Professor Jessica Larsen began her academic career at the University of Virginia, obtaining her BS in Chemical Engineering in 2012. She obtained her PhD in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University where she was able to perform research under Drs. Mark Byrne in Chemical Engineering and Doug Martin in the College of Veterinary Medicine

Professor Larsen is the research mentor for six PhD students, two master’s thesis students, and as many as 25 undergraduate students a semester. In her undergraduate mentoring efforts, she has received the Phil and Mary Bradley Award for Mentoring in Creative Inquiry. She was also selected as the 2021 Outstanding Faculty Woman at Clemson University. She received the NSF CAREER Award in the Spring of 2021. Most recently, she was selected by the South Carolina Governor to be the 2022 recipient of the Governor’s Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research. Personally, Professor Larsen is engaged in the local community as a Cross-Country coach at Seneca High School. Her women’s team won the SC AAA state championship for three consecutive years.