Marisa Egan

A Teacher and a Scholar 

Marisa Egan, BS ’18, PhD, discovered her love for scientific discovery and teaching early on in her undergraduate career at Saint Joseph’s. Her passion for lifelong learning ultimately led her to pursue a PhD and become a post-doctoral research fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

In her role at CHOP, Egan teaches and mentors students in the lab through her research on how microorganisms interact in the gastrointestinal tract. This research furthers the understanding of how these microorganisms support human health and can even cause disease.

“It’s rewarding to be able to conduct discovery-driven science in the laboratory and teach students in the classroom,” says Egan. 

Teaching, she explains, provides the perfect avenue to help others through education — a lofty endeavor that Egan finds joy in pursuing. 

“I love interacting with amazing scientists, dedicated clinicians and inspiring educators at CHOP,” Egan elaborates. “It really is a premier place to do science, teach and help people.”

Egan graduated from Saint Joseph’s College of Arts and Sciences with a biology major and minors in mathematics, chemistry and philosophy. Her involvement in several teaching assistant positions — in addition to being involved in the rigorous The John P. McNulty scholarship program for Leadership in Science and Mathematics — prepared her to take on multiple advanced degrees after graduation. 

“Dr. Shantanu Bhatt and Dr. Paul Klingsberg had the biggest impact on me. Both empowered me to become the student, scientist and person that I am today,” says Egan. “I am forever grateful for their continued mentorship, unwavering kindness and endless support.”

The McNulty scholarship program provided Egan with the unique experience to engage in research, professional development and mentorship together with other female STEM scholars. 

Egan went on to further her education at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, enrolling in a PhD program to continue her path toward becoming a scientific researcher and teacher. In her program, she helped to lead the First Exposure to Research in the Biological Sciences (FERBS) program as a mentor-fellow that supports first-generation, low-income (FGLI) and underrepresented minority (URM) students in science. 

Egan hopes to become a tenure-track professor at an undergraduate and liberal arts institution similar to Saint Joseph’s where she will support others through their career the way she was supported.

Connect with Marisa Egan.