Dr. Clay Carlson
Professor of Biology; Chair of Sciences
Education
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 2010
B.S., University of Wisconsin, River Falls, Wisconsin, 2002
“Biology is the study of God鈥檚 creation. The majesty of his work in fashioning humanity.”
In Dr. Clay Carlson鈥檚 classes, students learn to view science in entirely new ways and to see God clearly. In the Foundation courses, students recognize gifts given to them that they had never before considered. 鈥淩ecognition of those gifts will lead to praise, changed lives with better health, and more informed conversations with medical professionals,鈥� Carlson believes. In his upper level biology courses, Carlson and his students explore the limits of scientific knowledge. 鈥淏y learning the limits of the field, students are called to begin their work of expanding those limits.鈥�
What drew him to 91精选:
Carlson was looking for a college where he could take both God and science very seriously. 鈥淚 feel called to follow God and honor God for all the beautiful works of creation. That means I can only teach at a place that is unafraid of any science, a place that will joyfully engage any scientific result and will seek to praise and honor God through it.鈥�
Research interests:
Carlson is fascinated by many things, but two areas of particular interest include the ways gene expression is regulated in eukaryotic cells and the interpretation of genomic science through the lens of Christian philosophy.
鈥淲ith one set of instructions (our DNA) we can make skin cells, brain cells, and stomach cells. Through molecular biology we are able to learn how cells accomplish this miraculous feat. Why would anyone study something besides this?!?鈥� His interest in integrating Christian philosophy and science has developed more naturally. 鈥淎s I have grown in my faith and in my profession, learning how to interweave these sometimes discordant disciplines takes time, effort, and patience.鈥�
When he鈥檚 not teaching:
Carlson chases around his kids and talks with his wife. He serves at his church, Hope Church in Oak Forest, and serves on the school board for Southwest Chicago Christian Schools. 鈥淚 also play instruments, make jam, run, and ride my bicycle. But I have no love for the last two.鈥�
Read more about Carlson鈥檚 research on his .
Courses
Biology 100 – Introduction to Biological Sciences
Biology 110 鈥� Introduction to Biology
Biology 204 鈥� General Microbiology
Biology 303 鈥� Genetics
Biology 316 鈥� Advanced Molecular Biology
Inq 205 – Biology and Theology in Dialogue
FDN 201 – Creativity, Courage, and Calling
Papers Published and/or Presented
General Interest Publications
Christ Animated Learning Blog. August 2022
Christ Animated Learning Blog. May 2022
Christ Animated Learning Blog. April 2022
Reformed Journal. April 2022
Christ Animated Learning Blog. November 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. September 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. May 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. April 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. April 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. March 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. January 2021
Sapientia. May 2020
The Reformed Journal. April 2019
BioLogos. April 2019
The Reformed Journal. March 2019
The Reformed Journal. January 2019
The Reformed Journal. October 2018
BioLogos. August 2017
Think Christian. May 2017
Think Christian. March 2017
Think Christian. February 2017
听 Theological Miscellany. November 2016
听 Think Christian. October 2016
听 The Network. February 2016
听 Think Christian. February 2016
听 Think Christian. December 2015
听 Think Christian. November 2015
听 Think Christian. May 2015
Think Christian. March 2015
听 Think Christian. February 2015
听 Think Christian. October 2014
听Catapult Magazine. April 2014
听 Think Christian. March 2014
听 Think Christian. January 2014
Professional Publications
David Klanderman, Clayton Carlson, Tina Decker, Fred Haan, Victor Norman, Abbie Schrotenboer, Derek Schuurman, James Turner. 鈥淔aith Integration in STEM Courses for Undergraduates: Exemplars of Pedagogical Practices鈥� In Press. June 2022.
Catherine L. Van Lonkhuyzen, Tina Decker, and Clayton D. Carlson. 鈥淭he Christian Nurse鈥檚 Role in Antibiotic Stewardship. In Press. June 2022.
Laura Devries, Cara Horstman, Marie Fossell, and Clayton D. Carlson. 鈥淚ngestion of Bifidobacterium longum changes miRNA levels in the brains of mice.鈥� 听PLOS ONE 16(4): e0249817.15 April 2021
Eunjin Cho, Matthew R. Mysliwiec, Clayton D. Carlson, Aseem Ansari, Robert J. Schwartz, and Youngsook Lee. 鈥淐ardiac-specific developmental and epigenetic functions of Jarid2 during embryonic development.鈥� Journal of Biological Chemistry. June 2018.
Clayton D. Carlson. 鈥淒eeply Connected to God’s Good World, the Human Microbiome.鈥� Christian Scholar’s Review. XLVI:2. Winter 2017.
Derek Frejd, Kiera Dunaway , Jennifer Hill , Jesse Van Maanen ,听Clayton Carlson.听“” PLOS One.听2016 September 15.
Clayton D. Carlson.听.听Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith. 2014, June.
