Research areas: Analytical chemistry, Mass spectrometry, Plasma spectroscopy

• FNAI
• FAAAS
• FRSC
• FSAS

Dr. Marcus earned B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Physics from Longwood College (1982) and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Virginia (1986). A Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, AAAS, Royal Society of Chemistry, and Society for Applied Spectroscopy, he was named Clemson's inaugural Researcher of the Year (2019). His lab develops LS-APGD microplasmas for nuclear safeguards and C-CP fiber columns for protein and exosome separations. Over 38 years at Clemson, he has mentored 44 Ph.D. and 17 M.S. students.

2nd Year Postdoctoral Fellow

Research areas: HEK293 EV subpopulations, High-resolution chromatography

Raphael develops rapid, high-resolution chromatographic methods to isolate and resolve distinct subpopulations of extracellular vesicles derived from HEK293 cell cultures for applications in diagnostics and therapeutics.

5th Year Ph.D. Candidate

Research areas: Exosome chromatography, HEK293, Urine

Will develops rapid, high-resolution chromatographic methods using C-CP fiber columns to isolate extracellular vesicles and EV subpopulations from HEK293 cell culture media and human urine for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

4th Year Ph.D. Candidate

Research areas: Extracellular vesicles, Milk, Urine, Plant EVs

Carolina develops C-CP fiber-based methods for isolating extracellular vesicles from diverse biological matrices including bovine milk, human urine, and 20+ plant sources. She also creates integrated workflows combining EV isolation with lanthanide chelation labeling and ICP-MS for sensitive quantification.

4th Year Ph.D. Candidate

Research areas: LS-APGD, Neodymium isotope ratios, Nanoparticles

Suraj focuses on parametric optimization of the LS-APGD ionization source coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry for neodymium isotope ratio determinations and single nanoparticle detection. His work supports nuclear nonproliferation efforts in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

3rd Year Ph.D. Candidate

Research areas: Halogen anion detection, LS-APGD, Nuclear forensics

Dehlia develops methods for detecting bromine and iodine as atomic anions using the LS-APGD microplasma ionization source coupled to Orbitrap and compact mass spectrometers for nuclear forensics and environmental monitoring applications.

3rd Year Ph.D. Student

Research areas: 2D-LC, IgG and exosome co-purification, CHO cell bioprocessing

Chris develops a two-dimensional liquid chromatography platform using capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fiber columns to simultaneously isolate IgG monoclonal antibodies via Protein A affinity chromatography and exosomes via hydrophobic interaction chromatography from CHO cell culture waste streams. His work enables by-product valorization, converting discarded Protein A effluent into valuable exosome products for targeted therapeutic delivery and disease biomarker detection.

2nd Year Ph.D. Student

Research areas: Tween-20 exosome isolation, Streptavidin capture

Khalid develops Tween-20-assisted hydrophobic interaction chromatography methods for exosome isolation from human urine that preserve structural integrity, achieving approximately 99% protein removal. He also explored streptavidin-modified C-CP fibers for targeted biotinylated protein capture. First author in Analytica Chimica Acta (2024).

1st Year Ph.D. Student

Research areas: Extracellular vesicles, Exosome isolation, Cancer biomarkers

Michael researches the isolation and characterization of urinary extracellular vesicles using hydrophobic interaction chromatography with nylon-6 capillary-channeled polymer fiber columns. His work aims to improve cancer biomarker detection and develop diagnostic tools for early disease monitoring.

1st Year Ph.D. Student

Research areas: Instrument automation, Data science, Metabolomics

Tusan develops Python-based data pipelines for metabolomics and mass spectrometry data processing. He is building automated control interfaces for LS-APGD source optimization and chromatographic data analysis to enable high-throughput, reproducible analytical workflows.

Research areas: Nuclear forensics, Isotope ratio MS, Actinide analysis

Benjamin leads the Chemical and Isotopic Mass Spectrometry group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He collaborates with Marcus Lab on LS-APGD development for uranium, plutonium, and neodymium isotope analysis. Recipient of the 2025 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award.

Research areas: CHO cell bioprocessing, mAb production, Cell culture

Sarah is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Clemson. She collaborates with Marcus Lab on CHO cell culture optimization, monoclonal antibody production, and exosome isolation from bioreactor waste streams.

Graduated 2026

Research areas: Exosome quantification, ICP-MS, Lanthanide labeling

Cameron developed integrated workflows for exosome quantification using C-CP fiber isolation, lanthanide chelation labeling, and ICP-MS detection. She also worked on trace elemental analysis methods for nuclear forensics and cell culture media speciation. First author in Analytical Chemistry (2025).

Graduated 2025

Research areas: LS-APGD, Nuclear forensics, PFAS analysis

Joseph developed field-deployable mass spectrometry systems using LS-APGD ionization for precise isotope ratio analysis of uranium, plutonium, and neodymium. His work also includes environmental PFAS screening and halogen anion detection. He published extensively in Analytical Chemistry, Applied Spectroscopy, and JAAS.

Graduated 2006

Research areas: Nuclear forensics, Isotope ratio MS, Actinide analysis

Benjamin leads the Chemical and Isotopic Mass Spectrometry group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He collaborates with Marcus Lab on LS-APGD development for uranium, plutonium, and neodymium isotope analysis. Recipient of the 2025 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award.