A Culture of Ambition and Determination
With a goal of earning a PhD, Melissa Scanlon, E’24, bioengineering and biochemistry, has had three research co-ops in the areas of cell biology and cellular engineering, and also studied abroad for semester at Mahidol University in Thailand.
For Melissa Scanlon, E’24, bioengineering and biochemistry, her interest in cell biology and cellular engineering began with her love for physics and biology in high school. In her first year at Northeastern University’s College of Engineering, her Cornerstone of Engineering class helped solidify her interest in bioengineering, alongside a second-year spring co-op for biotech company Jounce Therapeutics. She says, “From there I was set on my bioengineering major.”
Scanlon later added biochemistry to her now combined major because she wanted to get into research and development in cell biology and cellular engineering. “After my second co-op at biotech company Oncorus Inc., I learned that pursuing a PhD would help boost my goal to become a leader in a research lab, and to do a PhD in cell biology you should take biochemistry courses like Organic Chemistry II. I added biochemistry [to my major] because it’s more specific to the types of research I want to do in the future.”
Scanlon conducts research on human cells.
Research is the goal. While taking a molecular bioengineering course with Professor Lee Makowski, Scanlon narrowed down her interests. “The major assignments were research proposals, which required reading current research, and made me think about what research I want to do in the future. [Makowski] is also a great lecturer. My favorite part was getting down to the small stuff in human cells: learning about cellular machinery and mechanisms and how scientists and engineers can manipulate them for human health.”
On her third co-op with the Wanunu Lab at Northeastern, Scanlon is working on developing novel technology for RNA sequencing from single cells. She is synthesizing fluorescently labeled dNTPS compatible with a reverse transcription enzyme as well as developing methods to circularize RNA so more reads can be obtained for a higher accuracy of RNA sequencing. She says, “The lab is very much what I think of when I think of bioengineering; it has a lot of disciplines incorporated like physics, biochemistry, electrical engineering, and more.”
Scanlon at her co-op near Bangkok, Thailand.
Outside of bioengineering, Scanlon spent a semester abroad at Mahidol University in Thailand on the outskirts of Bangkok. “I’d never been to a country where English was not the primary language. I wanted to experience something different in that way.” She is also involved in Revolve Dance Crew, a hip-hop dance student group at Northeastern. “I think clubs and teams are a great way to meet people and make connections, which some folks say it’s hard to do at a bigger school like Northeastern, but this is how I’ve made many of my closest friends.”
Post-graduation plans are for a PhD. Scanlon says, “The class with Lee Makowski helped me realize I want to spend the next six years working on novel research in a PhD program. I’m working right now on my application, but I feel quite content with what I can fall back on from my previous co-op experiences. All of them told me they’d welcome me back and I feel like I have plenty of choices at this point.”
She’s glad she attended Northeastern. “Something that stands out and is a major reason for people to come here, it has to do with co-op; the culture of the student body is very determined and ambitious. We’re here for a reason. That’s something that’s encouraged and motivated me.”