Senior Salute - Mariam Zayour

Our "Senior Salute" series continues with Mariam Zayour, a neurobiology major from North Royalton, Ohio. Zayour is a member of the swimming and diving team.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I was very committed to my academics, but I also really wanted to swim. Wooster allowed me to have the perfect balance to be a student-athlete. Wooster provides us the tools to be successful in and out of the pool, which really drew me in.

Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: It means being a dedicated, resilient, and motivated individual. It is about taking pride in representing my school and team, both in competition and in the classroom.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A:  My favorite memories come from going on the training trip with my team every year. We stay in Indian Shores, Florida, and train for about a week. Daily practices and team bonding activities are always so much fun. We have dinner together daily, lay on the beach before and after practice, and head to a nearby coffee shop for some delicious coffee and breakfast. I will never forget all the memories from these trips.

Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part about being a student-athlete at Wooster is the community. The connections I have made with teammates, coaches, and fellow athletes have positively impacted me as an individual. There is a unique bond that comes from training, competing, and growing together, and it creates a sense of family. Being surrounded by people who understand the balance between academics and athletics motivates me to stay focused.

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: Other than being a swimmer, I am a resident assistant, Writing Center consultant, a STEM Success Initiative intern, a teaching assistant for behavioral neuroscience, the co-founding president of journal club, a member of Neuroscience Club, a trustee in Jenny Investment Club, which manages a small portfolio of the College's endowment, and part of Minorities in STEM.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Many professors and faculty members have positively impacted me, making it difficult to single out just one. I initially struggled to pinpoint my career path, but I was fortunate to have a remarkable support system guiding me along the way. Coach Rob Harrington offered unwavering encouragement, both personally and academically, while consistently helping me grow through every training season. Dr. Alfredo Zúñiga, Dr. Paul Bonvallet, and Dr. Seth Kelly have each enriched my academic journey. They helped me recognize my potential in research and fostered my success as a student-athlete. Their guidance is something I will carry with me always.

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: My journey at Wooster has been defined by growth within the communities I was part of. I utilized resources like the STEM Zone and Writing Center to strengthen my academic skills. Over time, I transitioned from user to mentor, first as a STEM Zone intern and now as a STEM Success Initiative intern, managing the program to foster inclusivity in STEM. Similarly, I went from a Writing Center visitor to a consultant, helping others develop their writing skills, and co-founded Wooster's first Journal Club to engage students in research discussions. These experiences have allowed me to lead and support my peers, shaping my Wooster experience in invaluable ways.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: My Independent Study focuses on finding a physical memory in the brain. Essentially, when we form memories, various neurons fire action potentials and become linked. When we reactivate a memory, or go back to the same context or engage in the same behaviors, some of those linked neurons fire together again. Those neurons are said to store the memory that pertain to that event. These neurons can be characterized and analyzed on a genetic level, which offers insights into specific genes that drive the expression of that memory or behavior. I am aiming to find the engram pertaining to alcohol-seeking behaviors and characterizing a gene that is highly implicated in alcohol-use, GABRA2, and looking at differential expression between alcohol-seeking and non-seeking mice.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: One of the most memorable experiences I had as a student was presenting my research at the Society for Neuroscience Conference in 2023. Sharing my work on PTSD with such a large community of passionate neuroscientists was both thrilling and transformative. It allowed me to discuss my findings, learn from experts, and receive valuable feedback, which deepened my commitment to a research-focused career. This experience solidified my love for neuroscience and highlighted the power of research to contribute to a greater understanding of complex issues.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: If I could go back, I would tell my first-year self to embrace the process, not just the end goals. College is filled with challenges and unexpected moments. Learning to adapt while staying true to myself has been key. I would remind myself to prioritize time for recovery, value rest as much as training, and appreciate the small wins along the way. Most importantly, I would say to lean on your support network. They are there to help and you will achieve more together than alone.

Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot?  
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