Darian is originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Clemson University in 2018. She is a graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP). Darian is part of the Maureen Gannon lab where she investigates how maternal diet and metformin intake influence pancreatic beta cell development in offspring. They work in a multi-institutional non human primate consortium that investigates the impact of in utero exposure to diet on fetal development.
Learn a bit about her research from Darian herself!
"The Influence of Gestational Diet and Metformin Intake on Beta Cell Function in Offspring"
When you were 5, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A veterinarian!
What was it about science that drew you to it?
I love the influence that science has had on human longevity and innovation.
If you could study anything, what would it be?
All things related to mitochondrial function! They truly are the powerhouse of the cell!
What's next for you?
Hopefully passing my qualifying exam.
Best way to pass the time while waiting for an experiment to finish:
Instagram!
What's the most fun "socially distanced" activity you've done recently?
Our lab did a virtual escape room that was a museum heist. I've done an escape room in person before, so I did not know what to expect when trying to escape from a Zoom room. It was still just as fulfilling!
Keep up with Darian: 
