Summer Check-In: Elizabeth Abrams ’26 Interns With Immunotherapy Company
Abrams, a pre-med chemistry major, works in the lab at Rapa Therapeutics, which makes therapies to treat cancer and ALS.Monday, August 11, 2025 09:21 AM
Elizabeth Abrams ’26Classes may not be in session, but Muhlenberg students are still hard at work — at internships and jobs, in the lab and in the field, producing creative works and engaging with their communities. Summer break is an opportunity for students to explore future pathways, unanswered questions, and avenues for impact. Discover what our students are up to this summer here.
Elizabeth Abrams ’26
Hometown: Chicago
Major: Chemistry (pre-med)
Why were you interested in this internship with Rapa Therapeutics?
Ultimately, my internship first arose out of connections. But, with that said, I was fascinated from the start with what they do! Rapa makes autologous cell therapies for treatment of cancer and ALS. As a pre-health and chemistry student, I was interested in a summer internship that would allow me to experience research hands-on, using lab skills that I’ve developed and continue to cultivate through my time in chemistry and biology classes as well as at Rapa.
“Muhlenberg prepared me to work within the sciences by helping me hone my lab technique and also giving me the background knowledge to thrive in an unfamiliar environment.”
How did Muhlenberg prepare you for this experience?
Muhlenberg prepared me to work within the sciences by helping me hone my lab technique and also giving me the background knowledge to thrive in an unfamiliar environment. Before starting at Rapa last summer, I knew very little about cell biology. Now, having worked a full summer (and finishing up this summer) and having taken experimental biochemistry at Muhlenberg, I feel like I can see a much broader picture of my work. Overall, Muhlenberg has left me prepared to take on new and unfamiliar challenges by preparing me to learn.
What is a typical day like for you?
It seems like every day at Rapa is different, but usually I process clinical samples and prepare them for a series of assays, ultimately allowing for the tracking of treatment progress and efficacy. Other times, I help run large experiments for the continued development of better treatments. But soon I'll start a project of my own: testing dilutions of a particular set of stains used to track cell proliferation in order to find the most effective testing procedure. All of that leaves me incredibly busy, juggling personal and company projects that allow such a small lab to work like a well-oiled machine.
“At Rapa, I help facilitate the development of new drugs that often serve as a last resort for incredibly sick patients. While my work may not directly be what treats their cancer or ALS, I know that processing blood samples, developing better experimental methods, and helping out with experiments will contribute to better patient outcomes.”
How have you been able to make an impact at your internship?
At Rapa, I help facilitate the development of new drugs that often serve as a last resort for incredibly sick patients. While my work may not directly be what treats their cancer or ALS, I know that processing blood samples, developing better experimental methods, and helping out with experiments will contribute to better patient outcomes while also helping me to become a vital part of the team.
At Muhlenberg, Abrams is president of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-health honor society; president and founder of Swim Club; and a lead tutor in the Writing Center.
