Carlie Relyea ’23 came to Drexel without any prior research experience but was eager to dig right in—literally. “During my first week I was digging in the dirt outside of my dorm trying to find a sample to use in the laboratory,” she recalled.  

At Drexel, Relyea majored in biology with a concentration in cellular molecular genetics and biochemistry and a minor in sociology. During her first year, she got involved with the SEA-PHAGES program, which gives students hands-on research experience in their very first term.  

When her co-op as a pediatric clinical research assistant fell during the pandemic, Relyea had the unique opportunity to work on Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine trial. "That was an amazing experience to have during a global pandemic,” she said. The first day of the trial was something I'll never forget... Seeing that shot given was an amazing moment. It had that feeling of importance and of being able to do something that made a difference.” 

Relyea initially entered college with the goal of one day attending medical school, but during her time in Drexel’s biological sciences program, she discovered that the degree opens up many other career options she hadn’t previously considered. “Being at Drexel and seeing the wide range of experiences and things that I can do with a biology degree has definitely made me consider changing that goal,” she explained. “The actual thing that I want to achieve by being in medicine is making a difference in people's lives. The pandemic really showed me how important biology is.”