Together We Grow

Team Leader

Thao T. Tran
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634-0973, USA
Phone: 864-656-5939
Email: thao@clemson.edu

A bit about me

I believe in the unique, innate intelligence of each individual and aspire to cultivate the next generation of scientists by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that is conducive to learning, creativity, and personal and professional development.

Synergistic Activities

Implementing the infinite mindset in higher ed
Editor: Early Career Editorial Board of Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids
Mentor: the next generation of scientists including graduate and undergraduate researchers, underserved students, and female scientists (part of the National Chemistry Women Mentorship Network)
Journal Referee: Chemistry, Materials, and Physics journals
Reviewer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory Neutron Science and funding agencies

Professional Preparation
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Johns Hopkins University – Institute of Quantum Matter, MD
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Houston, TX
BSc in Chemistry, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh

Google Scholar Profile
ORCiD 0000-0002-2395-3555
Research ID G-2350-2017

Graduate Students

Xudong Huai (Fall 2019-)

Xudong was born in Shandong province, China. He obtained his BSc in Chemistry from Qingdao University of Science and Technology. He joined the Tran team at Clemson University in November 2019.
Favorite element: Si
Favorite structure: Graphene
Hobbies: Music, Photography, Piano
Xudong on Google Scholar
xhuai@g.celmson.edu
2023 Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award in Chemistry

Dasuni Rathnaweera (Spring 2021-)

Dasuni was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She obtained her BSc in Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon in 2019. She was a research intern at Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology where she completed her undergraduate research titled on Urea modified calcium carbonate nanohybrids as a next-generation fertilizer. She joined our team in Spring 2021.
Favorite element: Sr
Favorite structure: C₆₀Hobbies: Hiking, Youtube, making DIY stuff
Dasuni on Google Scholar
krathna@clemson.edu

Uchenna Vivian Chinaegbomkpa (Fall 2022-)

Uchenna hails from Imo state, Nigeria, and obtained her BSc in Chemistry from the university of Nigeria, Nsukka. After a brief program at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, where also served as a graduate assistant, Uchenna joined the Tran group, at Clemson, in September, 2022.
Favorite element: Sn
Favorite structure: Spinel
Hobbies: Cooking, music, reading and spending time with family
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5523-7449.
Web of Science researcher ID: ABB-2787-2021
Google Scholar profile: Uchenna Chinaegbomkpa
uchinae@clemson.edu

Athira Babu (Fall 2023-)

Athira is from India and completed her BSc in Chemistry at Sacred Heart College, Cochin. She finished her MSc in Chemistry at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in 2022. With two years of experience in a Contract Research Organisation in India, she joined the team in Fall 2023.
Favourite Element: Oxygen
Favourite structure: Diamond
Hobbies: Cooking, Gardening, Reading, Music
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athira-babu-58a8951b2/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=BqiWLUoAAAAJ&hl=en

Jeffrey Keegan Hommerding (Spring 2024-)

Keegan is from Easley, South Carolina. He attended Easley High School and earned Chemistry BS with Management minor from Clemson University. He join the team in January 2024.
Favorite Element: Ag
Favorite Structure: Iceland Spar
Hobbies: Sports, Movies and TV, Travel
2023 Chemistry Faculty Award