Discovering the Business Behind the Science

In France, high school students choose three specialties their first year of school and whittle them down to two by their final year. Salomé Aiach wasn’t ready to be pinned down; she had so many subjects she wanted to explore. The Parisian set her sights on going to university in the U.S., but first, she participated in an exchange program in the South to improve her English.  

Based on her experience, Aiach decided to attend a university on the East Coast. Initially she was drawn to the bigger schools, but – after speaking with Tina MacDonald, director of international admissions at the College of Charleston – Aiach realized a smaller university would suit her better.

The College attracted her because of its wide array of general education courses. Plus, she planned to major in history and found the course options and possibility of working with professors with varied subject-matter expertise appealing. 

As part of her application process, Aiach applied for and was accepted into the First-Year University Honors Program. After researching her options some more, she committed to the College of Charleston and quickly met her Honors adviser, Salvatore Musumeci. 

“Salomé brings a thoughtful and distinctive perspective to the College,” says Musumeci. “She approaches opportunities with creativity and purpose, making the most of her time by engaging deeply with her coursework and building meaningful relationships with both faculty and her peers.” 

First Step: Exploring her Options

Initially making the most of her time meant taking 18 credit hours; Aiach set her sights on majoring in chemistry and history. She also got involved in Jewish studies, through which she received her third scholarship, the Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold Endowed Scholarship. She then joined the Charleston Hillel and became president after serving on the student leadership board for a semester. Somehow, she also managed to squeeze in serving on the Honors College Dean’s Student Council. 

After taking a microeconomics course, Aiach realized she wanted to continue on the economics path that she started in high school, where she focused on mathematics, sociology, economics and political science for her baccalaureate. As part of her economics experience at the College, Aiach joined the Market Process Scholars program, a multiyear mentoring program that helps students develop professional, research and leadership skills.  

At the same time, Aiach had to maneuver the hurdles of a different culture. Throughout her first year, she worked to understand cultural nuances and frequently came to Musumeci to grasp the tone of an email message. 

“I encouraged her to focus on understanding the intent behind a message rather than translating it word for word,” says Musumeci. “As she became more comfortable navigating cultural nuances, our conversations shifted from interpreting emails to sharing the experiences and opportunities she was enjoying on campus.” 

Next Step: Pioneering Her Own Path

In her second semester at the College, Aiach secured a summer internship in New York City focusing on the biopharma industry. Her mother founded a biotechnology company with the aim of discovering a brain treatment for Aiach’s sister, who suffered from a genetic disease and passed away after fourteen years of fighting it. While Aiach never considered entering the biotech field, she now wanted to explore mixing business with science. 

Although LifeSci Partners, an investor relations consultancy that serves leading biopharma companies, agreed to take Aiach as an intern, she needed it to be accredited. With guidance from Musumeci, Aiach reached out to the chair of the Department of Economics, who arranged for her to have a one-credit independent study using a course designation usually reserved for upperclassmen. 

“The internship gave me an opportunity to see how sciences are multifaceted,” says Aiach, who credits Musumeci with helping her create her path at the College. “I learned a lot about the business behind the sciences in the American health system, as I am already familiar with the French one.”   

Based on her first year at the College, her academic and leadership involvement and her internship, Aiach decided to set aside chemistry as a major and focus on economics and history, with plans to use her economics degree for a potential future in the science world.  

“Salomé has taken full advantage of what a liberal arts education offers,” says Musumeci. “She has approached her coursework with curiosity and purpose, recognizing that the broad competencies she is developing will support her long-term goals. Combined with the relationships she has built across campus, those experiences have positioned her well for future success, and I look forward to seeing how she continues to grow as an entrepreneur.”