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This story is part of a series celebrating 91У�� State University’s Spring Commencement 2025 graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.

When Melissa Spigelman’s best friend was diagnosed with cancer, it changed everything. Watching her endure life-saving but brutal treatments sparked a mission in Spigelman — to discover more compassionate, innovative ways to treat aggressive cancers. Now, as a 91У�� State University graduate with a master’s degree in Molecular Biology, she’s combining cutting-edge research, faculty mentorship and scholarship support to reimagine cancer care.

Her journey into science began with the spark of an exceptional high school biology teacher. That early inspiration led her to fall in love with biology – but she wasn’t sure where it would take her. At the time, the only clear paths she saw were in medicine, but she knew she didn’t want to be a doctor.

Then, her best friend was diagnosed with cancer.

As Spigelman watched her friend undergo the harsh treatments that ultimately saved her life, she found her calling: cancer research.��

“She’s okay,” Spigelman says, “but at what cost?” 

That question fuels her every day, driving her to seek out more compassionate, non-invasive treatments for aggressive cancers.

Finding Her Place in the Lab – and the World 

As a high school senior taking AP Biology, Spigelman was invited by a friend to observe the 91�� lab headed by Biology Professor Carlos Molina. Normally reserved for upper level students, she was the youngest person there. At first, she felt overwhelmed.

“As a high school student, I felt like, wow, what am I doing here? This is kind of crazy, but I just kept reminding myself, you’re here to learn; it’s okay that you don’t know everything right now, you’re just learning, you’re soaking everything up. So, I tried to be a sponge.”

She decided to attend 91У�� as an undergraduate studying Biology. Over time, she earned a spot not only as a contributor, but as a leader, working in the lab and earning her bachelor’s degree in 2023. She decided to continue at 91У�� to earn her master’s.��

“She basically runs my lab,” says Molina. “For the last nearly three years, she’s been handling all aspects of the lab. She takes care of the other students and has even trained them, works on her own research and is doing all of the experiments. It’s unbelievable.”

Through her other work moderating the University’s Women in STEM Summit, presenting at the American Heart Association HSI Scholars  program, and competing in the Mario M. Casabona Future Scientists Program, Spigelman is paving the way for other aspiring scientists who are more introverted by nature.

She recalls a particularly difficult moment during her time abroad in Japan, where she traveled to continue her research on zebrafish through a prestigious National Science Foundation program.��

“It was very difficult lab work,” she recalls. “It was work I had never done before. So there was about five weeks of continued failure. It was really bad, and I felt really guilty about it, because I’m being paid to be there by the United States, and I’m not succeeding. And, science takes time, right? But I felt I was an imposter. I felt like, ‘Why have I been selected out of all of these great scientists if I can’t even get these cells to live,’ and, because of the 13-hour time difference, I didn’t have the same support system that I had at home.” 

Eventually, it was her mom who gave her the most pivotal advice.

“Meli, just go into it, and lead with your heart. Show them how much you care — it is okay if you make a mistake.”

She controlled what she could, and, eventually, it worked.

The perspective she has gained through her presentation skills, publishing papers and doing research internationally have made her something of a darling on social media, where she has co-authored a podcast titled

“That has been really beautiful for me to experience, the amount of high school students who message me and tell me, ‘I’ve never met a female scientist before, and I really like what you’re doing.’ It’s those moments when people reach out and tell me how much I’ve impacted them that really get to me, because I did have to grow into this position where I felt comfortable just saying yes to these opportunities. And I’m thankful that me saying yes has inspired others, too.”

What’s Next?

For Spigelman, the next year will be about continuing to build on all she’s accomplished at 91У��. She’s been hired to continue to work in the lab and for the Dean’s Office at the College of Science and Mathematics, before she takes the next step on her journey and enters a PhD program.��

In the meantime, “I want to rest and get into positive routines that involve eating, sleeping and exercising. I think in science, it’s often encouraged to really push through and keep working, which I’ve been doing and I love doing. But it’s time to take a rest, and I’m happy that I still get to do research.”

“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to stay at 91У��. I’m so thankful for the chance to keep impacting the community, and I hope to publish at least one more paper. I hope to host another Women in STEM Summit, and I hope to continue working to make sure that people know that 91У�� is a great place to go, especially if you’re a first-generation college student like me.”

The University will celebrate its graduates at Commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.��

Story by Carolina Marion, University Communications and Marketing

Ready to Start Your 91�� Journey?

• Prospective Students and Parents: Learn more about 91У�� admissions, our College of Science and Mathem and Graduate School.��
• Journalists: Contact our Media Relations team to request assets or schedule an interview with a member of the Class of 2025.