Dalton Sizemore

Biology with Heart, Humor, and a Drawl

I’m Dalton — a molecular biologist, science communicator, and caregiver. I hold a BS and MS in Cell and Molecular Biology from Appalachian State University, where I focused on cancer biology, virology, and immunology. My research explored how viruses like VSV might be used to disrupt the immune processes that help cancer metastasize. I also hold a graduate certificate in clinical psychology, which helps me bridge the gap between the science of the body and the realities of the human experience.

But the truth is, everything I’ve done in science is rooted in something far more personal.

I’m a survivor of childhood abuse. My father left when I was young, and my mother — who raised me on her own — endured two severely abusive relationships: one during my childhood, and another while I was in high school and starting college. Those years shaped me deeply. They taught me what it means to live in chaos and still push forward, to carry pain and still protect others, and to learn, even when nothing in your life feels safe.

While I was earning my degrees, I was also a full-time caregiver. My mom nearly died from a MRSA infection that turned into a kidney crisis. My grandmother is disabled and was one of the first people in the U.S. to receive an implantable defibrillator. My sister has a seizure disorder that renders her disabled. At 22, I was managing emergency care, making medical decisions, studying biochemistry and organic chemistry, and trying not to fall apart.

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