Welcome to the inaugural edition of Clemson World Research

Tanju Karanfil

I am excited to share our passion for scientific discovery with you. As detailed in these pages, our faculty members and students are willing to go anywhere in their pursuit of knowledge that benefits the world — below the warming waters off the Florida coast or into the dark caves of a fragile community of bats, as just two examples.

We have been fortunate to experience great growth in our research enterprise at Clemson in recent years, culminating in our recognition as a Carnegie R1 institution. We are applying for and receiving more funding to pursue discovery. We are graduating more doctorate-level scientists ready to chase their own discoveries and inspire another generation of learners and leaders. Our partnerships with private industry have grown, ensuring our scientific pursuits have meaningful, real-world outcomes. We are collaborating with world-class academic institutions throughout the nation and the world.

The stories in this magazine are diverse. One of our professors has explored one of the mysteries of the Vietnam War. Another has redesigned operating rooms to improve patient care. Another is working to break down racial barriers in academia and elsewhere. Thanks to one faculty member, hospitals and clinics around the country have new technology-based therapies for treating stroke victims, veterans, and children on the autism spectrum, among others. Our faculty and students are identifying innovative ways to store and generate energy, to train future computer scientists and to improve digital communications. While the research topics are diverse, the goals remain the same: To improve the human experience and leave the world a better place socially, environmentally and economically. I am excited to see what the future will bring.

Thank you for your support of scholarship and scientific discovery at Clemson University.

Tanju Karanfil

Vice President for Research
Clemson University