Cell Culture and Fermentation
Optimization Lab
  Research Associates
Katie Elliott
Katie Elliott

I was born and raised in Clemson, S.C., where I obtained my B.S. and Ph.D. from Clemson University in Biological Sciences with a focus on immunology and molecular biology. My dissertation utilized the swine model to study immune involvement in early postnatal, but pre-pubertal, mammary development and detected many cell signaling similarities with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Additionally, I produced and purified a novel recombinant protein (a portion of Laminin-5) that induced extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis in TNBC cells, allowing me to study the apoptotic cascade in vitro. During my continuing education, I spent 3.5 years in industry, where I served as a Project and Intellectual Property Manager at Poly-Med, Inc. At Poly-Med, I managed multiple concurrent US and European medical device design projects varying in size, budget, complexity, scope, and design life cycle phase. I also guided two medical devices from the early feasibility stage through the design, development, and manufacturing phases, which allowed project sponsors to gain 501(k) clearance from the FDA. I am an ambassador for Safe Harbor, helping domestic violence victims in the upstate, and Wild at Heart, where I aid in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native SC wildlife. In my free time, I enjoy running, swimming, baking and decorating cakes, hiking, and spending time with my Labrador retrievers.

  Graduate Students


Dan Odenwelder

I was born in Bethlehem, PA, and received my BS in Biopharmaceutical Engineering from Lehigh University in May 2012. At Lehigh, I was also a member of the men's soccer team and was a four year letter winner. Following graduation, I worked for a year in the Pharmaceutical Technology division at Sanofi Pasteur in Swiftwater, PA. My projects at Sanofi focused mainly on vaccine lyophilization and visual inspection. I began pursuing my PhD in Bioengineering at Clemson University in August 2013. I am currently investigating shifts in cancer cell metabolism using metabolic flux analysis (MFA). For my future research, I will use MFA to study iPS cell metabolism under various nutrient perturbations, with the ultimate goal of transitioning from small-scale cell cultures to fed-batch bioreactors.



Faraz Baig

Dylan Chitwood

Dylan Chitwood is a PhD student in Dr. Chris Saski and Dr. Harcum’s labs at Clemson University. He graduated from Clemson with a degree Bioengineering. He has experience in genotype analysis of cells grown in stressed culture conditions.




Stephanie Klaubert

Stephanie Klaubert is a PhD student in Dr. Sarah Harcum’s lab at Clemson University. She received a Bioengineering degree from Lehigh University. After graduating she worked in industry for a year and decided to go back to get her PhD. She has experience in downstream bioprocessing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.




Ben Synoground

Ben Synoground is a PhD student in Dr. Sarah Harcum's lab at Clemson University. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Clemson in 2018 and has experience in the areas of upstream cell culture techniques and bioinformatics.

  Lab Technicians

Tom Caldwell

Tom Caldwell

Originally from Philadelphia, I moved to South Carolina in 2000 to attend the Citadel.  In 2004, I graduated with a BA in Chemistry and eventually moved on to Clemson University.  For the last 8 years I have worked for both Dr. Sarah Harcum and Dr. Ken Christensen as a lab manager and full-time researcher.  Much of my research with Dr. Harcum has been collaboration with Scarab Genomics in testing genetically modified E. coli. under the stress of high cell density fermentation (150+ O.D.).  Additional research has been conducted in the field of biofuels, specifically the use of switchgrass and sorghum syrup as alternative sugar sources in the production of ethanol.  Our labs also function as a proteomics facility.  We have the ability to develop, fine tune, and scale most protein production processes.  In my free time I enjoy looking for adventure high on the rocks with my wife.


  Alumni
 
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