Twin Tigers: Zack and Eli Verdin earn same degree and will be going to same medical school

Zack and Eli Verdin, identical twins from Travelers Rest, South Carolina, figured they’d take different paths in college.

But whenever their paths diverged from each other, something happened to bring them back together.

Eli, who is one minute younger, dreamed of attending Clemson University, while Zack had always thought he’d attend the University of South Carolina.

At the last minute, Zack changed his mind and decided to enroll at Clemson and room with his brother.

They share an affinity for science, so they both planned to pursue a career in medicine. Zack started as a chemistry major, Eli as a biology major. Both eventually switched to biochemistry.

“It’s beneficial, both of us being biochemistry majors and taking similar classes, so a lot of times we help each other study,” Zack said. 

In high school, Zack thought about going into the research field but changed his mind after shadowing doctors. He now is considering emergency medicine, but he wants to keep his options open. Eli hopes to go into orthopedics because he loves an active lifestyle.

One of their favorite parts of their time at Clemson was researching DNA repair in Jennifer Mason’s lab. Mason is an assistant professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry. 

They both were accepted to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville and plan to enroll after their Clemson graduation in May.

Conducting research in the same lab

The twins first met Mason in a first-year genetics class and enjoyed her teaching style. They started conducting research in her lab at the beginning of their junior year, learning basic laboratory techniques and then working on their projects for departmental honors.

Eli and Zack each study a specific protein in the homologous recombination pathway, which repairs DNA. They research how different drugs affect these proteins, which could lead to more effective cancer treatments. Cancer cells will not grow and spread as easily without these proteins. 

Zack and Eli said they enjoyed learning from Mason and graduate students about research topics they initially found overwhelming and unapproachable and said they’ve developed both research skills and life skills, such as time and project management.

At the end of their first year at Clemson, Zach and Eli became involved in Prisma Health’s  MedEx Academy program, which is associated with the USC School of Medicine Greenville. The organization promotes shadowing for college students in Clemson-area hospitals. They both participated in MedEx’s summer program after their freshman and junior years. 

“They would have different professionals speak to us about medical careers like PAs, speech pathologists, physical therapists and more,” said Eli, who is an ambassador for the program.

Zack and Eli also volunteer with ClemsonLIFE™ (Clemson Learning is For Everyone) program. ClemsonLIFE prepares young adults with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living. They also volunteer at Clemson’s PawPantry, a student-run food pantry that addresses food insecurity and provides resources to students in need.

Outside of class and extracurricular activities, Zach and Eli enjoy pickleball, tennis and running.