People

A collaborative team of curious scientists.

Postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, staff, and undergraduate researchers united by rigorous science and supportive mentorship.

Dr. Zhicheng Dou
Principal Investigator

Zhicheng Dou, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator · Associate Professor

Dr. Dou investigates protozoan pathogens to understand the biology of parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii and Histomonas meleagridis. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Southern Mississippi and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan Medical School, where he studied Toxoplasma biology with a focus on parasite proteases and their functions. In 2015, he joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University as a tenure-track assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in August 2021, and to full professor in August 2026.

Team

Postdocs, students & staff

Dr. Akhila Pudipeddi
Dr. Akhila Pudipeddi
Postdoctoral Fellow
Histomonas biology & drug discovery
  • University of Hong Kong, PhD in Microbiology of Infectious Diseases, Class of 2024
  • SASTRA University, M.Sc Biotechnology, Class of 2017
  • Gayatri Vidhya Parishad, B.Sc Microbiology & Biotechnology, Class of 2015
Annika Nelson
Annika Nelson
Lab Technician
Histomonas biology & molecular tools
  • Tulane University, BS in Cell Biology, Class of 2024
Alessandro Rocchi
Alessandro Rocchi
Ph.D. Candidate
Histomonas biology & food vacuole proteases
  • University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, BS in Poultry Sciences, Class of 2023
Laura Jacob
Laura Jacob
M.S. Student
Toxoplasma biology & enzymology
  • Clemson University, BS in Biochemistry and Genetics, Class of 2024
Shivani Kore
Shivani Kore
Ph.D. Student
Toxoplasma biology & digestive vacuole biogenesis
    EJ
    Elise Johns
    Ph.D. Student
    Joining August 2026
      Ariana Bachini
      Ariana Bachini
      Undergraduate Researcher
      Undergraduate research
      • Class of 2027
      Brooks Winer
      Brooks Winer
      Undergraduate Researcher
      Undergraduate research
      • Class of 2027
      Mary Ellen Thorne
      Mary Ellen Thorne
      Undergraduate Researcher
      Purification of Histomonas proteins and drug screening
        Annabelle Kip
        Annabelle Kip
        Undergraduate Researcher
        Purification of Histomonas proteins and drug screening
          Alumni

          Where former lab members are today

          Sorted from the most recent departures to the earliest.

          Steven Joseph
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2023 – 05/2026

          Biological Sciences major; Current: M.D. student at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

          Ella Burgess
          Undergraduate Researcher
          02/2025 – 05/2026

          Biological Sciences major; Current: M.D. student at the University of South Carolina, Columbia

          Jordan Hayes
          Undergraduate Researcher
          07/2025 – 12/2025

          Genetics and Biochemistry major

          Jacie Bradley
          Undergraduate Researcher
          07/2025 – 12/2025

          Biological Sciences major

          Kristhy Suren-Mera
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2025 – 12/2025

          Animal and Veterinary Sciences major

          Kristina Chambers
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2025 – 12/2025

          Biological Sciences major

          Emma Polaski
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2023 – 05/2025

          Biochemistry major

          Hayeon Cho
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2023 – 05/2025

          Biochemistry major

          Kate Morris
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2023 – 05/2025

          Biological Sciences major

          Melanie Key
          Ph.D. Student
          08/2018 – 05/2024

          Current: Postdoctoral fellow at the Sibley lab, Washington University - St. Louis

          Dr. Vikky FNU
          Postdoctoral Fellow
          07/2022 – 03/2024
          Amy Bergmann
          Lab Technician
          05/2017 – 08/2022

          Current: Ph.D. student in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry at Clemson University

          L. Brock Thornton
          Ph.D. Student
          08/2017 – 07/2022

          Current: Scientist I at BioAgilytix, NC

          Noah Arango
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2022 – 05/2022

          Current: Ph.D. candidate at Clemson University

          Dr. Yu Ning
          Postdoctoral Fellow
          01/2021 – 12/2021
          Gracie Vaughan
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2020 – 05/2021

          Current: Medical Laboratory Scientist II in Microbiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

          Claire Fortman
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2019 – 05/2021

          Current: M.D. student at USC-Greenville

          Chiara Micchelli
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2019 – 05/2021

          Current: Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

          Garrett Johnson
          Undergraduate Researcher
          09/2020 – 12/2020

          Current: Medical Laboratory Scientist at Bon Secours St. Francis Cancer Center

          Maria Kubaszewska
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2020 – 05/2020

          Biochemistry major

          Katherine Floyd
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2016 – 05/2020

          Current: Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Dan Goldberg's lab at Washington University - St. Louis

          Christian Cochrane
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2017 – 05/2019

          Current: Chief Emergency Medicine Resident at UCF College of Medicine

          Samantha Solomon
          REU Student
          06/2018 – 08/2018

          University of Nevada – Reno; Current: Phlebotomist at CGT Global

          Jessica Krefski
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2017 – 12/2017

          Microbiology major

          Tanner Coleman
          REU Student
          05/2017 – 07/2017

          The University of South Carolina; Current: Genetic Counselor at Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology

          Paige Teehan
          Lab Technician
          11/2015 – 07/2017

          Current: Scientist at ThermoFisher after earning a Ph.D. from Penn State University

          Davis Osborn
          Undergraduate Researcher
          08/2016 – 05/2017

          Current: Anesthesiology Resident Physician at Medical University of South Carolina

          Emmaline Camposano
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2016 – 12/2016

          Current: Environmental Engineer at United States Marine Corps

          Gabrielle Swain
          REU Student
          05/2016 – 07/2016

          Pennsylvania State University; Current: FDA Bioresearch Monitoring Investigator

          Andrew Dippre
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2016 – 05/2016

          Current: Radiology Resident Physician at Tufts Medical Center

          Martha Villano
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2016 – 05/2016

          Biological Sciences major

          Ashley Bidwick
          Undergraduate Researcher
          01/2016 – 05/2016

          Current: Physician Assistant

          Jonathan Allen
          Undergraduate Researcher
          10/2015 – 05/2016

          Microbiology major