Outstanding Seniors in the College of Science: Zoe Benson

May 2, 2024
By Adam Gonzales, College of Science
Zoe Benson

This spring, each department in the University of Arizona's College of Science nominated an outstanding senior who went above and beyond during their time as a Wildcat. We are pleased to share their stories as they reflect on their time at UArizona. Our next Outstanding Senior is Zoe Benson in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 

Zoe Benson

Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
 

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

Benson: I'm from Tucson, and I have always loved hiking and backpacking in the area. I wanted to understand more about local flora and fauna, plus the larger ecological principles that govern the natural spaces I enjoy. When starting at the UA, I also knew I wanted to eventually attend medical school. I picked a major that combined an ecological perspective with biological fundamentals. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology fit the bill perfectly.

 

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

Benson: I loved my research with Dr. Diane Thompson! I used the elemental composition of coral to reconstruct wind patterns and fill gaps in the Tropical Pacific climate record. I spent most of my undergraduate years in her lab, learning coral milling and mass spectrometry. These semesters of independent study taught me to communicate my research and cultivated an interest in paleoclimate. It also led me to opportunities like presenting at the American Geophysical Union Meeting.

Most recently, I'm working on coral-wind records from two atolls: Palmyra and Tabuaeran. It feels super satisfying to consolidate my research into my forthcoming honors thesis.
 

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

Benson: Through a UA study abroad program, I spent 1.5 months overlanding in Namibia. Amidst visits to beautiful national parks, I completed a project on natal healthcare among pastoral tribes in the northern part of the country. With an interpreter, I visited small villages to interview women about their experiences accessing obstetric services. To hear the women's perspectives was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and my first exposure to ethnographic work.
 

COS: What is next for you after graduation? 

Benson: I want to be a psychiatrist, practicing in a community healthcare setting. I spent a year working in case management at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, and I currently work part-time in health advocacy for a refugee resettlement agency. I hope to treat patients from these often underserved populations as a physician.

During my gap year between beginning medical school and graduation, I'm considering a couple options including attending a MPhil program at the University of Cambridge in medical sociology or teaching English in Japan through the JET Program.