Bar Naiberg

Science Ambassador

Major & Minor
Major: Neuroscience & Cognitive Science
Minor: Biochemistry

Hometown
Los Angeles, CA

What made you choose your science major at this school?

I've always been fascinated with the brain, so it was a natural choice to study neuroscience. I came to visit UA and was really impressed by the College of Science and the department. I saw a demonstration by one of the professors and was instantly hooked. I also loved the research that was taking place here and the funding opportunities for students.

How hard were the intro science classes compared to high school?

I think the Intro science courses are really similar to AP science classes, particularly the pace of teaching. I took AP chemistry and found that I already knew or had background information on all the material taught in the general chem courses. this was a tremendous help in my success.

Do professors actually teach, or are most classes taught by TAs?

Depends on the course, but yes, professors teach. TAs are there for additional support and office hours. Some courses use a "flipped classroom" model, where you watch prerecorded lectures by the professor and come to class to do activities.

How easy is it to get help if you’re struggling in a science class?

The teaching teams are usually very accessible, and have many office hours. departments also have their own help offices. For example the physics department has a room that is always staffed by a graduate student.

When can students start doing research (freshman year or later)?

I started doing research freshman year, it's all about putting yourself out there! talk to your current professors or reach out to those whose research interests you. the worse you can hear back is a no.

How did you get involved in research or labs?

I had a family friend that connected me to a lab I was interested in. That allowed me to gain valuable skills and meet people. One of the graduate students I met connected me to another lab I was interested in and that's where I am now.

Are research opportunities competitive or fairly accessible?

Depends in which department and which professor. professors who teach undergraduate courses will likely have more students reaching out to them since they are more accessible. I spend about 3 months in one of my professors labs and I was one of 7 undergraduates. In my current lab I am the only one. You can always find a lab with an opening

Do students get paid for research or is it mostly for credit?

Depending, some students are able to get scholarships from their department or honors college and can get a stipend. Others can get paid through their lab. It depends on the funding situation, which currently is very difficult, so less likely to get paid. credits can be very useful, i used many to fulfil honors credits requirements and in the Neuro major we can apply 6 research credits towards our degree.

What does a typical week look like for a science major?

Class! I have class every day of the week, but most science classes are not 8 a.m! (except my honors biostats course). Some days end later, especially if I have labs for class (chem, physics) these labs can be long and I usually take them later in the day. depending on my class schedule i either go to my lab in the morning or after class. do the experiments for the day, so days are longer than others, depending on if I'm treating cells or running assays.

How much time do you actually spend studying?

Depends on the class; my neuroscience courses come more naturally to me, so I didn't need to do much studying outside of class. On the other hand I had to spend a lot more time mastering ochem concepts.

What’s the hardest science class you’ve taken—and why?

O-Chem by far. I much preferred general chemistry. It's hard for me to visualize many of the concepts taught in o-chem. like the different bond formations

What do you wish you had known before coming here?

It's all about taking advantage of the opportunities here. It's not about where you go to school, but it's what you do there.

What clubs and/or organizations are you involved with?

I am a member of Nu Rho Psi (neuroscience honorary), I also mentor high school students as part of STAR labs

What are your future plans after graduation?

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