Rachel McNulty

Current Position: Biologist (Scientist II) at Eurofins Scientific

At GMercyU, I always feel as though my presence is not only noticed, but appreciated, and that teachers truly care about me as a student and a human being. Teachers have provided constant support, helping me progress both educationally and as a person.

Story posted: Fall 2022
Job title updated: Fall 2023

Rachel McNulty graduated from Upper Dublin High School in 2007. Years later, as she was preparing to go back to school, she connected with an acquaintance who graduated from GMercyU and raved about her experience.

Her research and conversations led Rachel to contact GMercyU Admissions, where she had a very positive experience and afterwards, felt like she would receive the financial aid she needed to attend.

“I left feeling like I had finally found a school with faculty that care about their students. There were small class sizes so I could get as much help as needed, and there was a strong focus on kindness throughout the university,” Rachel said.

Rachel also felt that GMercyU was in an ideal location with plenty of nature and open space to enjoy, and she felt safe.

Experience in the Biology Program

Rachel has one word to describe her experience in Biology so far: “Incredible!”

She first entered as a Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) major, but within two weeks of taking General Biology with Dr. Michelle McEliece, her eyes were opened to the vast career opportunities that Biology could offer. Dr. McEliece helped Rachel, who was still unsure of what she wanted to do, realize that there are so many more routes to take with Biology.

Having a teacher notice my potential that early into my first year really made me feel like I had made the right choice.

Since changing majors, Rachel has formed close bonds with each of her professors across all different classes, even her electives.

“Even though COVID-19 forced the University to move online, I found that teachers became more attentive than before. They were focused on ensuring every student was not only progressing educationally, but maintaining a healthy emotional and mental state as well,” Rachel said.

In 2021, Rachel became sick. She remembers her professors checking in regularly. They did what they could to help her reduce stress and stay optimistic.

“My teachers were beyond understanding and did everything they could to accommodate me. I had lots of doctor visits, sick days, confusion and memory issues, and they found a way to help me finish out each semester,” Rachel said.

Rachel also has a genetic condition that affects the formation of her blood vessels called HHT. Since she was 29 years old when she began her journey at GMercyU, Rachel wanted to complete her degree as soon as possible, rather than completing it on a part-time basis. To help Rachel achieve her goal despite her condition, her professors worked with her when she wasn’t feeling well and made her feel like being a full-time student was possible.

Notable Faculty

While Rachel credits Dr. McEliece with her success in the program so far, there have been more influential Biology professors. 

"Dr. Felicia Barbieri was not only an incredible teacher, but will always stand out as a role model for women in the scientific field. She is hands down one of the smartest people I have ever known and she expects each of her students to work to be just as great,” Rachel said.

Dr. Justin McClain is Rachel’s advisor and has also served as her Immunology teacher, Biochemistry lab instructor, and research mentor. “He is extremely patient with students both in the classroom and the lab, and gives you time and space to figure things out on your own,” Rachel said.

When she started her summer research project, Rachel felt unsure of her skills, but Dr. McClain guided her with clear directions and answered any questions that arose. His knowledge and willingness to help put Rachel at ease.

Math has never come easy for Rachel, so when she took Calculus, she knew she would have concerns. Professor Gallagher took time after each class to talk with Rachel about her concerns and answer any questions. With Professor Gallagher’s help, and her tutor Joseph Azzarano, Rachel completed the course with an A- which allowed her to keep moving forward with her scheduled courses.

Research

In Summer 2022, Rachel completed a research project with Dr. McClain. The focus of her study was the effects of alcohol on microglial cells, which are the immune cells in the brain.

This topic, alcohol and neurodegeneration, has always been important to me, as I have had relationships with several alcoholics in my family and personal life.

In addition to the interesting nature of the topic, Rachel learned and practiced cell culture and other useful lab techniques. She also learned how to properly record entire experiments in a professional format.

“It has also helped me realize that when I graduate, I want to work in a lab setting,” Rachel said.

Over the course of nine weeks, Rachel was given the responsibility of performing a number of experiments which involved maintaining a BV-2 cell line and running Western blot and ELISA tests. She also utilized machines and software to retrieve data and formulate results.

At the end of the nine weeks, Rachel drafted a 23-page research paper. She is currently reworking this paper to use for her thesis.

Why GMercyU?

“There are a lot of reasons I would recommend GMercyU. The biggest one is that they offer small classes with teachers that truly care about you and want to see you succeed in whatever you choose to do. They will do anything they can to help you through tough times, and guide you towards your goals,” Rachel said.

There are so many services here to help along the way, such as free tutoring in the Student Success Center, as well as Career Development who are happy to help you find internships, jobs, and more. It doesn’t hurt that the campus is beautiful and safe, which is hard to come by with many universities in the Philadelphia region.

Post-Graduation Plans

Rachel will graduate from GMercyU with her B.S. in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Microbiology in 2023.

Her current plan is to become a research assistant. Ideally, Rachel would love to work in a lab setting, with a focus on finding answers and treatments to neurological conditions.