Meet the team!
Keen to join us? Are you an undergraduate student, graduate student or post-doc interested in joining the Clemons Lab? If so reach out on email to discuss current opportunities
Meet Tristan Clemons, PhD.
I am a research scientist establishing my team in the focus areas of polymer chemistry, supramolecular assembly and biomaterials for therapeutic applications, starting at the University of Southern Mississippi in the Fall of 2021. Prior to this I was a research associate at Northwestern University (Advisor: Prof. Sam Stupp), and a National Health and Medical Research Council fellow investigating nanomaterials for the treatment of burn injuries at the University of Western Australia. In a past life I was an elite athlete, playing hockey on the international stage with the Australian Hockey team. I am an entrepreneur, founding and running a successful startup company in sun-smart fashion. I am a volunteer and advocate for science outreach exciting thousands of students about the possibilities of a career in science and through work as an ambassador for the Rotary Foundation’s Microscope in Schools project. Finally, I am a family man, an avid sports fan (Go Eagles!) and an amateur knitter.
Meet Claire Clemons, M.S.Ed
Claire is our educator extraordinaire with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership both from Notre Dame University (Perth, Australia). Currently Claire serves as the School of Polymer Science and Engineering’s Director for Education and Outreach at the University of Southern Mississippi and serves as the co-director and brand ambassador for Numero® USA. In her spare time Claire is usually found dreaming up home renovation ideas, or momming to her 2 girls and the newest family additions, her 4 chickens!
Meet Penelope Jankoski
(Grad Student)
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky.
Favorite Food: Tuna Poke.
Favorite Movie: Bohemian Rhapsody.
Fun fact: I like to do yoga and bake.
Meet Zack Wallace
(Senior, Undergrad)
Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Fun fact: I know all of the 50 states and their capitals
Meet Evan Stacy
(Grad Student)
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky.
Favorite food: Tuna Poke Bowl or Sushi.
Favorite movie: Shutter Island.
Fun fact: I’m a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Meet Burcu Balaban
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Favorite Food: Rice stuffed grape leaves
Favorite Movie: Ice Age
Fun fact: When I was a child, my grandfather and I had a stamp collection together.
Meet Loria DiMartino
(Junior, Undergrad)
Hometown: Mandeville, Louisiana.
Favorite food: Anything Thai
Favorite movie: Bolt
Fun fact: I’ve played classical piano since I was 4 years old.
Meet Mac McCormick
(Senior, Undergrad)
Hometown: Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump
Fun fact: I can run 12km’s in under an hour.
Meet Anthony Radka
(Junior, Undergrad)
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana.
Favorite food: Chicken Parmesan
Favorite movie: The Sandlot
Fun fact: I can walk on my hands
Meet Charles Dalton
(Junior, Undergrad)
Hometown: Mandeville, Louisiana.
Favorite Food: Medium rare steak or Sushi
Favorite Movie: Inglorius B#$!ards
Fun fact: I have three dogs: Socks, Boots, and Shadow.
Meet Jess Shrestha
(Sophomore, Undergrad)
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Favorite Food: Mo:mo
Favorite Movie: Escape room
Fun fact: I can probably knit you a sweater within a month
Meet Sameer Ishaq
(Junior, Undergrad)
Hometown: Kissimmee, Florida.
Favorite Food: Steak and Eggs
Favorite Movie: Interstellar
Fun fact: I worked as a vascular surgical tech in Interventional Radiology before coming back to school for Polymer Science and Engineering.
Meet Ashe Davis
(Freshman, Undergrad)
Hometown: Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Favorite Food: Grilled Chicken and Potatoes
Favorite Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Fun fact: I travelled to Canada with the Mississippi All State Lions Band!