2026 Research Symposium

Watt Auditorium

This interdisciplinary panel discussion brings together representatives from colleges and units across campus to showcase the breadth of AI research at Clemson. 

Room 106

10:45 a.m.: Implementing Reflections as an Evaluation and Research Tool

• Amanda Bridges, Associate Professor, Graphic Communications
• Erica Walker, Associate Professor, Graphic Communications

Abstract: This presentation will highlight findings from related studies examining the use of written student reflections as a tool for assessment. The first study investigated how reflections can be a useful measure of student learning and growth. Research then focused on the effectiveness of how using reflections as an evaluation tool impacts students across all learning styles, Student demographics and backgrounds were also considered as factors that impact accuracy when using written reflection to evaluate student learning. An analysis was also conducted  around legacy language and technical terms used in their writing as an indicator for growth. Finally, an investigation related to the student’s level of achievement, i.e. high, mid, and low, and how those factors influence areas such as, tone, analytics, authenticity, terminology use, etc. in their writing. Over 500 responses from students over a five-year period from 2020-2025 were collected for analysis. Reflections were examined using two different text analysis softwares, Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) and ChatGPT. This research can be applicable for educators across all disciplines and provides helpful insights into the value of written self reflections as a means to assess learning and retention of knowledge.

10:55 a.m.: Social determinants influencing U. S. Latino/Hispanic students’ enrollment in postsecondary education: A socio-ecological perspective

• Arelis Moore, Associate Professor, Languages

Abstract: Latinx/Hispanic youth represent the fastest-growing demographic in the United States, yet they remain underrepresented in postsecondary education. Only 25% of Latinx adults hold a bachelor’s degree compared to 40% nationally. Social determinants of health and education, including socioeconomic status, immigration policy, and institutional access, shape enrollment opportunities; Methods: Using a socio-ecological model (SEM) framework, this qualitative study analyzed focus-group transcripts from Latinx students and parents/caregivers to identify multilevel social determinants influencing postsecondary enrollment. Inductive and deductive thematic coding examined factors across family, school, community, institutional, and policy contexts; Results: Across transcripts, the analysis highlighted both protective and risk factors. Family encouragement, siblings as role models, and community-based organizations programming and networks facilitated enrollment; however, barriers included parents limited postsecondary experience, language barriers, undocumented status concerns, and expectations for youth to support family finances. Institutional gaps, such as lack of clear counseling guidance, limited culturally responsive information, and difficulty navigating FAFSA, emerged as major mesosystem and exosystem barriers. At the macrosystem level, immigration policy constraints, college costs, transportation, and limited bilingual support were the most frequently cited barriers. Chronosystem findings indicated that delayed access to college information and competing employment needs affected readiness and persistence.; Conclusions: Postsecondary enrollment among Latinx students is shaped by interacting social determinants across SEM levels. Multilevel, culturally responsive interventions, co-designed with community-based organizations, are needed to improve access, guidance, and affordability. Findings inform community-engaged strategies aligned with health equity and educational attainment goals in the Southeastern United States.

11:05 a.m.: Knowledge of Context and Culture: Rethinking Teacher Knowledge for Equitable Mathematics Instruction

• Brian Odiwuor, Lecturer, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Abstract: Research on teacher knowledge has significantly advanced understanding of teachers’ mathematical and pedagogical reasoning, yet it offers limited guidance on how teachers incorporate students’ contextual and cultural knowledge into instructional decision-making. As a result, culturally responsive teaching is often treated as a stance rather than as a form of professional knowledge that supports usable learning. This presentation introduces the Knowledge of Context and Culture (KCC) framework, which highlights the role of teachers’ understanding of students’ cultural experiences, identities, and community contexts in shaping meaningful mathematics instruction. Drawing on work with secondary mathematics teachers, the session examines how KCC informs instructional planning for problem-solving lessons and supports the design of learning experiences that enable students to connect mathematical ideas to situations beyond the classroom. The presentation concludes with implications for teacher education, classroom practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at strengthening the relationship between educational research and classroom practice.

11:15 a.m.: Integrating Learning Outcomes and Pedagogy into Team Building Exercises Using Gamification

• Sallie Hambright-Belue, Associate Professor, Architecture
• Matt Nicolette, Assistant Professor, Architecture
• Jiachun Yao, Graduate Research Assistant, Design and The Built Environment

Abstract: Team building exercises are developed to learn about the students and for the students to learn about each other. This project demonstrates how learning outcomes and pedagogy can be integrated into early-semester team-building exercises to increase student engagement, foster design team building, and accelerate learning in an interdisciplinary, service-learning studio. To move beyond conventional participatory design practices and pedagogy, a half-day workshop was strategically developed, including traditional exercises, surveys, and gamification methods as a Projective Environment. The workshop was held during the designated studio time in the first week of the semester, after five-member interdisciplinary (architecture and landscape architecture) design teams were created. Team building themes included pop culture, social activities, design-related topics, studio-related topics, and workflow preferences. The workshop was designed to go beyond that singular focus of interpersonal learning and foster mutual support amongst educator-organized design teams, increase knowledge learned about the studio population, and begin educating students in stakeholder engagement strategies that would be utilized in the service-learning studio project. The workshop addressed three student learning outcomes specified in the course syllabus that are also related to Projective Environments: 1. Apply theoretical knowledge, research, and stakeholder input to evaluate site conditions and inform design strategies; 2. Assess stakeholder needs and integrate feedback into the design process through structured engagement strategies.; 3. Design and implement collaborative workflows that foster interdisciplinary problem-solving. To evaluate the success of the workshop, students were surveyed before and after the workshop. The survey questions analyzed previous student experience with stakeholder engagement, knowledge of engagement methods, and their thoughts on the outcomes of the workshop. Additional survey questions addressed specific aspects of the game, Icebreaker, including the enjoyment factor, game-play environment, topic content, craft, game mechanics, and motivational elements. These elements have been identified in relevant research as factors that can contribute to the success of serious games (Abt 1970; De la Pena et al. 2017; Akbarieh et al. 2025). Students were also surveyed at the conclusion of the course. Results showed that by the conclusion of the course, 81% of the students understood participatory design practices a lot and 19% somewhat; up from 19% and 43% respectively before the course.This pedagogical case study serves as a model to enhance student experience and increase the impact and efficiency of addressing learning outcomes by intentionally integrating pedagogy in every aspect of studio learning, including team-building exercises. These learning outcomes are essential to creating effective Projective Environments that bridge disciplines and create opportunities for designers to develop participatory design skills where designers work closely with stakeholders.

Room 208

• Kerry Smith, professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and campus research director for the Prisma Health Education and Research Institute (PHERI)

Abstract: Over the past decade, the Clemson University School of Health Research (CUSHR) has partnered with South Carolina health systems to foster translational health research and health innovation. This event will present accomplishments in collaborative research, workforce development, clinical translation and health systems innovation.   The session will highlight structures and programming that have strengthened Clemson health research partnerships, including embedded scholarship and targeted grant initiatives in strategic areas such as human factors in health.  Panelists will discuss successful health research collaborations using innovative problem-solving, the integration of varied methodologies, and the cultivation of cross-disciplinary approaches.  Panelists will include CUSHR faculty leaders and members of the CUSHR appointment committee for a reflective and forward looking forum. Their insights will provide a platform to not only profile research achievements with Prisma Health and MUSC but also explore/identify emerging research opportunities that drive measurable improvements in health outcomes for South Carolina and beyond. We will both celebrate the past decade of achievement and spark momentum for the next chapter of collaborative health research excellence.

Room 308

• Shahid Mukhtar, Professor, Genetics and Biochemistry

Abstract: New single-cell genomics and transcriptomics tools can measure gene activity in remarkable detail, but they often lose the spatial context of where signals occur within tissues. In this talk, I will give an overview of how spatial biology addresses this gap by mapping gene expression directly in intact tissue sections. I will highlight how we have established spatial transcriptomics capabilities at Clemson University, share species-agnostic examples from plant and animal systems that show the kinds of questions spatial data can uniquely answer, and describe our efforts to extend these approaches to more complex settings, including host–microbe interactions. I’ll close with a brief look at how spatial biology can enable multidisciplinary projects across colleges and shape future research directions at Clemson.

10:55 a.m.: Leveraging Clemson Resources to Secure an NIH Developmental Award for E-Cigarette Harm Reduction Research

• Irene Pericot Valverde, Assistant Professor, Psychology

Abstract: Leveraging Clemson University’s research infrastructure and partnerships, I obtained preliminary data and resources that supported securing an NIH-funded developmental award to test electronic cigarettes as a harm-reduction strategy. Key Clemson resources included pilot funding and Creative Inquiry (CI) teams, which provided students with hands-on research experience and valuable training opportunities while generating the preliminary data necessary to obtain external funding.

11:05 a.m.: Oral mucosal microbes and therapy  

• Congyue Peng, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering

Abstract: With increasing awareness of the Oral-Lung axis and its role in respiratory health, there is a need to profile bacteria, antimicrobial resistance markers (AMRs), and the oral microbiome in relation to patients’ health. Saliva samples were collected from a cohort of 224 individuals. Respiratory pathogen targets identified include 56 bacteria, 12 viruses and 2 fungi. We identified 11 AMRs. Individuals with one or more HACEK (Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella species) organisms had significantly higher total pathogen counts. Additionally, higher counts of bacterial and viral pathogens were reported in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 or Streptococcus. Principal Component Analysis identified clusters of microorganisms with unique associations with dental health, immune susceptibility, and antibiotic resistance. The AMRs detected provide insight into the population distribution of salivary respiratory pathogens that may be antibiotic-resistant. These results provide compelling evidence that the oral-lung axis plays a crucial role in respiratory health. 

Room 310

• Amer Abukhalaf, Assistant Professor, Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development

Abstract: As part of a funded research project through CU SUCCEEDS Program, we have recently conducted a countywide survey in Greenville County, South Carolina, one of the counties most heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene in 2024. We collected 2,202 completed surveys assessing hurricane-related impact and long-term mental health outcomes, with a particular focus on post-traumatic stress among individuals living in low-income households. Our data were collected exactly one year after the storm. We used measures accessed through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Portal including the Duke Health Profile Questionnaire, and the Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Tornado Post-Event Survey. In addition, we used a survey tool previously designed and validated by the Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER) at the University of Florida that examines housing conditions, risk perception, and severe weather hazards. On the other hand, the Low-income households were identified using the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Home Income Limits Report (HUD, 2025). Although only 6% of respondents reported a formal PTSD diagnosis, approximately 55% exhibited medium to high PTSD symptom severity based on the SPRINT scale. Moreover, individuals reporting high levels of hurricane impact were nearly four times more likely to report elevated PTSD symptoms, suggesting persistent and potentially chronic trauma-related distress well beyond the acute disaster period. We also found similar results for anxiety and depression (using the Duke Scale) among our large sample. By highlighting the disproportionate impacts of disasters on marginalized communities and underscoring the importance of addressing underlying social determinants of health, the research underscores the need for more equitable and inclusive approaches to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. While there is a substantial body of research on the psychological effects of disasters, studies specifically focusing on the unique vulnerabilities and experiences of individuals with socioeconomic challenges are limited. Through investigating this understudied population, our research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics underlying disaster impacts on mental health.

10:55 a.m.: From Forecasts to Decisions: Optimizing Disaster Relief Logistics Under Uncertainty

• Yongjia Song, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering

Abstract: In this talk, we will discuss models and solution approaches in stochastic optimization for humanitarian relief logistics planning for hurricane disasters. We consider logistics decision-making such as the relief item prepositioning, evacuation shelter planning, and contingency modality selection over multiple periods prior to the landfall of an impending hurricane. Using stochastic models that capture the rolling forecast information about the hurricane's attributes over time, our proposed approaches provide optimal adaptive logistics decision policies. We will demonstrate numerical results and sensitivity analyses based on realistic hurricane scenarios such as Hurricane Florence in 2018, showcasing the value of multi-stage stochastic optimization for hurricane relief logistics planning, as well as the trade-offs between policy flexibility, solution quality, and computational effort. 

11:05 a.m.: Beneath the flames: how fire reshapes soil biological communities and plant health  

• Antonino Malacrino, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

Abstract: Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity across the globe, and while their impact on forests and wildlife is often visible, the hidden effects on the underground world of soil organisms are less well known. Our research explores how fire alters the essential communities of microbes that live in the soil and support healthy ecosystems. We found that fire reduces the diversity of soil microbial communities and disrupts their dispersal, while favoring specialist species that thrive in post-fire environments. These shifts homogenize soil communities, disrupt their functioning, and weaken their resilience. Importantly, our experiments show that fire-driven changes in the soil microbiome can even alter how plants interact with pathogens. In burned soils, plant diseases become more severe because of the impact on the soil microbiome. Thus, fire not only influences soil biological communities, but it can also have negative consequences for plant health, further shaping post-disturbance ecosystem recovery. As climate changes contribute to increasing the intensity and frequency of wildfires, understanding these hidden below ground responses is critical for predicting ecosystem response and resilience to this stressor and guiding land management practices.

Room 313

Room 316

10:45 a.m.: Dielectric Spectroscopic Cytometry (DiSC)-Omics: Noninvasive detection, quantification, and classification of biological cells

• Pingshan Wang, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

10:55 a.m.: Effect of seasonal anoxia on Arsenic and Iron cycle in a small sub-tropical stratified lake in the context of warming air temperature

• Fanny Coutelot, Research Assistant Professor, Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences

11:05 a.m.: Consumer Preferences for Tomatoes Grown with Non-Conventional Water: Exploring the Role of Information

• Rachel Kane, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Agricultural Sciences

Watt Auditorium

Moderator: Kelly Sauskojus

Panelists: 

• Michelle Smith, Associate Professor, English
• Kelly Sauskojus, Postdoctoral Fellow, English
• Megan Crowe, Graduate Student, English
• Matt Burchanoski, Postdoctoral Fellow, English
• Molly Nestor, Senior Lecturer, English

Room 106

• Steph Dean, Assistant Professor, Teaching and Learning
• Koti Hubbard, Senior Lecturer, Teaching and Learning

Room 208

Room 308

Room 310

1  p.m.: Updating the Masonry Flexural Bond Strength Design Rationale Based on Experimental Investigation and Advanced Computational Modeling

• Andres Arce, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development

Abstract: This presentation examines the need to update the current design rationale for masonry flexural bond strength based on recent experimental findings and advanced computational modeling. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted to evaluate flexural bond behavior under controlled loading conditions. The experimental results were then used to calibrate and validate advanced computer simulations  capable of capturing a realistic material response and failure mechanisms. By integrating experimental data with high-fidelity computational simulations, this research proposes refinements to current design assumptions and provides a framework for improved prediction of masonry flexural bond strength. 

1:10 p.m.: Biodegradable Non-Isocyanate polyurethane Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives for Price Look-Up (PLU) stickers and labels

Marzieh Akrami, Graduate Research Assistant, Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are widely used in applications such as packaging, tapes, and labels due to their ability to adhere instantly under light pressure while maintaining balanced viscoelastic properties. Most commercial PSAs are based on petroleum-derived polymers, including acrylics, polyurethanes, rubbers, and silicones. However, increasing sustainability concerns have encouraged the development of greener adhesive systems. Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) offer a promising alternative to conventional polyurethane adhesives by avoiding toxic isocyanates. In this work, renewable glycerol- and fatty acid-derived materials are utilized to develop sustainable PSAs suitable for direct food-contact applications. 

1:20 p.m.: Ground Glass Pozzolans for Low‑Carbon Infrastructure: Mechanisms, Metrics, and Material Innovation

• Prasad Rangaraju, Professor, Civil Engineering

Abstract: Concrete researchers actively seek environmentally responsible supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to partially replace Portland cement as supplies of traditional SCMs such as fly ash and slag continue to decline. Modern concrete mixtures rely on SCMs to enhance mechanical and durability performance while lowering the carbon footprint associated with Portland cement. Over the past 15 years, research at Clemson University has demonstrated that processed waste glass from diverse sources can function effectively as an alternative pozzolan in concrete. Building on these findings and supported by field performance, ASTM Subcommittee 09.24 established ASTM C1866/C1866M 20, Standard Specification for Ground Glass Pozzolan for Use in Concrete. This presentation highlights current knowledge on glass based pozzolans, including their availability, processing requirements, impact on performance and sustainability of concrete, and the development of an ASTM standard.  The emerging role of ground glass pozzolans as viable SCMs for producing low carbon concrete across the construction industry is highlighted.

1:30 p.m.: Ensuring that brand color accuracy across processes & textiles

• Erica Walker, Associate Professor, Graphic Communications
• Amanda Bridges, Associate Professor, Graphic Communications

Abstract: This ongoing work investigates the challenges of reproducing brand colors, focused on the branding of NCAA athletics. Both teams and fans are heavily invested in the brand of their favorite college sports teams. Brand colors are seen across diverse media including everything from large screens to phones to printed materials. The cornerstone across all media is achieving brand accurate textiles in uniforms and fan apparel. This study spans several years and investigates common printing processes used to manufacture branded clothing including screen printing, dye sublimation, direct-to-garment (DTG), and direct-to film (DTF). Additional work looks at consistency and durability after stain treatment and wash. This presentation will focus on a high level overview of these findings and the impact this work might have on manufacturers, brand owners, and ultimately the athletes and fans that purchase and proudly wear their team’s colors. 

Room 313

1 p.m.: Can We Trust AI? Security, Privacy, and Safety in Modern AI Systems

• Xiaoyong (Brian) Yuan, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computering Engineering

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in everyday life, powering applications that range from conversational assistants and creative content generation to biomedical analysis and autonomous driving. As these systems become more capable and widely deployed, so do the risks. In our recent work, we show that modern AI systems are vulnerable to a range of security, privacy, and safety threats: AI systems can be manipulated through hidden instructions and adversarial visual patches, leak sensitive information, and generate harmful or unsafe outputs. We investigate these vulnerabilities across diverse AI systems, e.g., large language models, retrieval-augmented generation systems, diffusion models, to understand the mechanisms behind these failures and to explore effective defenses. This talk will highlight key findings from our research and present practical principles for designing AI systems that are more robust, privacy-preserving, and safe for real-world deployment.

1:10 p.m.: Efficient Driving with Connected and Automated Vehicles: Two Decades of Theory and Experiments at Clemson

• Ardalan Vahidi, Professor, Mechanical Engineering

1:10 p.m.: Connected Autonomy Vehicle Systems in the Age of AI: Onroad, Offroad and Mfg Shop Floor Applications

• Venkat Krovi, Michelin SmartState Chair of Vehicle Automation, School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering

Abstract: Realizing long-term autonomy with Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) offers unique research and education opportunities within a lifecycle treatment (design, analysis, refinement, prototyping and validation) framework. Modern-day CAVs represent the merger of “robotics sense-think-act in real-time” with “distributed networked” paradigms, now with the additional challenges of complexity/scale in field operations. Further, as embodiments of cyber-physical systems (CPS), performance/value of CAVs arises from software-based orchestration of the underlying electromechanical hardware at component, sub-system, system and system-of-systems levels. In this milieu, principal opportunities now lie in building upon loosely-interconnected modular heterogeneous systems-of-systems and (re-)engineering high-performance/high-confidence operational capacities in the presence of uncertainties in increasingly unstructured operational domains. New paradigms are needed to tackle the curse of dimensionality while empowering capabilities to co-model, co-simulate, co-visualize, co-analyze and co-refine intelligence algorithms (software) together with the physical asset (hardware) through the lifecycle. Within this Cambrian explosion of options, our Connected Autonomy research group is pursuing research in: (i) autonomy-oriented digital-twinning; (ii) AI-enhanced autonomy refinement; (iii) real-time data-enabled field operations; and (iv) systematic verification/validation. To support these efforts, we are also developing modular, open-architecture, open-interface, and open-source CAV-research infrastructure spanning multiple scales and complexity (1/10th to full-scale). This talk will provide vignettes of these ongoing efforts while highlighting emergent research, development and education opportunities in onroad-, offroad- and manufacturing-application settings.

Room 316

Moderator: Mik Carbajales-Dale, Professor, Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences

Panelists:

• Ashish Manandhar, Assistant Professor, Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
• Hao Chen, Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
• Muzan Ijeoma, Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences

Abstract: Our planet is warming—warming fast. 2024 was the hottest year on record, exceeding the previous record set in 2023, and was also the first calendar year with an average temperature exceeding 1.5C above pre-industrial levels – a key threshold in the Paris Agreement’s efforts to limit severe climate risks.

• Rising temperatures, which heighten heatwaves, harming health and productivity; extend warm nights, stressing crops; affect snowmelt, reducing downstream irrigation; shift crop and insect zones; and boost wildfire risk.
• Changing precipitation patterns, including intensified rainfall that triggers floods, erosion, and damage, while droughts cut water supply, threaten food security, disrupt planting schedules.
• Sealevel rise increases flooding in low-lying areas, accelerates coastal erosion, causes saltwater intrusion into aquifers, and amplifies storm-surge impacts.
• Extreme weather events, including tropical cyclones, hurricanes, hailstorms, and compound hazards, are increasing in intensity, leading to greater wind damage, flooding, crop losses, and recovery challenges.
• Ecosystem and biodiversity disruptions such as, species shifting or vanishing, pollinator breeding cycles becoming misaligned with changing flower seasons, coral bleaching, and forests dying from heat, drought, pests.
• Urban and infrastructure challenges such as, increased urban heat island effect, stormwater systems overload, accelerated infrastructure decay, and overloaded power grids buckling during extreme heat.

• Urban design & land-use, such as cool roofs, street canyons, and green corridors;
• Transportation, including public transit hubs, dedicated bus lanes, cycling infrastructure, and the resilience benefits of vehicle-to-grid systems;
• Green buildings, including innovations in passive design, water reuse, improved insulation, integrated renewables, and green roofs;
• Waste management, such as composting or anaerobic digestion of organics to curb methane and regenerate soils;
• Integrated energy systems, such as agrivoltaics, offshore wind with storm mitigation potential, and seawater aerosolization for marine cloud brightening;
• Agriculture, including low meat diets, regenerative agriculture, low-input agriculture, and cover cropping;
• Land management practices, such as sub surface biomass injection for carbon sequestration and flood control;
• Nature based solutions, including urban tree planting, wetlands and mangrove restoration, and reforestation of strategic corridors;
• Behavior and policy, including community engagement and education programs, and incentive schemes for Climate SMART adoption.

Watt Auditorium

Moderator: Debabrata Sahoo, Associate Professor, Agricultural Sciences

Panelists: 

• Sarah White, Professor, Plant and Environmental Sciences
• Rob Baldwin, Lloyd Endowed Chair, Forestry and Environmental Conservation
• Brian Powellm, Fjeld Professor in Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science

Room 106

Moderator: Christy Brown, Clinical Associate Professor, Education and Human Development

Panelists: 

• Lesa Hoffman, Eugene T. Moore Distinguished Professor, Education and Human Development
• Jonathan Templin, Eugene T. Moore Distinguished Professor, Education and Human Development

Room 208

• Kawthar Alrayyan, Assistant Professor, Architecture

• Dongwoo "Jason" Yeom, Thompson E. Penney and Gretchen M. Penney Endowed Distinguished Associate Professor, Architecture

• Monica Gripko, Lecturer, Architecture
• Sallie Hambright-Belue, Associate Professor, Architecture
• Salvatore Costanzo, Graduate Student, Architecture

Room 308

• Tori Charles, Director of Applied Research, Clemson Learning Institute
• Anuja Sarda, Research Associate, Clemson Learning Institute
• Alexis Sales, Research Manager, Clemson Learning Institute
• Shanada McFadden, Researcher, Clemson Learning Institute

Abstract: In this moderated conversational panel, we will explore how applied research conducted in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Social Services supports evidence-informed decision making in complex health, human, and social service systems. As state agencies increasingly integrate research into program design and implementation, agency partners work collaboratively with us to align methodological rigor with policy priorities, operational realities, and shared commitments to equitable service delivery. Panelists will share insights from collaborative projects with these state agencies, highlighting approaches to working with administrative data, building and sustaining research–practice partnerships, and translating research findings into actionable guidance for programs and policy. The discussion will emphasize how researchers and agency partners jointly navigate operational realities and implementation considerations to produce relevant and practical evidence.

Room 310

• Paul Dawson, Professor, Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Omer Sadak, Assistant Professor, Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Duncan Darby, Professor, Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• James Sternberg, Assistant Professor, Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Scott Whiteside, Professor, Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences

Abstract: Panelists will be grouped into three categories – material development, applications and scale-up. All panelists have overlapping expertise and will be able to supplement each other’s discussion. Panelists will begin by summarizing their research focus and accomplishments using one PowerPoint slide. After each panelist has highlighted their research, the moderator will ask panelists targeted questions about future research, opportunities, barriers, methods to overcome the barriers and collaboration. Depending on the time, questions from the audience will be solicited.

Room 316

• Leah Casabianca, Professor, Chemistry