Biography

Karmen Michael Owen is an IRF histology expert. She received a B.S. in biology from Newberry College after which she began her career in histology and then in microbiology conducting mold spore analysis. During the pandemic, Karmen worked as a Clinical Lab Analyst in a COVID testing lab, when she decided to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical science concentrated in applied biotechnology at the USC School of Medicine Columbia. She has been with the IRF since 2021 where she started as a COVID-19 lab technician, eventually leading to her current role. She serves as a staff advisor for the Applied Biotech Club. In her spare time, she enjoys playing music on multiple different instruments, and loves playing with her adorable cat, Oliver, and pug dog, Luna.