For student-athletes at Stetson, days rarely follow a straight line. Early mornings, long afternoons, and late nights are often divided between practice, competition, and the classroom, with little separation between them. 

For members of the women's golf team, that balance now extends beyond the course and into senior-level science coursework under professor Dr. Kristine Dye, whose cancer research lab has become an important part of their final year at Stetson. 

"Two days a week, we start with lift in the morning, like at 6:00 a.m. or 7 a.m.," said Filippa Jansson, a senior from Sweden. "Then we typically go to practice right after… and then we have classes from 1 to 4 or something like that." 

Jansson, an All-ASUN Second Team selection last season, is one of multiple Hatters — along with fellow senior Victoria Leach, a New York native and a member of the women's golf program since 2022 — completing senior research in Dye's lab as health science majors. 

Jansson's journey to health science wasn't straightforward. "It was kind of a wild journey," she said, laughing. In Sweden, students choose a general field rather than a specific major, and she opted for natural sciences. When she arrived at Stetson, she tried out biology but found the introductory labs tedious. "I thought, 'This is stupid. This is taking too much time. I don't want to do this,'" she admitted. 

She sampled other disciplines—psychology, communications, business—but nothing clicked. "There was one semester where I didn't have a single science class," she said. "I thought, 'Oh, I miss learning about science and biology.'" With golf as her top priority, she needed a major that fit her athletic schedule without sacrificing her curiosity. "Then I found health science," she said. "Tori actually told me about it because I didn't even know it was a major you could choose." 

"As seniors as we are, and we're in health science, you have to do senior research," Jansson said. "In the fall, you take a research proposal class… and then we've planned our project that we're supposed to do in the spring." 

That spring semester marks a shift from planning and theory to hands-on lab work, a transition that introduces new challenges alongside an already demanding athletic schedule. 

"What Dr. Dye said is like some experiments might be fast, some might take six hours," Jansson said. "You have to wait and do different trials and stuff." 

Dye's research centers on oncogenic viruses, specifically Merkel cell polyomavirus and its link to Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer. Her research dives into the complexities of how a virus, discovered decades ago, can remain harmless in most people but trigger devastating disease in a small subset. 

"We study viruses that cause cancer," she explained. "We focus on a specific virus that's been linked to an aggressive form of cancer with a very low survival rate." 

Her work recently received a $500,000 NIH R15 grant, allowing undergraduate students to take part in research typically reserved for graduate-level programs. 

"This project is at a graduate level," Dye said. "But I am able to carry it out at the undergraduate level due to the financial support provided by the grant." 

For Leach, choosing Dye's lab came with initial hesitation, especially without a prior relationship with her as a professor. 

"I had never taken a class with her before," Leach said. "I was very hesitant to choose hers just because I hadn't had a previous relationship with her." But when Dr. Dye sent an email to the health science department about her research opportunities, her interest was piqued. She chose the project without knowing what to expect. 

That hesitation quickly gave way to enthusiasm once the work began. 

"It's super awesome," she said. The first part of the year was heavy on writing—research proposals, literature reviews, and background on cancer and viruses. It was necessary work, but it didn't feel hands-on. Now, that's changed. 

"We just had our first day in the lab doing pipette training," Leach said. "It doesn't really sound fun, but it's super fun to start to use all the equipment, learn how everything works… being in the lab today was wow, this is super cool." 

What makes the experience even more meaningful is being part of research that's gaining national attention. "I tell everyone about it—literally any chance I get," she said, beaming. "My name is gonna be on a research paper sometime in the next couple of years. I think that's super cool, just to have my name out there." 

Dye emphasizes that her lab is not built around predetermined outcomes, something that mirrors the patience and resilience often required in athletics. 

"No one knows the answer," Dye said. "We're doing something that no one has done before." 

That uncertainty is paired with close, consistent mentorship. Dye works closely with her students, guiding them through both the scientific process and the inevitable setbacks that come with research. 

"If you look at my calendar, you see her in the calendar at least two times a week," Dye said. "They're just constantly in my office and we're working on the grant together." 

Both golfers highlighted Dye's accessibility despite her demanding schedule. 

"She's the busiest person I know, literally," Leach said. "But she'll drop anything to talk to you for a couple minutes." 

"I usually book her for like an hour every week just to go over material," Jansson said. "She's super generous with her time and she gives a lot to the students." 

The support that Dye provides in the lab reflects the mentorship the players receive on the golf course from Coach Teresa Brown. Jansson was quick to point out the similarity. 

"Coach T is very concerned about our well-being and us as people… If things happen in our life, she's very supportive," Jansson said. 

Leach echoed that sentiment, highlighting how both mentors go beyond grades and scores. 

"Coach is also very academically driven with us," she said. "It's nice having both of that. They're different in a lot of ways, but the support is very similar." 

That connection creates a unique environment where academics and athletics reinforce each other. Whether in the lab learning to manipulate delicate cells or on the course chasing birdies, the students know they're not just being trained to excel—they're being supported as whole people. 

At Stetson, Dr. Dye is known for more than her research — she's known for the relationships she builds with her students. "I have 13 students who work with me on campus," she said. "They're all working on the same collective process, and I see them almost every day." Her mentorship extends beyond the lab. "They come to my office all the time," she said. "We talk about their families, their hobbies, their sports — I can keep up." 

That connection is especially strong with student-athletes. "I'm always trying to go to their games," she said. "I love it. I'll follow them as the tournament progresses." A former high school athlete herself, her own background helps to bridge the gap. 

"She looks online, follows online with the live scoring," Jansson said. "She came out and watched a couple of holes, so that was fun." 

For Jansson, that understanding has shaped her confidence as she looks toward the future. 

"She cares about you, not just as a student, but as a person," Jansson said. "She helped me find my interest for my future career." 

For Dr. Dye, that's the one of the most rewarding parts of her job. "I love seeing students figure things out," she said. "I love watching them grow." 

Leach hopes their experience helps reshape how student-athletes view academic ambition, particularly in fields often viewed as incompatible with Division I athletics. 

"I just want more student-athletes to know that you can handle it," she said. "A lot of coaches turned me away because of my major, and that was always super upsetting to me because I can handle it and I know I can." 

Having a teammate navigating the same coursework, lab hours, and travel schedule has made the process more manageable, however. 

"We might as well live together at this point," she joked. "It's really nice having that support because you can have your support from your professors and your coaches, but it's not anything like someone who knows exactly what you're going through." 

That camaraderie has been essential as Leach manages late nights, early mornings, and everything in between. "We joke about our sleep loss and everything—it's good. We can study together if we need to. It's awesome." 

As the women's golf team prepares for the start of the spring season next week, Jansson and Leach are also preparing for a different kind of challenge — one that unfolds in the lab rather than on the leaderboard, where progress is measured in patience, persistence, and discovery. 

"It's going to be really cool," Jansson said. "I'm definitely nervous… but it's exciting." 

For Dye, that combination of preparation, uncertainty, and commitment is familiar — and intentional. 

"I didn't wake up knowing I wanted to study viruses," she said. "I took a microbiology class and realized, 'This is what I'm supposed to do.'" That realization set her on a path from general biology to the specialized world of virology. "I always tell students you don't have to have it all figured out," she said. "You just have to find something that makes you curious enough to keep going." 

At the intersection of fairways and microscopes, Jansson and Leach are doing just that — trusting the process, supporting one another, and pursuing work that reaches far beyond the scorecard. 

"I think if you do something that interests you and it's important to you… you can achieve great things," Jansson said. 

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.