Research Ambassadors
Samantha Zack '28
Email me at: szack2@u.rochester.edu
Discipline(s) of Research
- Physical Sciences
- Social Sciences
Major(s) and Minor(s)
- B.S. in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
- B.A. in Political Science
Areas of Interest/Research Focus
- TRACER lab (Summer 2026-Present): chemical oceanography research studying plastic flux and uranium-thorium radionuclides in coastal sediment and marine environments
- Voting rights research with Dr. Mayya (2025-2026): studying the impacts of the Shelby County v. Holder case on white-nonwhite turnout gap and policies on the state and county levels.
Areas where I may be particularly helpful
- R Programming and Statistics
- LinkedIn and networking/reaching out to alumni
- Cold emailing and getting involved with research
- Research planning/time management
- Interview skills
What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?
Be confident in your abilities! Most people aren’t looking for perfect researchers, they are looking for students who are passionate, hard-working, and able to grow in their lab. Reach out to anyone you are interested in working with, as professors love talking about their research and are excited to meet you. Embrace the process and you will find the right fit!