We asked some of our awesome seniors about a couple of their most memorable experiences at UMass Amherst
JD Hairston
In school, I was able to work on two research projects - the first in Heather Richardson's Neurobiology of Stress and Addiction Lab studying the effects of alcohol on myelination in aging brains, the second in Lisa Sanders Neurocognition and Perception Lab on a wonderfully nuanced project studying auditory localization in complex sound environments. My work in Dr. Sanders' lab compliments my overlapping interests in hearing science and psychology, and it was a real treat to spend so much time working directly with her and Ben Zobel, who guided me through the process of conducting a literature review, setting up an experiment practically from scratch, collecting data and putting that all into my Honors Thesis. It was a heap of work, but I loved having the opportunity.
I was able to scratch my research itch in projects outside of school as well. As I mentioned, I am very interested in hearing science and psychology. This is because a few years ago I developed bothersome tinnitus and it really changed my whole life. I left my former career as a chef to study the condition so that I could help others who experience a persistent ringing in their ears. I stayed busy during the summers and during the school year, working on my tinnitus podcast and with a really exciting nonprofit called Tinnitus Quest. Working with them got me to attend a Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference in Vancouver last summer, where I made many strong connections with tinnitus researchers from all around the world. And as recently as this semester, my work with them afforded me the opportunity to fly out to Los Angeles to meet with William Shatner of Star Trek fame to talk to him about his tinnitus.
I've had too many good memories here on campus - watching the seasons change as I walk to classes, seeing some of the really cool organized efforts to amplify student voices, and maybe my favorite part - getting a desk to work at during my time in the labs I worked with. Having previously worked a pretty hectic life in restaurant kitchens, I always thought it would be so cool to have a desk to work at and like, type away at a computer or something. Well, I did a whole lot of that!
My time at UMass has been really helpful in satisfying my academic interests by providing a nurturing atmosphere for pursuing knowledge, preparing for a career, and also just being a cool place to come to day after day for the past few years. I have enjoyed seeing my classmates and peers across campus chasing similar goals and I'm serious when I say it's been really inspiring. I'm off to grad school in the fall and while I'm totally stoked for it, I'll miss the campus vibes here and seeing all the familiar faces and places I've gotten used to.
Julianna Rocha
Psychology (B.S.), Minor in Biology, she/her/hers
I was actively involved in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at UMass! One of the most memorable experiences was serving as a Peer Advisor. In this role, I enjoyed connecting with faculty and staff and supporting my peers with their academic careers. I was also a Teaching Assistant for several classes, including Adult Psychopathology, Writing in Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Navigating Psychology. One of my favorite parts of being a TA was engaging with course materials in different ways, such as developing exam reviews and answering questions/explaining concepts during office hours. Additionally, I am a member of Psi Chi, the International Honors Society in Psychology. My favorite part of Psi Chi was connecting with a close-knit group of like-minded individuals and learning about opportunities within the field from graduate student panels!
I participated in the William Lee Science Impact Program (Lee-SIP), a ten-week summer immersive research experience for undergraduates, in which I got to work as a Research Assistant in the ViTAL Lab under Dr. Maria Galano, researching how stress impacts caregivers and young children. Through this opportunity, I created a poster titled "Measuring Stress in Young Children: A Methodological Overview" and presented it at the UMass Amherst Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Symposium, Inclusive Excellence: Elevating Student Voices 2024.
Aside from my departmental involvement, one of my favorite memories from my four years has been working for UMass Dining, specifically Hampshire Café. Although balancing a job and coursework was challenging at times the Hamp Café Team was supportive, flexible, and understanding, making it an uplifting community. I will forever be thankful for the relationships I developed with members of the UMass Community, both within the PBS Department and outside of it, which influenced my academic journey.
Although this wasn't directly at UMass, another fulfilling experience was the opportunity to study abroad. During my spring semester sophomore year, I studied abroad at Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience where I immersed myself in another culture, pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and learned so much about myself. I highly encourage undergraduates to check out the on-campus resources, such as the International Programs Office (IPO), to learn more about studying abroad; they were such a big help to me at every step.
Amin Atemkeng
Psychology on the Neuroscience track, Minor in Biology, she/her
I've been a collegiate member of The National Society of Black Women in Medicine since 2022. We host women's symposiums with food, music, a chance to get your headshots taken for free, and most importantly, we have a panel of black men and women speak about their profession and experience in medicine. We also offer resume building workshops, studying and academic resource sessions, host diaper drives, volunteer at Amherst Survival Center, vision boards and flower bouquet making; we welcome lower classmen an opportunity to mingle with our upperclassmen if they're looking for mentorship.
I'm a research assistant in the Somneuro Lab here at UMass, working on the Preschool study. We study the sleep patterns and memory performance of children ages 3 to 5 as they begin to transition out of daytime napping. I've participated in most, if not all, areas involved in the research process. I learned recruitment can be difficult, especially since we are recruiting parents/families. With the volume of data we collect, attention to detail is paramount, and spending time with our little participants is easily the best part of the job! I had an amazing opportunity last summer to present some preliminary research at UMass's Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium. It was my first time working in a lab and working on my own poster. I learned a lot about conducting literature reviews, sleep scoring, and running analyses on data I formulated.
Some of my favorite experiences were seeing Don Toliver here live for the annual spring concert. I love music, and I'm a big fan of his. The concert was a great wrap-up to the semester. Berkshire's late nights are undefeated! There's nothing like having chocolate chip pancakes at 10 PM after a long day with friends and great music.
UMass has such amazing opportunities that I took advantage of, like the career fairs, the SI program, the CNS career center, and the William Lee Science Impact program I was a part of last summer. I've had the best instructors, who have become advisors/mentors who helped me understand difficult concepts in class and realize my passions. I've made friends that I now call family. I experienced everything and then some, and I will be graduating this spring, very fulfilled with my time here.
Jillian Pestana
Psychology, she/her/hers
I was in Psi Chi, and my favorite part about this student organization was career building. I completed research for my thesis with Dr. Carolyn Davies on the impacts of values rationales on perceptions of and engagement with exposure therapy! We had very interesting findings, and I was able to present this research at two conferences.
Some of my favorite memories are living in Crampton, tailgates with friends, and walks on campus with my puppy.
I transferred here freshman year, and could not be happier with my decision! UMass has been amazing, and PBS has prepared me for my future infinitely.