Charli Parsons '25: From Chem Lab to Vaccine Development
"I was able to get a couple of offers from this company because, I think, Dr. Mal really prepares the people in his lab well."
"I was able to get a couple of offers from this company because, I think, Dr. Mal really prepares the people in his lab well."
As graduation approaches, we’re highlighting members of the Class of 2025 to find out about their future plans, reminisce about their time at Bryn Mawr, and hear what advice they have for students about navigating college.
Name: Charli Parsons
Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Future Plans: I’m going to be doing a one-year co-op at a pharmaceutical company called GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Cambridge, Mass. working in vaccine development. After that, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry.
Tell us about your academic journey at Bryn Mawr.
When I started, I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to major in. I thought maybe I wanted to do neuroscience or biochemistry and molecular biology, but I took organic chemistry my freshman year, and I really loved that class. I ended up connecting with my professor, Dr. Malachowski, and he became my mentor throughout my four years at Bryn Mawr. Through that, and just by realizing that I gravitated more towards the chemistry classes, I decided that I wanted to do the chemistry major.
What were some other highlights of your time at Bryn Mawr?
I really like the traditions—May Days and spending time with friends. I work at Uncommon Grounds on campus and I’ve had a lot of fun memories just from doing that. I also went abroad for a semester to Granada, Spain and that was really fun.
How do you think Bryn Mawr prepared you for your future plans?
I actually heard about this co-op program because a former student in the Mal Lab, who graduated 2 years ago, did one of these in a different location. I was able to get a couple of offers from this company because, I think, Dr. Mal really prepares the people in his lab well. We have weekly group meetings, and he really focuses on preparing us for these exact kinds of job interviews with these kinds of companies, and he is really focused on helping us get where we want to go.
What advice do you have for incoming members of the Class of 2029?
Academically, I would say talk to the faculty. I think that, for me, it was really helpful to have a faculty mentor from my freshman year. And so, if you can try to talk to your professors and get to know them, even as a freshman, that may help you figure out what you want to do.
Personally, I would encourage the freshmen to really enjoy their time at Bryn Mawr because it will go by so much faster than you realize. Enjoy every moment and experience whatever you can, because it will be over very fast.
What are you most excited about?
I'm excited about living in Boston. I have never lived out of state, so I'm excited to live in a new state. Try something new and get out of my comfort zone in that way. I'm going to be living with another Bryn Mawr student who also got a job doing research in Boston. So having some Bryn Mawr people around and getting to meet new people, I think that will be really cool.
I’m also excited to try a different field of chemistry in an industry setting. I think it's going to be a little bit different from the academic setting, so that will be something new to learn about.
Outcomes
At Bryn Mawr College, students turn a passion for learning into a life of purpose. 98% of our students report a positive career outcome one year after graduating.
