Graduating Class of 2025

Adejá McCord, Biology, “I've started the competitive process to get into a respiratory therapy program .”

Naya Hall, Biology, “After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to attend a masters nursing program with the goal of becoming a women's health nurse practitioner. ”

Marcus French, Biology. Plans are to attend Physical Therapy School.

Kendrail Mouzon, BS Biology. Next steps: Assistant at Midlands Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Center, part time instructional assistant for STEMU, while studying for my MCAT.

Jaquaya Adams, Biology and Public Health

Dr. Drew Budner’s students: Luke Ferguson, Biochemistry; Victoria Jordan, Biochemistry & Engineering (Dual Degrees); Madelynn Lisciandro, Biochemistry; Leah A. Rose, Biochemistry; Jada E. Spake, Biochemistry; Cidney Hodges, Chemistry; Sean Ballard, Chemistry; Lucy Goodwin, Biology; Gabrielle Sowers, Biology; Alexis Dair Sanchez Prieto, Biochemistry

Dr. Paul Richardson’s students: Ella Caldwell, Biology (right); Emily Bishop (with Dr. Richardson, left)

Dr. Brian Lee’s student: Cierra Williams, Biochemistry

Dr. Callie Crawford’s student: Julia Sciandra, Biology (center)

Dr. Jessica Sorrell’s student: Tabitha Merrithew is a Mathematics and Chemistry double major and Nisbet Honors Program student at Converse University. In Summer 2024, with support of SC INBRE, Tabitha conducted research under the supervision of Dr. Jessica Sorrells in the area of mathematical design of DNA self-assembly. Her project is titled, "Optimal Designs for DNA Self-Assembly of Select Archimedean Solids in the Flexible Tile Model." Tabitha earned a Best Poster in her category award at the SC INBRE symposium this past Feb. In Fall 2025, Tabitha will begin the MS in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology program at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Furman proudly celebrates the graduation of seven prior SC INBRE-supported summer research students in 2025, most of whom engaged in multiple summers of biomedical research. They include: 

Ella Chandler, worked with Dr. Meghan Breen who developed new genetic tools for studying the yeast Candida albrata

Amelia Hatley, worked with Dr. Vicky Turgeon, who studied the effects of embryonic exposure to thrombin

Dallas Shuman and Elsa Shiekh (not shown), worked with Dr. Veronica Flores, who investigated the neurological basis of taste experience

Zora Jamison, worked with Dr. David Hollis to study oncogenic responses resulting from injury to fish brains

Liyah Reed, worked with Dr. George Shields, who performed computational modeling of fentanyl and its receptors

Jon Daniel (not shown), worked with Dr. Alison Roark, who observed metals impacting the symbiotic behavior between sea anemones and algae.

Dr. Holly LaVoie’s student: Ridha Fatima, a biochemistry and molecular biology major in the Honors College, received USC’s Steven N. Swanger Award, the University’s top leadership award which recognizes a senior student for significant contributions to the university as an Omicron Delta Kappa member. She will be attending medical school in the fall.

Tessa Greene, Chemistry, is passionate about her field and has had the opportunity to participate in many research opportunities at Upstate, including the summer Er(UP)t program. She will be starting the doctoral program in chemistry at North Carolina State University in the fall.

Paula Melton, BS in Chemistry (with an ACS certification) and a minor in Math, will be attending graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to obtain a PhD in organic chemistry.

Additional graduates: Nicholas Bright; Christopher Csabon; Bryson Green; Alana Kang; Brianna Sapounas; Mikayla Spangler; and Arlena Thompson