Sam Gibbon

Science Ambassador

Links

Major & Minor
Major: Mathematics, Economics
Minor: Cognitive Science

Hometown
Rapid City, SD

What made you choose your science major at this school?

I chose the mathematics major because of its wide applicability to many different areas of science and to develop a solid quantitative background for research, academia, or industry.

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

The intro science classes were more difficult than my high school equivalents, but that step up in difficulty was manageable with all of the additional support including office hours, preceptors and TAs embedded in the classes, and studying with friends.

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

All of my lectures have been taught by professors, and I have had a few labs led by TAs!

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

I think there are an abundance of both course specific and more general resources available to students, especially for science classes. This includes office hours, tutoring through ThinkTank or SALT, and upper division students who have taken the classes before you!

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

This can vary field to field, but students can generally start doing research as early as their first year! For example, I started doing research in a neuroscience lab as a first year student.

How did you get involved in research or labs?

I got started in research when a professor teaching one of my classes mentioned that she was recruiting undergraduates for a project. So, I set up a meeting with her and joined her lab. Since then, I joined a different lab by cold emailing professors and found my current lab through the Undergraduate Biology Research Program or UBRP.

Are research opportunities competitive or fairly accessible?

From my experience, research opportunities tend to be on the more accessible end with many labs looking to hire undergrads.

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

There are more positions available for credit, but many labs also offer paid research positions, especially over the summer or for more advanced undergraduates/upperclassmen.

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

On my typical weekday, I have 2-3 classes and a few hours of tutoring/work. In between classes, I try to catch up on some homework and research or take a break to walk around campus and get lunch. My evenings are a mix of catching up with friends over dinner, club meetings or extracurricular commitments, and relaxing by reading a book or catching up on my favorite TV show. On the weekends, I like trying a new cafe in Tucson to get some studying done and then getting outside for a hike, run, or bike ride.

How much time do you actually spend studying?

This varies a lot, but, on average, 15-20 hours per week. This can be more during challenging semesters or around midterms/finals.

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

Math 525A or Real Analysis of a Single Variable (which is essentially proving Calculus I and II from the ground up) was the most challenging because it was a massive adjustment to learn all the proof techniques, but also ended up being among the most rewarding and enjoyable classes I have taken.

What do you wish you had known before coming here?

I wish I had known how much I would love the U of A! As cliche as that may sound, I was nervous about attending a school with enrollment almost as big as my home town's population. I was concerned that I would struggle to find a home and community on campus, which turned out not to be the case at all! Looking back on my time here, I cannot imagine it any other way and am so thankful for the opportunities and friendships the U of A has provided me.

What clubs and/or organizations are you involved with?

I am involved with Arizona Ambassadors and Eller College Dean's Council. I also work in a computational biology research lab and as a tutor on campus.

What are your future plans after graduation?