Clemson assistant professor of genetics and biochemistry Jennifer Mason is studying the role of FBH1, a DNA repair protein, in response to replica tion damage. FBH1 mutations have been identified in skin cancer. “The DNA repair pathways work really well, but if you’re constantly exposing your skin to sunlight, the chances of a mistake being made go up. You’re increasing the chances of a cell surviving with mutations when it shouldn’t, and cancer is a disease of mutations,” said Mason. She is working to discover how FBH1 protects against cancer forma tion. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, with more than 5 mil lion cases diagnosed each year in the United States — more than all other cancers combined. And skin cancer rates have been on the rise over the past few decades. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. According to ACS,

about 99,780 new cases of invasive and 97,920 cases of in situ melanoma will be diagnosed this year. About 7,650 people died of melanoma in 2022. The organization says exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or indoor tanning devices causes over 90 percent of all skin cancer. When a cell has a lot of damage, it eventually must decide whether it can repair that damage. When the answer is no, it undergoes apoptosis, a process in which the cell kills itself. FBH1 plays a role in initiating that process. If there’s a loss of FBH1 and the cells damaged by UV light don’t die, cells can accumulate mutations and potentially predispose that person to melanoma. “FBH1 may play a role in pre venting tumor formation after UV exposure,” Mason said. “We know it’s

important because one study found that it’s mutated in up to 60 percent of metastatic melanoma. It also pro tects cultured cells from undergoing malignant transformation after UV exposure.” Potential strategies Mason’s research is not to figure out why FBH1 is missing in some cells. Instead, her research tries to understand what happens in a cell once FBH1 is lost. “We’re trying to understand how cells become genomically unstable and why, and what aspect of that function is important for preventing melanoma,” she said. One of the grant’s goals is to test potential strategies for killing cells lacking FBH1. “This work will increase our knowledge about how cells protect DNA integrity during replication and has the potential to identify novel chemotherapeutic strategies for tumors lacking FBH1,” she said.

‘We’re trying to understand how cells become genomically unstable and why, and what aspect of that function is important for preventing melanoma.’

Assistant Professor Jennifer Mason

9

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

UNRAVELING MYSTERIES

Why do some people become addicted to drugs and alcohol while others don’t? What role does genetics play? Which genes or networks of genes are key?

Researchers use the common fruit fly to study the role genetics plays in human addiction

G eneticists Trudy Mackay and Robert Anholt lead a team of researchers from the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics (CHG) working to identify the genetic underpinnings of cocaine and methamphetamine consumption. The research could lay the groundwork for developing new drugs or repurposing already approved drugs to treat or prevent addiction in humans. A costly problem Substance abuse is one of the costliest public health problems in the nation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates illicit drug use accounts for $193 billion in health care, productivity loss, crime, incarcera tion and drug enforcement. Scientists know genetics plays a role in human susceptibility to drug addiction. “Not everybody becomes addicted. Some people become very easily addict ed while others can be social drinkers or users and never become addicted, so we know there’s a genetic component,” Anholt said. The researchers use fruit flies in their research because approximate ly 70 percent of fruit fly genes have human counterparts. Plus, unlike humans, the flies’ genetic background and environment can be precisely controlled. In a previous study, Mackay and Anholt found cocaine use elicits rapid, widespread changes in gene expression throughout the fruit fly brain — and that the differences are more pro nounced in males than females. That study allowed male and female flies to ingest a fixed amount of sucrose or sucrose supplemented with cocaine over no more than two hours. Researchers then dissected the brains and dissociated them into single cells. Using next-generation sequencing technology, they constructed an atlas of gene expression changes after cocaine exposure.

behaviors in humans,” Mackay said. Measuring addiction Mackay’s lab developed the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP), which consists of inbred fly lines with fully sequenced genomes derived from a natural population. Using those fly lines and a high throughput method that CHG Ph.D. student Spencer Hatfield and former postdoc toral fellow Joshua Walters developed to measure preference (choosing sucrose containing cocaine over plain sucrose when given the choice), the researchers will map variants associated with prefer ence and the genes associated with those variants. “We can look at those lines that have an innate preference and ask whether we can further develop the model for addiction. In other words, if they are ex posed repeatedly, will they start to prefer it more and develop adverse behavioral or physiological reactions? And despite that adversity, will they continue to show a preference for cocaine? That will be a real measure of addiction,” Anholt said.

