{"id":226153,"date":"2025-05-06T11:38:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T15:38:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=226153"},"modified":"2025-11-07T13:32:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:32:04","slug":"this-montclair-state-university-graduate-is-on-a-mission-to-revolutionize-cancer-treatments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/05\/06\/this-montclair-state-university-graduate-is-on-a-mission-to-revolutionize-cancer-treatments\/","title":{"rendered":"This Montclair State University Graduate is on a Mission to Revolutionize Cancer Treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"

This story is part of a series celebrating Montclair State University\u2019s Spring Commencement 2025<\/a> graduates <\/em>\u2013 students who embody the University\u2019s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.<\/em><\/p>\n

When Melissa Spigelman\u2019s best friend was diagnosed with cancer, it changed everything. Watching her endure life-saving but brutal treatments sparked a mission in Spigelman \u2014 to discover more compassionate, innovative ways to treat aggressive cancers. Now, as a Montclair State University graduate with a master\u2019s degree in Molecular Biology,<\/a> she\u2019s combining cutting-edge research, faculty mentorship and scholarship support to reimagine cancer care. <\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span> \u2013<\/span> but she wasn\u2019t sure where it would take her. At the time, the only clear paths she saw were in medicine, but she knew she didn\u2019t want to be a doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, her best friend was diagnosed with cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Spigelman watched her friend undergo the harsh treatments that ultimately saved her life, she found her calling: cancer research.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe’s okay,\u201d Spigelman says, \u201cbut at what cost?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That question fuels her every day, driving her to seek out more compassionate, non-invasive treatments for aggressive cancers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Melissa<\/a>
Spigelman<\/span> has competed in the Mario M. Casabona Future Scientists Program. Moments like this have helped her inspire the next generation of scientists. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finding Her Place in the Lab \u2013 and the World\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a high school senior taking AP Biology, <\/span>Spigelman <\/span>was invited by a friend to observe the Montclair lab headed by Biology Professor Carlos Molina. Normally reserved for upper level students, she was the youngest person there. At first, she felt overwhelmed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs 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 spong<\/span>e.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She decided to attend Montclair as an undergraduate studying Biology<\/a>. Over time, she earned a spot not only as a contributor, but as a leader, working in the lab and earning her bachelor\u2019s degree in 2023. She decided to continue at Montclair to earn her master\u2019s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe basically runs my lab,\u201d says Molina. \u201cFor the last nearly three years, she\u2019s 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\u2019s unbelievable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Through her other work moderating the University\u2019s Women in STEM Summit<\/a><\/span>, presenting at the American Heart Association HSI Scholars\u00a0 <\/a><\/span>program, and competing in the Mario M. Casabona Future Scientists Program<\/a><\/span>, Spigelman is paving the way for other aspiring scientists who are more introverted by nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Melissa
\u201cGoing to Japan taught me that I can study anywhere, and now I feel a lot more confident. I’m going to be applying to PhDs this year. Now I just feel like I can live anywhere and I’ll be fine. I’ll be okay. I don’t have to limit myself.\u201d (Photo courtesy of Melissa Spigelman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very difficult lab work,\u201d she recalls. \u201cIt 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, \u2018Why have I been selected out of all of these great scientists if I can’t even get these cells to live,\u2019 and, because of the 13-hour time difference, I didn’t have the same support system that I had at home.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, it was her mom who gave her the most pivotal advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMeli, just go into it, and lead with your heart. Show them how much you care \u2014 it is okay if you make a mistake.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She controlled what she could, and, eventually, it worked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 “Everyone Can Be a Scientist!”\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat has been really beautiful for me to experience, the amount of high school students who message me and tell me, \u2018I’ve never met a female scientist before, and I really like what you’re doing.\u2019 It’s those moments when people reach out and tell me how much I\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Melissa

In the lab, what began with taking care of fish and preparing DNA samples grew into full-scale genetic experimentation. Spigelman works on identifying natural tumor-suppressing proteins and testing their effects by genetically modifying zebrafish \u2014 an innovative model for cancer research. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What’s Next?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For Spigelman, the next year will be about continuing to build on all she\u2019s accomplished at Montclair. She\u2019s been hired to continue to work in the lab and for the Dean\u2019s Office at the College of Science and Mathematics<\/a>, before she takes the next step on her journey and enters a PhD program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the meantime, \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m really happy to have the opportunity to stay at Montclair. 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 Montclair is a great place to go, especially if you’re a first-generation college student like me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The University will<\/em> celebrate its graduates at Commencement<\/em><\/a> exercises on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Story by Carolina Marion<\/strong><\/a>, University Communications and Marketing<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?<\/strong><\/h2>\n