Outstanding Senior Awards: John Moore

College of Science: Why did you choose your area of study?  

I have always been interested in science. From a young age I knew that I wanted to pursue a field involving science that could impact others. In high school, when it came time to make decisions about my future, I had trouble finding a field that combined these interests. As I did some research, it became clear that neuroscience offered the right combination of these interests for me and as I have worked through this program, this has absolutely been the case. 

COS: Tell us about a class or research project you really enjoyed. 

A memory I will always cherish from my time at UA is a night where my lab mates and I were all gathered in the early morning hours after working through the night to complete data collection for a time sensitive experiment. We sat listening to music and working through each sample. As we thought we were wrapping up for the night we realized that we had missed a step in processing each sample and we had to go back and complete this final step with each sample. This would take us another hour or two. We initially argued and talked about how much it sucked that we were stuck in the lab all night, but we later ended up cracking jokes with each other and sharing laughs sitting there even after the samples were completed. I remember walking back to my highland dorm that early morning with my side sore from laughing so much. This is a memory I cherish from my time at UA and it is a core memory I recall when I think of my experience with research.

COS: What is one specific memory from your time at UA that you'll cherish forever? 

In my time at UA I have always enjoyed opportunities to travel and present/conduct my research. I was invited to travel to Rio De Janeiro to present my research at an international conference. I had been to other conferences in the past, but seeing that others really appreciated my research and believed in my ability to succeed was a big moment. I traveled to Rio and presented my work where I was awarded 1st place in physiology of aging for my presentation. This was a very proud moment for me as I felt this experience was a cumulative experience of all my effort in research and all the support my mentors had provided me through my time in research.

COS: What is next for you after graduation? 

I plan to complete a master's degree and continue my work as a research technician over the next year. Following the conclusion of these projects, I hope to apply to medical school and pursue a career in medicine.