Marcela Silvera Tafur ’25

Marcela Silvera Tafur is a senior at Wellesley College, majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Physics, and has a strong interest in Biophysics research.

A first-generation international student from Perú, Marcela has contributed to various on-campus research projects, including using optical tweezers to investigate DNA stability and studying soft matter physics in jammed systems. This past summer, she interned at MIT's Chemical Engineering Department, where she worked on precipitation-based purification methods for mRNA vaccine production. Beyond academics, Marcela is deeply engaged in Wellesley’s international community. As President of the Slater Student Organization, she leads initiatives that celebrate cultural diversity. She has also served as Co-Visibility Coordinator at the Slater International Center since her freshman year. Last year, she launched the International First Year Fellowship Program, connecting first-generation international students with faculty mentors who share similar international backgrounds. After graduation, Marcela plans to explore research opportunities in Nanotechnology or Chemical Physics and aims to pursue a graduate degree in Chemistry or Biophysics.