EXTERNAL RESEARCH GRANTS FOR CHG

$20,457,590 TOTAL FUNDING $19,287,590 National Institutes of Health $1,000,000 European Union $170,000 Private foundations

“Through the previous grant, we learned a lot about the genetic basis of flies consuming cocaine or sucrose when they weren’t given a choice. But as the field is evolving, it is thought that preference is a better model of what could be considered addictive

11

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Clemson-led research teams

launch rockets

into aurora borealis to study energy

A s the Northern Lights danced over Poker Flat Research Range near Fairbanks, Alaska, early one morning in April, a team of researchers led by Clemson University assistant professor of physics Stephen Kaeppler launched a sounding rocket into the colorful aerial display. Three minutes later, the scientists launched a second rocket. The researchers launched the rockets to study how energy behaves during an active aurora as a part of the NASA-funded research project titled “Ion-Neutral Coupling During Aurora,” or INCAA. The upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere are composed of a neutral component — the thermosphere — and an ionized component — the iono sphere. The ionosphere responds to forces of the magnetosphere, which is plasma trapped in the Earth’s magnetic field and forming a shield that pro tects the Earth from solar winds. This plasma can eventually move along the earth’s magnetic field near the poles and collide with oxygen, nitrogen and other gaseous particles in the thermo

sphere. The result of these interactions causes the aurora borealis’ beautiful displays of light. Kaeppler and colleagues from the University of

rapidly in space and time. There are a lot of dynamics happening during an aurora.” Scientists launched the rockets in the last hours of a 16-day launch window. Once the first sounding rocket reached an altitude of 80 miles, it released several vapor tracers at 3-mile increments. Vapor tracers are colorful chemicals similar to those used in fireworks shows that allow scientists to observe the movement of winds. The second rocket carried scientific instruments to collect data.

Alaska-Fairbanks, University of Cal

ifornia-Berkeley and University of Calgary are studying how and at

what altitude energy from the magnetosphere is transferred to the ionosphere and thermosphere. The ionosphere and thermosphere regions are about 50 miles to 400 miles above the Earth’s surface. They also want to determine if the interaction of the thermosphere with the overlapping ionosphere affects the transfer location. “A good analogy is rubbing your hands together. When you do that, you get friction, and with friction, you get heating. So there’s energy transferred back and forth,” Kaeppler said. “It’s the same concept here, except we’re deal ing with gases. Ultimately, the rocket is trying to study how this energy transfer occurs, especially during more active conditions when things are changing

Scientists are still analyzing the data, but their findings could lead to a greater

understanding of space weather factors that affect satellites in low-Earth orbit.

‘Ultimately, the rocket is trying to study how this energy transfer occurs, especially during more active conditions when things are changing rapidly in space and time.’

Assistant Professor Stephen Kaeppler

BALANCING THE EQUATION

Women faculty in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences are adding up

C lemson Associate Professor took a business calculus class in her first semester in college that she knew just how much. “I took the class for fun, and I realized I was having a blast and doing great in a class. Other people were having much less fun,” said Cartor, who went into college as an unde clared major and thought of pursuing something in the sociology or criminal justice field. “I think a lot of times females, specifically, almost feel like they need permission to think that they’re good at math. For so long, females were told that guys are better at math and science and girls are better at language arts-type things,” she continued. “For tunately, my parents and my teachers told me that wasn’t the case, that I could learn anything.” Cartor is telling Clemson students the same thing. She is one of four women assistant Ryann Rose Cartor always liked math, but it wasn’t until she

‘I think a lot of times females, specifically, almost feel like they need permission to think that they’re good at math.’ Assistant Professor Ryann Rose Cartor

professors hired by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Science (SMSS) in the past two years, along with Keisha Cook, Xinyi Li and Cheng Guo. The hires boosted the number of women with tenure or on tenure tracks to 12. SMSS has 51 tenured or on a tenure-track faculty. “The hirings are significant for two reasons,” said Kevin James, founding director of SMSS. “Num ber one, we’re moving toward the gender diversity that we should have. Second, it puts us among leaders nationwide as far as having gender diversity among the faculty.” Traditionally, too few women have pursued careers in the mathematical

sciences. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women earn 57 percent of bachelor’s degrees in all fields nationwide, but just 42 percent of the degrees in mathemat ics and statistics. Women earned 28 percent of doctorate degrees. Nationwide, 32 percent of full-time math faculty in higher education are women. In doctorate math programs, women comprise 24 percent of the fac ulty. Eleven percent of full professors at Ph.D. granting institutions are women. Each School hiring committee has a diversity advocate to ensure that applicants who are women or in un derrepresented groups receive careful consideration.

