Menlo Elementary School (MES) is spotlighting one of their distinguished alumni, Dr. Susanna Brantley, who is making significant strides in the field of clinical research. Dr. Brantley is also a graduate of Chattooga High School (CHS).

As a 2009 graduate of CHS, Susanna knew early on that biology was her passion. Her academic journey began at Oxford College of Emory University, where she earned an AA degree and gained invaluable research experience studying IBV, a coronavirus affecting chickens. Her team identified a natural plant extract capable of inhibiting the virus’s ability to infect cells. She continued her studies at Emory University, culminating in a dual BS/MS degree in Biology in 2013. Notably, a decade later, research stemming from her master’s thesis was recently published, focusing on how venom proteins in parasitic wasps impact the immune systems of their fruit fly hosts.

Fueled by her passion for scientific research, Susanna pursued a PhD in Developmental Biology at Stanford University, where she studied the stem cells responsible for sperm production. Currently, she is a postdoctoral scholar at Duke University, investigating the mechanisms by which cells in an embryo determine when and where to express specific genes to differentiate into specialized cell types, such as neurons. Dr. Brantley is now applying for faculty positions at research universities nationwide, with the ambition of establishing her own research group.

Dr. Brantley credits her teachers at Menlo Elementary and Chattooga High for instilling in her the drive to strive for success in all her endeavors. She encourages students with an interest in research to reach out to her for guidance and support in pursuing their dreams.