Mallory S. Willet, the daughter of Gregory and Julie Willet of Lehighton, graduated summa cum laude from Thomas Jefferson University on May 30 with a master of science in microbiology and a concentration in recognizing and controlling infectious diseases.

During her college career, Willet joined the laboratory of well-known virologist at Jefferson, Dr. Matthias J. Schnell, where she developed a dual vaccine for rabies and Ebola viruses for use in developing countries.A research paper, "Antibody Quality and Protection from Lethal Ebola virus Challenge in Nonhuman Primates Immunized with Rabies Virus Based Bivalent Vaccine," was recently published in PLoS Pathogens.Willet is a 2010 summa cum laude graduate of Kutztown University, where she earned her bachelor of science in biology, and a 2006 graduate of Lehighton Area High School. She is employed by Thomas Jefferson University as a research assistant in virology and vaccine development.She is the granddaughter of Harvey and Betty Willet of Lehighton, and Susan and the late Edward Nothstein of Lehighton.