Since 1963, the department has graduated more than 260 alumni. Clemson bioengineering alumni play a prominent role in research and industry, holding positions such: Director of Product Development, Boston Scientific; President, Medtronic; VP of Regulatory Affairs, Medical Carbon Research; and various other positions at companies such as DePuy, Smith & Nephew, Medtronic, Synthes, Pfizer, Cook, the FDA, and numerous academic institutions.
Alumni Spotlight
Scott Pletzer Scott Pletzer graduated from the Department of Engineering at Clemson University with a master’s degree in December of 1992. He enrolled in the Materials Science PhD program and left the university in 2004. His research focused on cardiovascular applications of synthetic absorbable polymers. His advisor was Dr. Shalaby. Scott is currently the president of Carzer Technologies, LLC, a company he co-founded in 2003. Carzer provides outsourcing solutions to medical device companies regulated by FDA and ISO requirements.
Scott Pletzer Scott Pletzer graduated from the Department of Engineering at Clemson University with a Master’s degree in December of 1992. He enrolled in the Materials Science PhD program and left the university in 2004. His research focused on cardiovascular applications of synthetic absorbable polymers. His advisor was Dr. Shalaby Shalaby. Scott is currently President of Carzer Technologies, LLC, a company he co-founded in 2003. Carzer provides outsourcing solutions to medical device companies regulated by FDA and ISO requirements.
He fondly remembers his time here at Clemson – his interactions with the other students, football games, the departmental softball team, field trips to various companies, and, of course, the pig roasts. He keeps in touch with many of his former classmates and is always looking forward to reconnecting with others. There are two classes that Scott has recognized as being very helpful since leaving Clemson. He credits the department’s BioE 800-Seminar as helping to keep his presentation skills sharp and allowing him the opportunity to present to people (something he now enjoys doing). The other very helpful class was the Animal Surgery Class – BioE 882. He credits this course with giving him a unique perspective into the application side of biomedical devices and a good appreciation of user requirements.
He is a senior member of the American Society for Quality. He also has a US patent #6,756,007 for “A Method of Preparing an Implantable Prosthesis for Loading into a Delivery Apparatus”, granted June 29th, 2004.
Scott has resided in Gilbert, Arizona since July 1998 with his wife and two children, a daughter who is 15 and a son who is 12. He enjoys soccer, golf, and camping.
His eventual goal is to bring his own medical devices to market.
He fondly remembers his time here at Clemson – his interactions with the other students, football games, the departmental softball team, field trips to various companies, and, of course, the pig roasts. He keeps in touch with many of his former classmates and is always looking forward to reconnecting with others. There are two classes that Scott has recognized as being very helpful since leaving Clemson. He credits the department’s BioE 800-Seminar as helping to keep his presentation skills sharp and allowing him the opportunity to present to people (something he now enjoys doing). The other very helpful class was the Animal Surgery Class – BioE 882. He credits this course with giving him a unique perspective into the application side of biomedical devices and a good appreciation of user requirements.
He is a senior member of the American Society for Quality. He also has a US patent #6,756,007 for “A Method of Preparing an Implantable Prosthesis for Loading into a Delivery Apparatus”, granted June 29th, 2004.
Scott has resided in Gilbert, Arizona since July 1998 with his wife and two children, a daughter who is 15 and a son who is 12. He enjoys soccer, golf, and camping.
His eventual goal is to bring his own medical devices to market.
:: Recent Grads ::
August 2008
Eric Bandstra, PhD
Chandraseckhar Kothapalli, PhD
Jaishankar Kutty, PhD
Yongzhi Qiu, PhD
Joshua Catanzarite, MS
Eric Livingston, MS
Tripp Mostertz, MS
Daniel Reed, MS
Garrett Spurgeon, MS
Chandraseckhar Kothapalli, PhD
Jaishankar Kutty, PhD
Yongzhi Qiu, PhD
Joshua Catanzarite, MS
Eric Livingston, MS
Tripp Mostertz, MS
Daniel Reed, MS
Garrett Spurgeon, MS
May 2008
Michael Scott Taylor, PhD
Jeff Willey, PhD
Katherine Hicks, MS
Jing Zhao, MS
Jeff Willey, PhD
Katherine Hicks, MS
Jing Zhao, MS
Job Postings
07.14.08
Staying Connected
Are you Linked in?
There’s a Linkedin group for Department of Bioengineering alumni!
There, you can find and stay connected to personal and professional contacts among Clemson bioengineering graduates. Moreover, you control how and why you can be contacted. The criterion for inclusion is simple; the group is open to former graduate students, current or former postdocs, and members of the faculty and staff. See the website at: www.linkedin.com
To join, contact Matt Gevaert (CU-BioE MS '99, PhD '03) at
There, you can find and stay connected to personal and professional contacts among Clemson bioengineering graduates. Moreover, you control how and why you can be contacted. The criterion for inclusion is simple; the group is open to former graduate students, current or former postdocs, and members of the faculty and staff. See the website at: www.linkedin.com
To join, contact Matt Gevaert (CU-BioE MS '99, PhD '03) at
Alumni Reunion Weekend
Annual Homecoming Pig Roast
Each year, the bioengineering department welcomes its alumni back to the area for a one-day symposium on topics pertinent to the biomedical industry.
This event corresponds with the annual Clemson homecoming football game. The Bioengineering Alumni Weekend events conclude with the traditional pre-game pig roast tailgate held on the Cooper Library lawn.
This event corresponds with the annual Clemson homecoming football game. The Bioengineering Alumni Weekend events conclude with the traditional pre-game pig roast tailgate held on the Cooper Library lawn.
The following donation and endowment opportunities are available if you, as an alumus, or your employeer wish to contribute to the continued success of our department. Click on each for more details.
