Clay Caswell

Associate Professor of Bacteriology

When did you join the veterinary college?
January 2013

The best part of being a faculty is?
Working with trainees.

My biggest fear starting a faculty position was losing my hands-on role in research, but seeing the trainees in the lab develop projects and fall in love with science is orders of magnitude more rewarding..

Best advice I've gotten...
Listen.

My hidden talent...
Secrecy.

A person who has inspired me...
Jenni. Has inspired and continues to inspire.

One misconception that all students seem to have is?
That everyone around them, particularly faculty, has had an uninterrupted and dramatically upward trajectory to their career. We tend to see the of success of individuals highlighted and showcased, but we don't get to see the rejection and failure part of the business.

Clayton Caswell (at bottom) posing at a baseball game with his family (at center)
Clayton Caswell (at bottom) with his family. Photo courtesy of Clayton Caswell.

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Parseltongue.

This excites me the most about the future of my industry...
The people. Every time I talk with trainees, whether that be in the lab, at a conference or during interviews for various programs, I am amazed by the Future of science. We are in great hands.

Favorite way to end the day...
"I want to kick back with a puzzle...Beer, cold beer." -Ross Geller

Admittedly, I enjoy both puzzles and cold beer as a favorite way to end the day.

Top of my bucket list...
Retirement at 30.

My favorite quote...
"It's best to be content than to have to always be right." -R.W. Hubbard

How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
Two dogs, Angus and Oreo. Angus is solemn and incredibly attached to the matriarch of the family, and Oreo is a free spirit that finds comfort in the arms of the younger members of the household (those likely to contribute a variety of snacks).

One cat, Ginger. Floyd County native, and surveyor and protector of the grounds. Affectionate towards children, and indifferent to the person who actually feeds her.

Several bees, unnamed. Providers of pollination and honey, but particularly ornery (and sometimes outright hostile) with the individual that maintains their surroundings.

A photo of a bee colony in Clayton Caswell's backyard Clayton Caswell (at left) posing with his family (at right) A photo of Clayton Caswell's dogs sitting on a stone path. (At left) Angus, a black lab and (at right) Oreo, a white and brown pitbull mix A closeup photo of an orange cat, Clayton Caswell's cat Ginger An upclose photo of honey bees in their hive A group of bees sitting on a piece of wood

Contact:

Tags

Share this story