Come join us
Are you an undergraduate student, graduate student or post-doc interested in joining the Clemons Lab? If so reach out on email to discuss current opportunities
Meet Dr. Tristan Clemons
I am a research scientist establishing my team in the focus areas of polymer chemistry, supramolecular assembly and biomaterials for therapeutic applications, starting at the University of Southern Mississippi in the Fall of 2021. Prior to this I was a research associate at Northwestern University (Advisor: Prof. Sam Stupp), and a National Health and Medical Research Council fellow investigating nanomaterials for the treatment of burn injuries at the University of Western Australia. In a past life I was an elite athlete, playing hockey on the international stage with the Australian Hockey team. I am an entrepreneur, founding and running a successful startup company in sun-smart fashion. I am a volunteer and advocate for science outreach exciting thousands of students about the possibilities of a career in science and through work as an ambassador for the Rotary Foundation’s Microscope in Schools project. Finally, I am a family man, an avid sports fan (Go Eagles!) and an amateur knitter.
CV Highlights
Education & Experience
2021 - current: Assistant Professor School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, USA.
2020 - 2021: Research Associate Northwestern University. Simpson Querrey Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.
2018 - 2020: American Australian Association Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Simpson Querrey Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.
2014 - 2018: Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Research Fellow. NanoBio Research group, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
2010 - 2014: PhD - Applications of multifunctional poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) nanoparticles in enzyme stabilization and drug delivery. The University of Western Australia, Perth Australia.
2009 Graduate Diploma (Secondary education, Major: Science, Minor: Mathematics). Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia.
2005 - 2008 Bachelor of Science (Hons. Nanotechnology. Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia.
Awards & Honors
2018
Bunbury Catholic College – Induction into the Hall of Distinction.
American Chemical Society, CAS Future Leader in Chemistry.
40 under 40 WA Business News Intrapreneurial Award and the 2018 People’s Choice Award.
Bayliss Youth Lectureship from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
2016
UWA Faculty of Science – Rising Star Award, 3-minute thesis competition – 1st Place.
Hockey Australia Personal Excellence Award – Awarded for off-field success in study, work or community activities, coupled with their diligence in their approach to their hockey.
UWA Award for Exceptional Contribution to Education Futures – Using Technology to Improve Transferable Skills and Enhance the Laboratory Experience in First Year Chemistry.
2015
Curtin Young Alumnus Award finalist – Curtin University.
Attendee at the 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting - qualifying in a global competition among young scientists worldwide to participate, Lindau, Germany.
Recipient of an Australian Academy of Science grant to attend Science at the Shine Dome 2015, Canberra, Australia.
Pre 2015
(2014) WA Young Tall Poppy Science Award – Australian Institute of Policy and Science.
(2014) NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship, Peter Doherty - Australian Biomedical Fellowship
(2013) Exxon Mobil WA Student Scientist of the Year
(2013) Best Oral Presentation prize – PhD Student Category – Sydney International Nanomedicine Conference.
(2012-2014) Western Australian Nanotechnology Student Ambassador Award (Australian Nanotechnology Network
(2012) UWA Post Graduate Association (PSA) Student Leadership Award
Affiliations & Service
Professional Affiliations
Adjunct Fellow - School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia.
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Australian Nanotechnology Network (ANN)
Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Australian Society of Molecular Imaging (ASMI)
Conference Organization
2018 - Australian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE) Annual conference, Fremantle, Australia.
2016 - Inaugural WA Symposium of Nanobiotechnology, Perth, Australia.
2015 - 6th International Nanomedicine conference, Sydney, Australia.
2015 - Australian Society of Molecular Imaging (ASMI) Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, Australia.
