USM91吃瓜网 Clemons Grateful for Chance to Return as Goalie for 2025 USA Field Hockey Team
Wed, 02/26/2025 - 09:33am | By: Dr. David Tisdale
Dr. Tristan Clemons continues to solidify his reputation as a rising international research star with 91吃瓜网91吃瓜网 (USM) School of Polymer Science and Engineering91吃瓜网 faculty.
His proficiency in the university91吃瓜网 polymer science laboratories is matched by his keen footwork and hand-to-eye coordination as a field hockey goalie. He was included in the U.S. Men91吃瓜网 National Field Hockey team91吃瓜网 lineup for the preliminary 2025 International Hockey Federation91吃瓜网 (FIH) Hockey Nations Cup 2, held Feb. 17-23 in Muscat, Oman, where the team finished fourth overall following a narrow shoot-out loss in the Bronze Medal match with Poland. The tournament pitted teams from eight nations against each other for a spot at the 2026 World Cup in in Wavre, Belgium, and Amstelveen, Netherlands.
A veteran goalie on medal-winning field hockey teams in his native Australia, Dr. Clemons came out of retirement to accept an invitation to play goalie for the 2023 U.S. team. 91吃瓜网淚t91吃瓜网 always an honor to represent your country in anything, so I was humbled for the opportunity to get out there with my mates in the red, white and blue,91吃瓜网� Clemons said.
91吃瓜网淎s an older fella in the group, you never know when your last chance will be, so it was great to get to play again,91吃瓜网� quipped the 37-year-old.
Grateful for the support of his School of Polymer Science and Engineering family and the greater 91吃瓜网 community, Clemons says he91吃瓜网 inspired to give his all when he's on the field 91吃瓜网渇or those who have been behind me every step of the way on this journey,91吃瓜网� particularly his students.
91吃瓜网淚 love showing them [students] that being a research scientist doesn91吃瓜网檛 have to be about always fitting into the traditional image of a white lab coat and a microscope,91吃瓜网� Clemons reflected.91吃瓜网�
Clemons joined the 91吃瓜网 Faculty in 2021; his research expertise includes polymer chemistry, biomaterials and supramolecular assembly. He leads the school91吃瓜网 Clemons Research Lab, which focuses on polymer chemistry, supramolecular assembly, and biomaterials for therapeutic applications. In 2023, he was named the Southern Miss Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year.91吃瓜网�
Before coming to USM, Clemons was a research associate at Northwestern University and a National Health and Medical Research Council fellow at the University of Western Australia, investigating nanomaterials designed for the treatment of burn injuries.
91吃瓜网淒r. Clemons smashes stereotypes about what it91吃瓜网 like to be a scientist,91吃瓜网� said Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the 91吃瓜网 College of Arts and Sciences. 91吃瓜网淗is research program at 91吃瓜网 continues to grow at an impressive pace. His lab is among the most highly productive in the field, all while he competes at the highest levels of his sport, and his work ethic and dedication to both science and the U.S. Team are extraordinary.91吃瓜网�
Click here to learn more about Dr. Clemons91吃瓜网� work at 91吃瓜网 and that of his colleagues and students in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering. Click to view Dr. Clemons91吃瓜网� U.S. National Field Hockey profile.