Significant Research Grants

EPIC COBRE PHASE 2 Eukaryotic pathogens cause some of the most devastating and intractable diseases in humans. The global impact of these diseases is immense. The Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC) will continue to be at the forefront of biomedical research on these pathogens through an $11 million COBRE Phase 2 grant from the National Institutes of Health.

NSF ANSWERS In recent years, solar storms have knocked out the power grid, plunging an entire Cana dian province into darkness, and caused dozens of satellites launched by SpaceX to fall back to earth and burn. Department of Physics and Astronomy Associate Professor Xian Lu is leading a team of researchers to study the factors that drive space weather in order to improve forecasts and minimize disruptions and damage. The research is part of a three-year $900,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Grand Chal lenges in Integrative Geospace Sciences: Advancing National Space Weather Expertise and Research toward Societal Resilience (ANSWERS).

NIH DISEASE RESEARCH Department of Chemistry Professor Ken Marcus was awarded a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop new tools that would allow exosomes to be used to diagnose disease or as vectors for therapeutics. Exosomes, found in all bodily fluids, are key agents in intracellular communication and exhibit protein biomarkers from their cells of origin, making them promising candidates for the detection of disease.

NIAID FUNGAL DRUG RESEARCH GRANT Fungal diseases are increasing both in incidence and geographic range due to the chang ing climate and increasing international travel and trade. Powered by a $1.9 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry Associate Professor Lukasz Kozubowski’s research focus es on finding safer and more effective drugs that target fungal infections.

14

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Research By The Numbers

Annual Research Expenditures

Faculty Publications PER FACULTY, PER YEAR

25M

$22M

20M

2.3

FY 2017

$18.4M

15M

$14.1M

3.0

FY 2022

10M

5M

2026 GOAL 2.9

0M

FY 2017

FY 2022

2026 GOAL

Research Expenditures PER T/TT FACULTY, PER YEAR

Faculty Citations PER FACULTY, PER YEAR

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

76

FY 2017: $96,000

45

FY 2022: $116,000

33

2026 GOAL: $125,000

FY 2017

FY 2022

2026 GOAL

15

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Faculty Excellence

Our talented faculty are driving innovation and excellence, both in the lab and in the classroom. In a research environment that promotes connections across the life, physical and mathematical sciences, our faculty are harnessing the power and potential of science into real-world impact. In the classroom, they are building future leaders in science and transforming teaching and learning. Here are examples of our excellence.

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

ORAU RALPH E. POWE JUNIOR FACULTY AWARD

Trudy Mackay, director of the Clem son Center for Human Genetics and Self Family Endowed Chair of Human Genetics, was elected to the prestigious American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in the United States. Mackay, recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on the genetics of complex traits, was the first professor at Clemson University to become a member when she was elected in 2021.

Kasra Sardashti, an assistant professor in the College of Science’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, has received a 2022 Oak Ridge Associated Universities Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhance ment Award. Forty-one junior faculty from across the country received awards, which aim to enrich junior faculty’s research and professional growth. Each winner receives $5,000 seed money for the 2022-23 academic year.

MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY Clemson University Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty member Apparao Rao was selected as a 2020

FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR

Jeff Anker, a chemistry and bioengi neering professor at Clemson Universi ty, received a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to conduct re search and teach in Finland during the summer of 2022. A program of the U.S. State Department, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program provides more than 800 teaching and research fellowships to U.S. college and university faculty and artists and professionals from a wide range of fields. AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION

Fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS) for developing liquid-based scal able synthesis methods to manufacture carbon nanotubes — a class of nanoma terials used in numerous applications, including energy storage, medicine, electronics, and composites.

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

Clemson University bioinorganic chem istry professor Julia Brumaghim was named a fellow by the American Chem ical Society in 2022 for her extensive contributions to the scientific commu nity. The ACS, one of the world’s largest scientific societies with over 150,000 members, selects fellows based on their outstanding scientific achievements and exemplary service to the society.

Chris McMahan, a professor in the Col lege of Science’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, was named an American Statistical Association Fellow in 2022. The ASA elects fellows based on their established reputation and excep tional contributions to statistical science. The ASA limits the honor to one-third of 1% of the organization’s total member ship each year.

