Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Zoë Semersky, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Antioch, Illinois. Semersky is a member of the field hockey team.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I was immediately drawn to the collaborative community and availability of professors. In addition to the field hockey team culture, the research opportunities, especially with Independent Study, were unparalleled.
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Being a Fighting Scot student-athletes means being a member of a family. My team has pushed me to be my very best during my time at Wooster. The support of the athletic department staff and administration matches this too.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories are spending time in the lab with my fellow group members, becoming close with faculty members, and our overtime win against Washington & Jefferson College this past season.
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The laundry! Just kidding! The best part is the closeness of my team.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I am the vice president for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a biochemistry research assistant, president of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Club, was a graphic design intern with the Office of Marketing and Communications, was a health coach with the Wooster Community Hospital Community Care Network program, and I am a founding member of the Queer Athletes Affinity Group on campus.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. Mark Sniderbecause his enthusiasm for and expertise in biochemistry greatly enhanced my academic experience here at Wooster and guided my research interests as I head to graduate school.
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: Dr. Annastassia Gallo has been immensely supportive of me, not just academically but holistically as my I.S. advisor. Additionally, athletic trainer Rachel Novario has been there throughout my entire athletic career at Wooster. Despite injuries and surgery, I always looked forward to my training room appointments and developed resilience as a result.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: Norepinephrine is a critical neurotransmitter to the control of many central and peripheral nervous system functions, including learning and memory. Dopamine β-Hydroxylase (DBH) is a copper-containing enzyme responsible for the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine in the brain. Various deficiencies in this system have been tied to the development of numerous neurodegenerative diseases, namely Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Extensive data shows irregular levels of metal ions, such as iron and copper, in disease states compared to healthy brains. Since DBH is bound to copper, understanding the extent to which its ability to produce norepinephrine is affected by variable copper levels can provide experimental insight into the potential reason behind the activity loss seen clinically.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I had an APEX Fellowshipthis past summer performing cystic fibrosis research at Yale School of Medicine. This opportunity demonstrated the translational side of the work that transforms so many lives clinically.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year (freshman) self?
A: Lighten up a little and embrace the fun of every moment, whether academically, athletically, etc.
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