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Research in the Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Laboratory focuses on capturing the promise of nanomaterials for the development of new strategies for the detection and treatment of diseases. Specifically, our group develops functional nanostructures that can act as highly specific contrast agents for bioimaging, in vitro and in vivo biosensors, targeted and intracellular drug delivery systems, and stimuli controlled delivery systems. These responsive nanomaterials incorporate functional nucleic acid linkers, enzymatically cleavable linkers, polyelectrolytes, and amphiphilic copolymers to mediate physico-chemical changes in the polymeric networks upon interaction with target molecules, leading to the desired material response. Work in the laboratory encompasses the synthesis and characterization of copolymers and nanoparticles, in vitro confirmation of stimuli-responsive behavior, and the evaluation of the particle functionality on cultured human cells. Dr. Betancourt鈥檚 group collaborates with academic and industrial researchers for preclinical evaluation of the compatibility and efficacy of the developed biomaterials and technology transfer.
 
Current projects in Dr. Betancourt鈥檚 laboratory include the development of: (1) aptamer-based responsive nanostructures that can be activated by disease-specific molecules, and on the study of the applications of these functional materials in targeted drug delivery, bioimaging, and biomolecular sensing; (2) highly specific nanoparticle-based near infrared contrast agents and drug delivery systems for optical detection and treatment of cancer; (3) photoablation agents and biosensors based on conductive polymers.

Autumn Green, Ph.D., is an applied sociologist and nationally recognized scholar in higher education and anti-poverty programs. Her research and advocacy focus on college access and success for low-income, first-generation, and non-traditional students, especially student parents.

As a research scientist at WCW, Dr. Green is finalizing multiple publication projects based on her research on college access and success for student parents and their children, particularly a book-length manuscript (with Amanda Freeman, University of Hartford) tentatively titled Low-Income Parents in Higher Education, with the support of a Russell Sage Foundation Presidential Award; she is also working on several article-length manuscripts. Additionally, Dr. Green is developing a pilot and demonstration project proposal for, The Two-Generation Classroom, offering a new approach to postsecondary teaching & learning.

Green has presented across the country on two-generational anti-poverty approaches.  Most recently, she served as principal investigator on major grants through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and the U.S. Department of Education as director of National Replication for the Keys to Degrees Program, founding director of the National Center for Student Parent Programs, and assistant professor of Sociology at Endicott College.

Green earned her master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in sociology at Boston College, where she was awarded a nationally competitive American Dissertation Fellowship by the AAUW, as well as multiple competitive awards. She also holds an M.Ed. in Community, Arts and Education from Lesley University, and completed her undergraduate degrees at the University of Oregon and Chemeketa Community College.

Clayton works closely with industry partners such as Samsung, Bosch and Ford to establish and execute cooperative research projects and academic engagement initiatives.

Pivotal in founding Greenville Technical College鈥檚 Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI), Clayton brought on corporate partners to fortify the program including GE, KUKA Robotics and Hass Automation, among others. As CMI鈥檚 first executive director, he furnished it with state-of-the-art equipment, developed the curriculum for the state鈥檚 first four-year degree from a technical college and built educational collaboration programs between Clemson and the college.

Clayton also served as the research division director at the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the state鈥檚 economic development agency in charge of industrial recruitment and attraction of foreign direct investment. While there, he co-developed South Carolina鈥檚 innovation plan to support entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development. His work lead to the creation of the state鈥檚 innovation office and catalyzed the angel investor tax credit. Behind the scenes, Clayton supported global business development efforts, including the recruitment of global brands such as Continental, Samsung, Volvo and Google, among others, resulting in $20 billion in capital investment in the state.

A former nuclear fuel design engineer with Westinghouse Electric and gas turbine engineer with GE Power, David earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Clemson University and an International M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina.

Lindy Elkins-Tanton studies planetary sciences, from formation to interaction with other planets and their atmosphere. 

She directs education initiatives, promoting education and skill-development for scientists and engineers. Elkins-Tanton is the principal investigator of the Psyche Mission. She is a foundation professor of the School of Earth and Space Exploration. She is the Managing Director of the Interplanetary Initiative, and a Distinguished Sustainability Scientist.