16

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Faculty Excellence

The College of Science established the first Dean’s Professorship and Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer awards to honor and support those faculty demonstrating excellent impact on the College and its students.

DEAN’S PROFESSORSHIP AWARD

The two-year Dean’s Professorship Awards awards, which are supported through un restricted gifts to the College of Science, recognize faculty for research programs that increase the national and international prominence of Clemson University, mentorship of undergraduates and graduate students, and significant extramural research funding from government and industry sources.

Jeff Anker Department of Chemistry

Feng Ding Department of Physics and Astronomy

Xian Lu Department of Physics and Astronomy

Margaret Wiecek School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Chris McMahan School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Matt Koski Department of Biological Sciences

DEAN’S DISTINGUISHED LECTURERS

‘As we continue advancing science at Clemson, the primary accelerator is top faculty talent. The Dean’s

The inaugural Dean’s Distinguished Lecturers recognize faculty members who have demonstrated significant impact on the classroom, increasing student learning and engagement.

Professorship and Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer awards enable us to recognize some of our most talented scholars and teachers as we continue building additional endowed faculty positions through the generosity of our Clemson Family.’ Cynthia Y. Young DEAN, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Meredith Burr School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Christine Minor Department of Biological Sciences

Amy Pope Department of Physics and Astronomy

17

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Faculty Rising Stars

The College of Science attracts some of the brightest young minds in scientific research to our faculty. They are exploring consequential topics, and their work could help solve the challenges of tomorrow. Here is just a sampling.

Keisha Cook School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Assistant Professor Keisha Cook’s research encompasses applied mathematics and computational biology, specifically stochastic processes, probability and mathematical modeling. On the biology side, she studies the transport of organelles in live cells. Mathematically, she uses simulations and statistical analysis to understand the underlying properties that influence their transport. She received an MSEG Fellowship, awarded by Mathematically Gifted & Black and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

Samantha Price Assistant Professor Samantha Price joined the Department of Biological Sciences faculty in 2017. Her lab, the Macroevolution Lab @ Clemson, studies how the incredi ble diversity of body shapes, sizes and other morphological features of vertebrates have evolved over deep-time in response to shifts in their habitat, diet and environment. Price received a National Science Foundation Early Faculty Career Development Award, one of the most prestigious awards to young faculty.

Thao Tran Thao T. Tran is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry. Her research team applies chemical logic and unmatched tunability innate to extended solids to address fundamental challenges in quantum technologies. The research emphasizes three crucial domains: creating and understanding new multifunctional materials, developing a roadmap for navigating the journey of materials design, and development and advancing quantum information science.

Yao Wang Yao Wang is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Chemistry. His research interests lie in elucidating quantum many-body systems using state-of-the art computational techniques. He is particularly interested in bridging experimental observations with theoretical models. He is the recipient of a Young Investigator Research Program Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and an Early Career Award from the U.S. Department of Energy.

18

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

LEARNING

ELEVATE SCIENCE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS.

Producing the next generation of scientists requires top notch training and mentoring. For many of our students, that training includes conducting research under the guidance of a faculty member. Strengthening and expanding our graduate programs will ensure our students are ready to make a difference.

The of the game science

Where Tiger fans see tackles and touchdowns, Amy Pope sees physics

W hile most Clemson football fans see linebackers making a tackle or a defensive back deflecting a pass away from an awaiting receiver, Amy Pope sees physics in action. Each Tiger football game offers thousands of opportunities for Pope, a senior lecturer in the Clemson Univer sity Department of Physics and Astron omy, to teach Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion or one of the many other laws governing physics. Physics is prevalent, from the open ing kickoff to a potential game-ending field goal.

‘I tell students they already know a lot about physics. They just don’t realize it yet.’

Senior Lecturer Amy Pope

“Football is a game of physics,” said Pope, who teaches ‘Physics of Sports,’ a general education physics course that uses football, NASCAR, the Olympics and other sports to teach a science that many students fear. “It really should be called a physics game.”

