When Dr. Tristan Clemons isn’t conducting research or teaching in the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering, there’s a good chance you might find him defending a field hockey goal on the world stage.
Clemons joined the Southern Miss faculty in 2021 after a stint at Northwestern University as a research associate. Since arriving in Hattiesburg, he has established a reputation as a rising international research star, now leading USM’s Clemons Research Lab, which specializes in polymer chemistry and supramolecular assembly research.
If Clemons’ stardom in the classroom doesn’t impress you, the Australia native is also a decorated international field hockey player – competing at the professional ranks since 2004. He won three world championship gold medals as the Australian National Team’s goalie from 2011 to 2017. As Clemons approached 40 and moved to the U.S., he hung the stick up.
But his retirement didn’t last long. Dr. Clemons answered a call from the 2023 U.S. National Team to defend the net for the red, white, and blue, most recently starting for the national team in the International Hockey Federation’s Hockey Nations Cup 2 in Muscat, Oman, last month.
“It’s always an honor to represent your country in anything, so IO was humbled for the opportunity to get out there with my mates in the red, white, and blue,” Clemons said. “As an older fella in the group, you never know when your last chance will be, so it was great to get to play again.”
While the 37-year-old relishes the opportunity to keep competing at one of field hockey’s highest levels, he also uses the experience as a chance to show his students that stereotypes mean very little.
“I love showing them that being a research scientist doesn’t have to be about always fitting into the traditional image of a white lab coat and a microscope,” Clemons said.
The research lab that Clemons leads also specializes in biomaterial research, specifically for therapeutic application. In 2023, he was named the Southern Miss Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year.
“Dr. Clemons smashes stereotypes about what it’s like to be a scientist,” said Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the Southern Miss College of Arts and Sciences. “His lab is among the most highly productive in the field, all while he competes at the highest levels of his sports. His work ethic and dedication to both science and the U.S. Team are extraordinary.”
More information about Dr. Clemons’ polymer science work at Southern Miss can be found here.