Matthew J.听 Brody, Matthew R. Mysliwiec, Tae-gyun Kim,听Clayton D. Carlson, Eunjin Cho, Kyu-Ho Lee, and Youngsook Lee. 鈥溾�澨�Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. 2013
September 1.
Matthew R. Mysliwiec,听Clayton D. Carlson, Josh Tietjen, Holly Hung, Aseem Z. Ansari and Youngsook Lee. 鈥溾��.听The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2012 January 6.
Peterson-Kaufman, KJ;听Carlson, CD; Rodr铆guez-Mart铆nez, JA.; Ansari, AZ 鈥溾��. 听ChemBioChem. 2010 September 24.
Clayton D. Carlson*, Christopher L. Warren*, Karl E. Hauschild, Mary S. Ozers, NaveedaQadir, DeveshBhimsaria, Youngsook Lee, Franco Cerian and Aseem Z. Ansari.听.听听Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2010 February 22.
Badis G, Chan ET, van Bakel H, Pena-Castillo L, Tillo D, Tsui K,听Carlson CD, Gossett AJ, Hasinoff MJ, Warren CL, Gebbia M, Talukder S, Yang A, Mnaimneh S, Terterov D, Coburn D, Yeo AL, Xuan Yeo Z, Clarke ND, Lieb JD, Ansari AZ, Nislow C, and Hughes TR.听听听Molecular Cell. 2008 Dec 24.
Hauschild KE,听Carlson CD, Denato LJ, Moretti R, Ansari AZ.听听. Edited by T. Begley. John Wiley and sons. 4:566-584 2008 May 15.
Keles S, Warren CL,听Carlson CD, Ansari AZ.听听.听听Nucleic Acids Research. 2008 Apr 13
Honors and Awards
Center for Teaching and the Good Life Summer Grant听 (Summer 2022)
Elected as a Fellow of Sigma Xi, Science Research Honor Society (January 2022)
Elected as a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation (July 2020)
Dabar Conference Incentive Grant for new Inq course (July 2020)
SCIO Visiting Scholar in Science and Religion听 (2018 – 2020)
91精选 Professor of the Year听 (2018 – 2019)
Regional Discussion Fellow for the Creation Project (2016 鈥� 2022)
91精选 Student-Faculty collaborative work grant (Winter 2015)
Arnold E. and Catherine M. Denton Mentoring Award (2008)
American Heart Association Greater Midwest Predoctoral Fellowship (2006-2008)
Regional Discussion Fellow, The Creation Project of the Henry Center for Theological Understanding
Professional Society Memberships
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2002-Present
American Chemical Society, 2005-2010
- + Expertise
-
In Dr. Clay Carlson鈥檚 classes, students learn to view science in entirely new ways and to see God clearly. In the Foundation courses, students recognize gifts given to them that they had never before considered. 鈥淩ecognition of those gifts will lead to praise, changed lives with better health, and more informed conversations with medical professionals,鈥� Carlson believes. In his upper level biology courses, Carlson and his students explore the limits of scientific knowledge. 鈥淏y learning the limits of the field, students are called to begin their work of expanding those limits.鈥�
What drew him to 91精选:
Carlson was looking for a college where he could take both God and science very seriously. 鈥淚 feel called to follow God and honor God for all the beautiful works of creation. That means I can only teach at a place that is unafraid of any science, a place that will joyfully engage any scientific result and will seek to praise and honor God through it.鈥�
Research interests:
Carlson is fascinated by many things, but two areas of particular interest include the ways gene expression is regulated in eukaryotic cells and the interpretation of genomic science through the lens of Christian philosophy.
鈥淲ith one set of instructions (our DNA) we can make skin cells, brain cells, and stomach cells. Through molecular biology we are able to learn how cells accomplish this miraculous feat. Why would anyone study something besides this?!?鈥� His interest in integrating Christian philosophy and science has developed more naturally. 鈥淎s I have grown in my faith and in my profession, learning how to interweave these sometimes discordant disciplines takes time, effort, and patience.鈥�
When he鈥檚 not teaching:
Carlson chases around his kids and talks with his wife. He serves at his church, Hope Church in Oak Forest, and serves on the school board for Southwest Chicago Christian Schools. 鈥淚 also play instruments, make jam, run, and ride my bicycle. But I have no love for the last two.鈥�
- + Courses, Publications & Research
-
Read more about Carlson鈥檚 research on his .