The football field is where sports and science collide. Take a long touchdown pass, for instance. For Pope, it’s the perfect opportunity to talk about kinematics, the branch of physics that deals with motion. The same goes for a long field

20

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

goal attempt. “If you knew the angle of launch and the velocity of the launch, you can determine the path of the projectile. For field goals, you can look at the ball immediately after it leaves the kicker’s foot, and you can trace the parabolic path as long as nobody jumps in to block it,” she said. “If you could do the calculations quickly enough, you could determine where the ball is going to go.” When a quarterback hits a wide re ceiver in stride for a touchdown, that’s physics, too. The quarterback knows the angle at which he must throw the ball to get it to the point on the field where the receiver is running. The receiver knows how long the ball will be in the air to get to that spot, determin ing the distance and how fast he needs to run. But even before the quarterback lets the pass go, he is using physics. “He’s pulling his arm back and using the muscles in his arm to create an accelera tion, which produces that force.” Physics in play Physics even plays a role in whether a receiver catches the ball or drops it. “The receiver has to exert a force on the football if he’s going to catch it,” she said. “We have to look at the coefficient of friction between his hands and the ball. That’s where the gloves a player wears play a role. You want your hands to be kind of sticky if you’re going to catch the ball, right? That’s why a slick, wet ball is difficult to throw and catch because of the low coefficient of friction.” After the receiver catches the ball, there’s the collision. “A big part of the game is hitting other people, and what we’re talking about there is momentum. You want your defensive line to be your biggest guys. The reason is that momentum is the mass of the individual times their velocity. If you have a big, heavy guy going fast, you have a large momentum. If he is pitted against a running back or a receiver, who typically has a much smaller mass, they can typically hold them back,” Pope said. Physics also plays a role in equip ment. Helmets, mouth guards and shoulder pads cushion the impact the

player is going to experience. “That’s called impulse, which is the force multiplied by the change in time. So when a player is thrown to the ground, the same amount of force will stop him, whether or not they have padding. But if they have that padding, it is going to cushion the impact and give their head, or whatever body part is striking the ground, a longer time to stop,” she said. “Injuries are mitigated Pope said she’s the last person who thought she’d be using the gridiron to teach Newton’s laws of motion. “I have zero coordination, so I haven’t ever played organized sports,” she said. “But I love physics, and I love being able to talk to people about my passion through a passion of theirs.” One of Pope’s former students, for mer Tiger long snapper Austin Spence, nominated her as a guest professor for P.A.W. Journey, a program designed to help Clemson Football players to because of that.” Laws of motion

be successful in all aspects of life. The guest professors travel with the football team to take part in a game weekend experience. She sat in on a defensive meeting, where she listened to then-Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables talk to his players about the game plan. “I knew every word he used, but I had absolutely no idea what he was saying. He kept calling guys Mike, and several Mikes would respond. I later figured out Mike was a position, not their actual names,” she said. She decided that how she felt in that team meeting was probably similar to how her students felt in her class. “I tell students they already know a lot about physics. They just don’t realize it yet,” said Pope, who earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from Clemson. “When you’re able to take something that students are comfortable with and connect it to science, it breaks down the barrier of fear that a lot of students have.”

21

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

WHAT LIES BENEATH Clemson researcher Antonio Baeza has discovered a tiny parasite that has implications for a multibillion-dollar fishing industry and, in some ways, the future of our planet

A ntonio Baeza spotted something unusual. The marine biologist was looking at some female Caribbean spiny lobsters recently plucked from an offshore reef during a dive in the Florida Keys. Ribbon-like worms were among the egg masses tucked beneath the lobsters’ tails. Baeza noticed the broods that contained thou sands of tiny, bright orange eggs had many dead lobster embryos and empty embryo sacks. He and his student researchers tried to identify the worm based on pub lished studies. Surprisingly, despite more than 50 years of intensive scientific research on the Caribbean spiny lobster P. argus, they found no information on the parasite, which had a long body and pale coloring with slight tints of orange. Baeza, an associate professor in the College of Science’s Department of

Biological Sciences, named the parasite Carcinone mertes conanobrieni after Conan O’Brien. What’s In a Name? Scientists who discover a new species can name it whatever they want if they follow some basic rules, such as making sure the combined genus and species name is unique — and not named after themselves. “Comedians comment on issues. They make it funny. But while they are pre senting it in a funny way to people, they are also making them aware,” he explains. The Carcinonemertes conanobrieni isn’t the only species Baeza has named after a celebrity. He and his colleagues named a tiny shrimp they discovered in the Caribbean after the actor and former teenage heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio. Perhaps that’s fitting since that genus of shrimp is popularly called sexy shrimp because of the way it sways its abdo men back and forth while walking. The name wasn’t Baeza’s first choice, but he relented because of the actor’s work to bring atten tion and funding to ocean conservation. Baeza credits his marine biology career, in part, to a celebrity: Jacques Cous teau, a French, red-bean ie-wearing explorer with a blaze of white hair and eyes

