Education

• 2016 – University of South Carolina Aiken – Bachelor of Science – Biology
• 2019 - University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Master of Science – Biomedical Science (Applied Biotechnology)
• 2022 - University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Ph.D. – Biomedical Science (Cellular and Molecular Biology)

Biography

Austin Worden is the Director of the Instrumentation Resource Facility. He first received his B.S. in biology from the University of South Carolina Aiken while performing HIV silencing research under Dr. Bill Jackson. He then completed his M.S. in biomedical sciences, concentrating on applied biotechnology at the USC School of Medicine Columbia. Finally, Dr. Worden received his PhD in biomedical science, concentrating on cellular and molecular biology from the USC School of Medicine Columbia. His graduate work under Dr. Jay Potts was focused on developing a novel three-dimensional, in vitro extracellular matrix model to study the signaling and differentiation of stem cells.

After graduating from the SOMC in 2022, Austin spent time working in industry science as part of an ELISA development team and general microscopy expert at RayBiotech Life. He then served as a widefield and confocal microscopy expert at the Emory University Integrated Cellular Imaging Core. Additionally, he serves as an officer on the USC SOMC Alumni Board where he kept close relationships with the school during his time away. Outside of work, Austin enjoys gardening, sports, and spending time with his wife (Meg), daughter (Paige), and two Australian shepherds (Rosie and Mack).

Publications

Worden A, Uline M, Shazly T, Stern M, and Potts JD. (2022). Self-Assembling Cell Constructs for Tissue Engineering Applications. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 28(2): 543-552. doi:10.1017/S1431927622000253

Worden A, Stern M, Uline M, and Potts J. (2020). Novel Method to Study Stem Cells in Development and Disease. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 1-3. doi:10.1017/S1431927620017808

Worden A, Uline M, and Potts J. (2020), A Model System to Analyze Cell:Cell and Cell:ECM Interactions. The FASEB Journal, 34: 1-1. doi:10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.05319.

Potts JD, Junor L, Worden A, and Uline M. (2018). Modeling and Imaging Interactive Biomaterial Effects on Self-Organizing Tissues. Microsc. Microanal. 24(Suppl 1).