Jasmine Carter, Senior Biology Major Chemistry Minor
Monai Mitchell, Senior Biology and Psychology Chemistry and Mathematics Major
Home Town: Summervile, SC
Classification: Senior
Major/Minor: Biology and Psychology/Chemistry and Mathematics
Research: Development of Genetic Chimera of Clostridia to produce
Anti-bacterial Agents Against Multi-Drug Resistant Microorganism
Career Plans: Nursing or PhD in Immunooncology
Community Service: Habitat for Humanity
Campus Organization(s): RISE, Peer Counselor, Peer Mentor, Head Choreographer for Pulse Dance Company, Claflin University Tour Guide
Brandon T. Sanders, Senior Biology Major – Chemistry Minor
Brandon Sanders is a Senior Biology major and chemistry minor. He is a Presidential Scholar of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College. Brandon conducted research during the summer of 2018 at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, through the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. He studied the role of the microRNA cluster mir17~92 in endothelial cells against renal ischemia-repercussion injury. His research was presented at various conferences including the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, the Southeastern Medical Scientist Symposium, and the Health Disparities Conference at Xavier University. He currently works with Dr. Omar Bagasra to investigate the effects of environmental chemicals in the development of neurons. Mr. Sanders conducted research at the University of Rochester in the MSTP Summer Scholars Undergraduate Research Program. During his matriculation at Claflin University, Brandon has been involved in numerous organizations while simultaneously holding leadership position. These positions include president of the Minority Association of Premedical Students, president of the Serving Mental Illness Learning Experience, member of the New Student Orientation Leader staff, and member of the Honors Council of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College just to name a few.
Jira White, Senior Biochemistry Major
Senior, Jira White is currently completing her Bachelor’s of Science in biochemistry and is on track to graduate in May 2020. She conducts research on the thermostability, and cold activity of beta-galactosidase in the development of lactose intolerance treatment, under the direction of her mentor Dr. Nicholas Panasik. She also had the opportunity to conduct research at the University of Chicago in 2017 and at Rockefeller University in 2018. Those projects were presented at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in 2017 and 2018, the Emerging researchers National conference in STEM, and the Leadership Alliance National Convention in 2017 and 2018.
Terika Williams, Senior Biochemistry Major – Psychology Minor
Home Town: Orangeburg, SC
Classification: Junior
Major/Minor: Biology/Chemistry and Pschology
Research: Isolate and identify antibiotic producing bacteria from soil samples
Career Plans: To obtain a PHD
Community Service: Teacher Assistant at Brookdale Elementary School
Campus Organizations: MAPPS, Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College, Golden Key International Honor Society
Ja’el Wright, Senior Psychology Major – Computer Science Minor
Ja’el Wright is a senior at Claflin University, studying Psychology and Computer Science. Her research, “Cyber Stalking Among African American College Students”, was directed by Dr. Deidra J. Morrison and Dr. Allison McLetchie. Ja’el and has been presented at three research conferences, the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in Indianapolis, Indiana in November 2018, Carolina Undergraduate Symposium for Social Sciences at Newberry College in April 2019, and Jim E Clyburn Health Disparities Lecture at University of South Carolina in April 2019. Ja’el has also been on two gradate school visits to the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University at Albany. In the summer of 2019, Ja’el will participate in the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Upon graduation in May 2020, she will pursue a PhD.