framed by glasses and bushy eyebrows. More than a half century has passed since the first episode of The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau originally aired, but much remains to be discovered about oceans, home to hundreds of thousands of known species and po tentially millions not yet known. Cataloging species — both known and newly discovered — is important. Take those Caribbean

spiny lobsters. They play a vital role in the marine ecosystem and the economy of the Caribbean. Vital Role Spiny lobsters are prey for sharks, large fish (think grouper and snapper), turtles and octopuses. They are predators, too, and eat snails, crabs and clams. Landings of the com mercially lucrative species have decreased over the past decade. Scientists have

22

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

identified several possible reasons — overfishing, declining water quality, global climate change and environmental degradation. Caribbean spiny lobsters live in coral reefs, and many coral reefs in the Florida Keys and Caribbean are dying at dramatic rates. The tiny ribbon-like worm Baeza discovered also could contribute. “A whole industry and coastal communities along the entire Caribbean basin rely on this species of spiny lobster,” says Baeza, who came to Clemson in 2013 after spending time conduct ing research at the Smithso nian Tropical Research In stitute in Panama and at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Florida. Preliminary research shows the worm, the first species of Carcinone

mertes reported to infect the P. argus or any other lobster species in the Caribbean and the western Atlantic Ocean, negatively affects brooding females’ reproductive performance. Baeza and his students are conducting research into the parasite’s behavior, including how it eats the eggs and mates. In addition, they are trying to ascertain how climate change and pollution effects could differ for the parasites and the host lobsters. “The more we know, the more those managing the fishery can minimize the adverse effects,” Baeza says. The Florida Keys isn’t the only place worms belonging to the genus Car cinonermertes live. Baeza discovered a new species off the Chilean and Peruvian coast in 2021.

23

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

PATH TO SUCCESS

COSMIC program helps College of Science students flourish, stay at Clemson

I nara Devji likely would not still be a student at Clemson University without the COSMIC — College of Science Mentoring and Inclusion Collaborative — program. “Coming to a predominantly white institution, I felt really alone,” said Devji, a senior microbiology major of Hispanic and Pakistani descent. “My main reason for joining COSMIC was to find people who were like me so that I didn’t feel as alone in the big ocean of people that were different than me.” She had considered dropping out until she joined COSMIC. COSMIC, a national award-winning ecosystem of support for students in the College of Science, began in 2018. It matches incoming students with stu dent mentors from similar backgrounds and interests. Besides mentorship, the program includes study halls, ser vice-learning opportunities, an awards ceremony and more. SCIENCE in Living Color, de

first-generation college students, trans fer students, students with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ students. Faculty and staff liaisons who identify with at least one affinity group serve as a support system. “Students want to feel included. They don’t need silo groups only to go back into classrooms and still feel like the lone person,” said Sharetta Bufford, assistant director of recruitment and inclusive excellence for the College of Science and director of COSMIC. “Creating an eco system allows students to connect with others outside of their affinity groups while still being able to go back to their affinity groups to regain the energy they need to deal with people with whom they may not agree or share the same values. The whole point of COSMIC is the inclusivity aspect.” By helping students feel welcomed, respected and heard, COSMIC paves the way for success inside the classroom and out.

signed to support students from racial groups traditionally underrepresented in science fields, was COSMIC’s first affinity group. Next came Women in Science Defining Our Moments, known as WISDOM, designed to cre ate community and support for women pursuing science degrees. Since then, the program has added affinity groups for men, military and veteran students, Four-year graduation rates ➧ 90.5% COSMIC ➧ 71.2% Non-COSMIC Underrepresented minority student GPA ➧ 3.17 COSMIC ➧ 2.94 Non-COSMIC

24

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Student Excellence

In the College of Science, student success is at the forefront of everything we do. We are preparing the next generation of scientists through innovative teaching and experiential learning opportunities. Our students are thriving and becoming leaders and game-changers. These students are just a sampling of the remarkable students in Science.

RHODES SCHOLAR

Biochemistry senior receives top undergraduate award

Louise Franke, a Clemson senior from Spartanburg, South Carolina, made University history when she became the first Clemson student named a Rhodes Scholar. Franke, an Honors College student major ing in biochemistry with minors in political science and philosophy, is one of 32 American Rhodes Scholars selected through an intensive application and interview process. “The Rhodes community is an intellectual

community where people care about ideas, about action and about the world,” said Franke. “It’s a group of people that fight the world’s fight, and the fact that I’m now part of that blows my mind. It’s a dream come true.” The Rhodes Scholarship provides for study at the University of Oxford and is recognized worldwide as the top undergraduate award for college students.