Professor Elkins-Tanton received the Arthur L. Day prize from the National Academy of Sciences. She is on the Standing Review Board for the Europa mission, and was on the panel for the Mars 202 Rover Science Definition Team.

 Professor Elkins-Tanton is a two-time National Academy of Sciences Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow and served on the National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey Mars panel.

Melvin grew up in the small town of Albany in south Georgia. His incoming freshman high school class contained over 250 students. By the time he graduated, there were only 68 students remaining. This ignited his passion for finding a way to empower students to take their futures into their own hands through higher education. He is the CEO of Upswing which provides a solution to reach, relate to, and retain today鈥檚 non-traditional learners by scaling student services, supporting 24/7 online tutoring, optimizing engagement, and utilizing insightful data to identify and support at-risk students. 

After graduating from the University of Georgia, Melvin received a JD/MBA from Duke University where he started a law forum for social and educational equality. Afterward, he became a law professor at North Carolina Central University. 

George Justice writes and consults on issues of higher education leadership and administration and has scholarly expertise in 18th-century British literature. 

With Carolyn Dever, Justice is a regular columnist for Inside Higher Ed exploring topics such as research expenditure calculations and models for healthy decision-making. Justice is also the author and editor of scholarship on the literary marketplace, authorship, and women's writing.

From 2013 to 2017, Justice served as ASU's Dean of Humanities and Associate Vice President for Arts and Humanities. Prior to that, he taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Marquette University, Louisiana State University, and the University of Missouri, where he also served as vice provost for advanced studies and dean of the Graduate School.

His recent book, "How to Be a Dean," was published in 2019 by the Johns Hopkins University Press.

As Chief Executive Officer at MedCerts, Craig Sprinkle leads the organization in bridging the gap between our students, employers, and higher education institutions through online certification training. He joined MedCerts in 2018 in the combined role of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and served as Chief Financial Officer since 2020 until his appointment as CEO in November 2022.

In his time at MedCerts, Sprinkle has overseen more than a 4x increase in enrollments and revenue while also expanding margins and overall profitability, expansion of the training catalog to include over 50 programs, and heightened focus on critical student outcomes. He also guided MedCerts to consistent placement on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies prior to its acquisition by Stride Inc.

Sprinkle earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance, with a Corporate Financial Management concentration, from Ball State University. Prior to MedCerts, Sprinkle served several successful ventures as CFO and has over 20 years of business experience. In 2012, he was named 鈥淐FO of the Year鈥� by Crain鈥檚 Detroit Business.

Dr. Chen teaches courses on Chinese Politics, Comparative Politics and International Relations at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dr. Chen’s research focuses on Chinese politics and U.S. foreign policy toward China.  He has authored or co-authored six books and many refereed journal articles and book chapters.  From a historical perspective, he has examined political changes in China since the Cultural Revolution, and the U.S.-China relationship since the establishment of the People’s Republic China.  Since 1995 his research has focused on China’s public opinion, political culture, popular political support, democratization, mass political participation, and the role of the middle class and private entrepreneurs in political change.  He serves as the co-editor of the Modern China Studies, an international scholarly journal, and as member on editorial boards of many scholarly journals in China studies.  He was appointed the Louis I. Jaffe Professor of Political Science and International Studies, and won the Robert Burgess Award for Excellence in Research at Old Dominion.  He held two endowed positions, William Borah Distinguished Professor of Political Science at University of Idaho and Louis I. Jaffe Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Old Dominion University.
He is actively engaged in several major research projects on Chinese politics.  
Dr. Chen earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Institute of International Politics, a master's degree in international policy Studies at Monterey Institute of International Studies and a doctorate in political science at Washington State University.

Good is the executive director of the Center for Assessment and Research Studies (CARS) and a professor of graduate psychology. As executive director of CARS, Good oversees assessment support available to degree programs, student affairs, general education and special projects geared toward improving student learning and development. 
She conducts research on the value of college, employability skills, and assessment and accreditation. 
Good earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Berea College, a master’s degree in psychological sciences (quantitative concentration) at JMU and a doctorate in assessment and measurement at JMU.