This is a post to celebrate our graduates in May 2026! The Biophysics department is proud of our students after their years of hard work! We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors!
Alexandria Kerr is an international student from Jamaica. She graduated from the Chemistry Department with a MS. She is continuing her education by getting a PhD in Chemistry. She is investigating AAA-ATPase-driven remodeling of pre-60S ribosomal subunits in S. cerevisiae using live-cell PIE-FRET, FLIM-FRET, and single-molecule imaging to study dynamic protein-protein interactions in ribosome biogenesis. Kerr works with Dr. Sharonda LeBlanc.
Our other graduate is Dr. Rajan Goutam. He is a first generation student who grew up in a rural village in Nepal. His path took him from Nepal to the University of Texas at El Paso and later to Clemson University, where he earned his PhD in Physics and Astronomy, specializing in Single Molecule Biophysics. His dissertation research examined how cancer associated mutations in ARID1A affect protein stability and protein DNA interactions, contributing to a deeper understanding of cancer related molecular mechanisms.
Rajen is now a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at NC State University, where he studies molecular mechanisms in living cells using fluorescence imaging and computational analysis. He hopes his journey encourages other first generation students to remain curious, stay persistent, and pursue opportunities in science and education.
