Dunn Research Laboratory
Dr. Heather Dunn
Principal Investigator
Master of Science, University of California Davis
Doctor of Philosophy, Clemson University
Post-Doctorate Studies, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Dr. Heather Dunn has worked at Clemson University since 2006. She has received multiple teaching and advising awards of excellence and was the Clemson Bradley Award recipient in 2014. She has authored several photo atlas textbooks and filed four different patent inventions. She has completed professional development in the fields of inclusion and equity, conflict resolution, and mindfulness training. She also directs a summer study abroad program that focuses on global professional development which provides a solid foundation for individuals seeking careers requiring global engagement.
Matt Harrington
Graduate Research Assistant
Matt is currently a graduate student in the Bioengineering program at Clemson. He received his Bachelor of Science in Genetics from Clemson in 2023 and currently works as a graduate assistant for the Department of Bioengineering and the Rutland Institute for Ethics on campus. His research utilizes CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate the cellular mechanisms in triple-negative breast cancer.
Sulagna Mukherjee
Graduate Research Assistant
Sulagna is a Ph.D. student in the Bioengineering program. She has completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Zoology in India, after which she has worked as a research assistant at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, India. Sulagna joined the Dunn lab in the Summer of 2024, where she is studying metastasis and tumor progression of triple-negative breast cancer, using zebrafish as a model organism.
Alannah Akins
Graduate Research Assistant
Alannah is a bioengineering major currently in the B.S. to M.S. program at Clemson University and plans on getting her Ph.D. She is currently working on triple-negative breast cancer relating to immune function.
Hope Mitchell
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hope is currently working in the lab experimenting with cell cultures using Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a disease model. The goal is to obtain more information about cancer metastasis. Hope has been a part of the team since August 2024.
Marshall Geier
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Marshall is a senior Bioengineering major at Clemson University, focused on studying the variation of immune system gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer. After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in the regenerative medicine and tissue engineering industry. Marshall has been a part of the team since August 2024.
Cameron Stetson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Cam is currently a senior biochemistry major with a minor in genetics. She specifically focuses on using bioinformatics to uncover and analyze genetic data sets to better understand the genetic factors influencing cancer risk. Cam's goal is to pursue a Ph.D. after working in the biotech industry following graduation. She has been part of the team since August 2024.
Grayson Whitten
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Grayson is a sophmore bioengineering with a minor in materials science. He is currently working on investigating the molecular basis of the tumor microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancers. Grayson is also interested in investigating the identification of breast cancer cells as well as the viral insertion of DNA or gene editing proteins into breast cancer cells to observe the effect on cancer development. Grayson has been a part of the team since August 2024.
Mia Boyle
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mia is a bioengineering major with a concentration in biomaterials at Clemson University. She is currently learning about the different projects in the lab to prepare for developing her own next semester. Mia has been a part of the team since August 2025.
Henry
Paw-fessor
Henry's work specializes in team support and assisting in data collection by sitting patiently next to anyone offering belly rubs.