Courses
Biology 100 – Introduction to Biological Sciences
Biology 110 鈥� Introduction to Biology
Biology 204 鈥� General Microbiology
Biology 303 鈥� GeneticsBiology 316 鈥� Advanced Molecular Biology
Inq 205 – Biology and Theology in Dialogue
FDN 201 – Creativity, Courage, and CallingPapers Published and/or Presented
General Interest Publications
Christ Animated Learning Blog. August 2022
Christ Animated Learning Blog. May 2022
Christ Animated Learning Blog. April 2022
Reformed Journal. April 2022
Christ Animated Learning Blog. November 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. September 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. May 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. April 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. April 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. March 2021
Christ Animated Learning Blog. January 2021
Sapientia. May 2020
The Reformed Journal. April 2019
BioLogos. April 2019
The Reformed Journal. March 2019
The Reformed Journal. January 2019
The Reformed Journal. October 2018
BioLogos. August 2017
Think Christian. May 2017
Think Christian. March 2017
Think Christian. February 2017
听 Theological Miscellany. November 2016
听 Think Christian. October 2016
听 The Network. February 2016
听 Think Christian. February 2016
听 Think Christian. December 2015
听 Think Christian. November 2015
听 Think Christian. May 2015
Think Christian. March 2015
听 Think Christian. February 2015
听 Think Christian. October 2014
听Catapult Magazine. April 2014
听 Think Christian. March 2014
听 Think Christian. January 2014
听 Think Christian. July 2013Professional Publications
David Klanderman, Clayton Carlson, Tina Decker, Fred Haan, Victor Norman, Abbie Schrotenboer, Derek Schuurman, James Turner. 鈥淔aith Integration in STEM Courses for Undergraduates: Exemplars of Pedagogical Practices鈥� In Press. June 2022.
Catherine L. Van Lonkhuyzen, Tina Decker, and Clayton D. Carlson. 鈥淭he Christian Nurse鈥檚 Role in Antibiotic Stewardship. In Press. June 2022.
Laura Devries, Cara Horstman, Marie Fossell, and Clayton D. Carlson. 鈥淚ngestion of Bifidobacterium longum changes miRNA levels in the brains of mice.鈥� 听PLOS ONE 16(4): e0249817.15 April 2021
Eunjin Cho, Matthew R. Mysliwiec, Clayton D. Carlson, Aseem Ansari, Robert J. Schwartz, and Youngsook Lee. 鈥淐ardiac-specific developmental and epigenetic functions of Jarid2 during embryonic development.鈥� Journal of Biological Chemistry. June 2018.
Clayton D. Carlson. 鈥淒eeply Connected to God’s Good World, the Human Microbiome.鈥� Christian Scholar’s Review. XLVI:2. Winter 2017.
Derek Frejd, Kiera Dunaway , Jennifer Hill , Jesse Van Maanen ,听Clayton Carlson.听“” PLOS One.听2016 September 15.
Clayton D. Carlson.听.听Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith. 2014, June.
Matthew J.听 Brody, Matthew R. Mysliwiec, Tae-gyun Kim,听Clayton D. Carlson, Eunjin Cho, Kyu-Ho Lee, and Youngsook Lee. 鈥溾�澨�Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. 2013
September 1.Matthew R. Mysliwiec,听Clayton D. Carlson, Josh Tietjen, Holly Hung, Aseem Z. Ansari and Youngsook Lee. 鈥溾��.听The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2012 January 6.
Peterson-Kaufman, KJ;听Carlson, CD; Rodr铆guez-Mart铆nez, JA.; Ansari, AZ 鈥溾��. 听ChemBioChem. 2010 September 24.
Clayton D. Carlson*, Christopher L. Warren*, Karl E. Hauschild, Mary S. Ozers, NaveedaQadir, DeveshBhimsaria, Youngsook Lee, Franco Cerian and Aseem Z. Ansari.听.听听Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2010 February 22.
Badis G, Chan ET, van Bakel H, Pena-Castillo L, Tillo D, Tsui K,听Carlson CD, Gossett AJ, Hasinoff MJ, Warren CL, Gebbia M, Talukder S, Yang A, Mnaimneh S, Terterov D, Coburn D, Yeo AL, Xuan Yeo Z, Clarke ND, Lieb JD, Ansari AZ, Nislow C, and Hughes TR.听听听Molecular Cell. 2008 Dec 24.
Hauschild KE,听Carlson CD, Denato LJ, Moretti R, Ansari AZ.听听. Edited by T. Begley. John Wiley and sons. 4:566-584 2008 May 15.
Keles S, Warren CL,听Carlson CD, Ansari AZ.听听.听听Nucleic Acids Research. 2008 Apr 13
- + Awards & Memberships
-
Honors and Awards
Center for Teaching and the Good Life Summer Grant听 (Summer 2022)
Elected as a Fellow of Sigma Xi, Science Research Honor Society (January 2022)
Elected as a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation (July 2020)
Dabar Conference Incentive Grant for new Inq course (July 2020)
SCIO Visiting Scholar in Science and Religion听 (2018 – 2020)
91精选 Professor of the Year听 (2018 – 2019)
Regional Discussion Fellow for the Creation Project (2016 鈥� 2022)
91精选 Student-Faculty collaborative work grant (Winter 2015)
Arnold E. and Catherine M. Denton Mentoring Award (2008)
American Heart Association Greater Midwest Predoctoral Fellowship (2006-2008)
Regional Discussion Fellow, The Creation Project of the Henry Center for Theological Understanding
Professional Society Memberships
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2002-Present
American Chemical Society, 2005-2010