Amanda Clark

Current Position: Associate Automation Scientist

Story Last Updated: Summer 2024

Journey to GMercyU

Amanda Clark, a 2016 graduate of Saint Basil Academy, did not start her college journey at GMercyU, but transferred during her sophomore year. When searching for a new school, Amanda reached out to some old softball friends, and one who had also transferred to GMercyU recommended she visit campus and speak with the coach.

After that visit, I transferred a week later. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.

During her initial campus visit, Amanda met with the softball and track and field coaches, toured campus, and met with faculty members from Biology. She then came up with a game plan for transferring.

Experience in Biology

Amanda chose to major in Biology and minor in Chemistry, with the initial goal of become a physical therapist. However, after her first semester at GMercyU, she fell in love working in a lab setting and conducting research, so she decided to pursue other career paths.

While she described the Biology program as challenging, Amanda loved her experience.

“The professors challenged us everyday in various ways – homework, case studies, reading books, and intense research projects. At the time, it was stressful, but every single professor was more than willing to help you with any questions and provide guidance when necessary,” Amanda said. “Each professor helped students in a unique way, and not just educationally. They were always there to support us in our personal lives as well.”

Amanda really enjoyed the electives offered within the program because they allowed her to sample potential fields of interest related to work and research. She took a few Microbiology courses like Intro to Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, and was able to take Neurobiology which she found interesting and complex.

“The variety of courses set students up for success in an ever-changing scientific work environment,” Amanda said.

Research

As a Biology student, Amanda was required to complete a research project. Sine she was interested in Microbiology, Amanda worked with Dr. Stacey Lettini and studied the microbiome of store-bought food, particularly chicken and Greek yogurt.

Amanda chose this topic because, at the time, she was working in a restaurant and encountered numerous food-related recalls. She was curious as to how common/prominent bacteria was in every day food items.

Unfortunately, data was hard to collect, so her research never resulted in a full research project, but she found the process to be helpful when she began her first job after graduating.

Involvement on Campus

On campus, Amanda was a student-athlete, playing on the Softball team from 2017-2020. She was also a member of Sigma Zeta National Honor Society.

Within the Biology program, Amanda engaged in a volunteer-based senior project with her classmates. They organized and ran several Philly Hope HD Walks that included fun, games, and food for participants.
The goal of Amanda’s senior project was to raise money for the Agronomy Program in Haiti. Her group wanted to help the #MercyFocusOnHaiti group with research and funding. In order to accomplish their goal, Amanda’s group organized several fundraisers, including bake sales, poinsettia sales, and more.

My favorite part about GMercyU was the long-lasting friendships I made. I still keep in touch with so many of my classmates and teammates. The coursework and professors really prepared me for working in the scientific world. Being a student-athlete helped me with time management, fitness, and nutrition. My time spent at GMercyU has prepared me for a successful and fulfilling life.

Why GMercyU?

“There are so many great things about the University that I couldn’t possibly list them all. I think the most important ones are the prioritization of not only the usual coursework, but also helping students develop skills that can be applied in daily life. The small class sizes allow for a great professor to student relationship and lower pressure situations. There are so many clubs and organizations to be a part of and tons of opportunities to meet people and make lifelong friendships,” Amanda said.

Post-Graduation

After graduating in May 2020, Amanda was hired as a food microbiologist. After one year in that position, she took a contract job in the pharmaceutical world as a Bioassay Scientist. Once her contract expired, she was hired full-time and continued working in that role for another year.

In January 2024, Amanda took on a new role as an Associate Automation Scientist, where she looks at utilizing robotics to increase efficiency in the lab and decrease manual labor for high throughout bioassay methods.