BARRY M. GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is the premier and highly competitive national award for students who have the potential to advance research in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.

2022 Grant Wilkins Mathematics

2020 Paul Marston Copeland Physics

2019 Laura McCann Chemistry Erin Mihealsick Genetics and Biochemistry Benjamin Slimmer Physics

Shaoni Dasgupta Biological Sciences Carson Wood Mathematics

NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

Research focuses on origins of cosmic rays

Clemson University astrophysics graduate student Jordan Eagle has two key priorities as a scientist — research and outreach. Eagle has spent the last two years at the Har vard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on a Chandra X-ray Center predoctoral fellowship. Eagle is complet ing her Ph.D. thesis on pulsar wind nebulae, which are descendants of massive stellar explosions, and the role they play in creating cosmic rays.

Eagle will continue her studies at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a NASA post doctoral fellow. “I am not in the least surprised by Jordan winning a coveted NASA Postdoctoral Pro gram fellowship. From day one at Clemson, she has demonstrated outstanding research skills coupled with a love for science dissemination,” said Marco Ajello, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

25

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning, including entrepreneurship, research, global engagement and internships, offers unique and uniquely educational opportunities for students. The College of Science is committed to supporting and expanding access to experiential learning in a variety of ways.

Catalyst entrepreneurial challenge

Our students are the next generation of scientists who will lead the way through innovation, creativity and entrepreneur ship. The College of Science Cata lyst Competition is an entrepre neurial challenge in which teams of students develop and pitch their innovative business idea, giv ing them the experience of turning their ideas into products.

Jack Carson, inaugural Catalyst Competition winner.

Focus on research Because we believe that research is an integral part of education, the College of Science student experience includes diverse research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students alike. Through Clemson’s signature Creative Inquiry program, students can begin working on research projects as early as their first year. Working alongside one of our faculty members, students conduct biomedical and genomics research; investigate pure mathematics and theoretical phys ics; develop new materials and applications; advance understanding of the fundamentals of life; and explore the cosmos, oceans and landscapes to advance knowl edge about natural history, evolution and conservation. Other opportunities include summer programs for undergraduates, usually known as Research Experi ences for Undergraduates.

Global engagement Whether it’s spending a semester or year studying abroad, par ticipating in short faculty-directed programs over the summer or enrolling in a virtual program that allows for global learning experiences without leaving home, College of Science stu dents have a variety of ways available to them to expand their worldviews. More than 70 students studied in 10 countries, including Costa Rice, Italy, Japan and South Africa, during the 2021-22 school year.

26

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE

ENGAGEMENT

IMPROVE THE WORKPLACE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH A LEADERSHIP CULTURE THAT VALUES INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AND CHALLENGES THE STATUS QUO. The College of Science embraces a culture of inclusive excellence where each person can thrive, is valued for their contribution and is treated fairly. We recognize and reward performance excellence and give employees the power to challenge the status quo for the betterment of all.

‘WHEN SPIDERWEBS UNITE’ Science Outreach Center gets nearly $2 million to develop graphic novel, after-school program

W hen industrial hog farms started locating in Tillery, an impoverished and predominantly Black community in eastern North Carolina, the residents told local and state officials the farms were causing environmental harm and making them sick. Prove it, they were told. Working with University of North Carolina Epidemiologist Steve Wing, they did just that, prompting state reg ulations for industrial hog farms, which protect communities from harmful pollution. Now, the Clemson University Sci ence Outreach Center (SOC) has been awarded a nearly $2 million National Science Foundation grant to work with

‘The story is so powerful. I wanted to find a platform to share it with not only the public, but with youth.’ Science Outreach Center Director Renée Lyons

Tillery community members to develop a graphic novel titled “When Spider webs Unite” that tells Tillery’s story. It will be the basis for an after-school STEM club that empowers African American youth to identify problems in their own communities, conduct scientific investigations, and create and implement action plans to address those issues.

The genesis of the My STEM My Story project came from research SOC Director Renee Lyons, a former high school science teacher, did for her dissertation. Lyons conducted a qualitative re search study examining citizen science projects that successfully engaged African American communities. Tillery was one of those projects.

28

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE