Profile
Katelin Hanna
Biological Sciences
Graduate Research Assistant
Life Sciences Building 149 [Office]
Educational Background
B. S., Biology, North Greenville University, 2021
Profile/About Me
Bacteria can be both a tool and a problem. In my work, I study them as both—engineering them for cancer therapeutics while also identifying and controlling them in laboratory and manufacturing environments.
I study bacteria as both therapeutic tools and contaminants, using microbiology and molecular biology methods to develop targeted cancer treatments and improve quality processes in laboratories and manufacturing.
As a Microbiology PhD Candidate at Clemson University, my research focuses on engineering attenuated Listeria to deliver a suicide gene into HER2+ cancer cells as a targeted therapeutic strategy. Alongside this work in cancer research and gene therapy, I collaborate on applied microbiology projects that address bioburden, contamination investigation, and disinfectant optimization in industry settings.
My experience includes molecular biology, cell culture, PCR, aseptic technique, and BSL-2 laboratory work, as well as bioinformatics, protocol development, and project management. One project I’m particularly proud of involved identifying the source of contamination in a finished industrial product—isolating the microbial contaminants and experimentally optimizing a disinfection schedule that eliminated the problem.
Through this work, I’ve developed a translational perspective on microbiology: understanding microbes both as tools for therapeutic innovation and as risks that must be controlled in pharmaceutical and medical device environments.
I’m interested in roles where this combination of microbiology, molecular biology, and contamination control can support R&D, quality control, or project leadership in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or medical device organizations.
If you work in cancer therapeutics, applied microbiology, or pharmaceutical/medical device manufacturing, feel free to connect or reach out. I’m always open to conversations about collaboration, research, and opportunities in the life sciences.
Research Interests
I am interested in developing a targeted therapy against HER2+ breast cancer using a Listerial delivery system to deliver the suicide gene, mazF. I am interested in the intersection of the fields of Microbial Genetics, Cancer Biology, Microbiology, and Immunology.
Research Group (Lab)
Tzeng Lab
Courses Taught
Advanced Microbiology I lab
Advanced Microbiology II lab
General Microbiology Lab
Anatomy & Physiology I Lab
Selected Publications
Cai, F., Zacour, K., Zhu, T., Tzeng, T., Duan, Y., Liu, L., Pilla, S., Li, G., Luo, F. “ChemFM as a Scaling Law Guided Foundation Model Pre-trained on Informative Chemicals”. Commun. Chem., (accepted).
Selected Talks
Oral Presentation, “Safety and effectiveness of Lm-spa+ as a suitable carrier for HER2+ targeted drug delivery”, Fall American Society for Microbiology SC Branch Meeting at the University of South Carolina, November 15th, 2025.
Poster Presentation, “Analysis of Lm-spa+ as a suitable carrier for HER2+ targeted drug delivery”, BioSci Research Expo at Clemson University, August 18, 2025.
Invited Lecture, “Bugs as Drugs: Using a Listerial delivery system for targeted apoptosis of HER2+ cancer cells,” Clemson Microbiological Society Meeting at Clemson University, March 12, 2024.
Poster Presentation, “MazF Induction for Targeted Apoptosis in HER2+ Tumors,” BioSci Research Expo at Clemson University, August 20, 2024.
Oral Presentation, “Targeting HER2+ breast cancer cells using a suicide gene, mazF,
delivered by a Listerial vector,” Fall ASM SC Branch Meeting at Columbia College, October 8, 2022.
Poster Presentation, “Bacterial delivery of mazF into HER2+ breast cancer cells for the
induction of apoptosis in vivo,” BioSci Research Expo at Clemson University, August 26, 2022.
Panel Discussion, “Veteran GTA Panel,” New GTA Orientation at Clemson University,
August 18, 2022.
Panel Discussion, “Getting into Graduate School,” Biology Club Meeting at North
Greenville University, February 21, 2022.
Poster Presentation, “Isolation of bacterial endophytes from seeds of Moringa oleifera:
identification of plant growth-promoting bacteria,” Poster Symposium at North Greenville University, April 22, 2021.
Memberships
Accelerate to Industry™ (A2i) Graduate Member at Clemson University, 2025-present
SC Bio Student Member, 2024-present
American Society for Microbiology, National & SC Branch member, 2022-present
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Graduate member, 2023
Honors and Awards
Graduate Oral Presentation 1st Place, University of South Carolina, Awarded at the Fall 2025 American Society for Microbiology SC Branch Meeting for the presentation, “Safety and effectiveness of Lm-spa+ as a suitable carrier for HER2+ targeted drug delivery”, 2025
Graduate Research Assistantship, awarded in collaboration with the Vertegel lab in testing novel disinfectants against human coronavirus 229E, 2024-present
Clemson BSPDC Grant-in-Aid-of Research, Awarded $1,000, 2022
Graduate Oral Presentation 2nd Place, Columbia College, Awarded at the Fall 2022
ASM SC branch meeting for the presentation, "Targeting HER2+ breast cancer cells using a suicide gene, mazF, delivered by a Listerial vector", 2022
Distinguished Award in Biology, North Greenville University, 2021
Degree Program
PhD Microbiology
Expected Graduation
December 2026
