Zosia Amberger ’25
I came to Pomona with the full expectation of pursuing biology, as I have always been fascinated by the underlying systems of the ecological world. Throughout my first and second year I followed this track, enrolling in the general requirements for the biology major. However, everything shifted during my second year when I took organic chemistry. What I expected to be just another requirement ended up completely reshaping my academic direction. I found that organic chemistry provided more fundamental explanations for why and how biological events unfolded, which my biology classes often touched on but didn’t fully unpack. The more I learned, the more I realized that chemistry offered a uniquely satisfying way of understanding the world, as it blended the theoretical principles of fundamental physics with the real-world relevance that initially drew me to biology.
While I loved the material, I was ultimately convinced to choose the chemistry major because of the professors and community. Under the mentorship of Professor O’Leary and Professor Ball in organic chemistry, I found how supportive and collaborative the department was. They were always available for office hours, and made it clear that my curiosity was welcome, happily answering my million questions. In addition to that, the classes were structured with small-group peer mentor sessions that created a space for collaborative learning, where we could review concepts, work through problems together, and get questions answered by someone who took the class recently. These sessions showed me how fun chemistry could be when learning as part of a community, and how passionate the upperclassmen were to dedicate their time to helping us learn the material.
In addition to classes, the Chemistry Department provides outstanding support for students to spend time in the lab doing personal research. As a sophomore, Professor O’Leary encouraged me to get involved with the department’s extensive research opportunities and connected me with the incoming Professor Rebecca DiPucchio. I have now worked in the DiPucchio Lab for two years, including a summer sponsored by Pomona College’s SURP program, where I explored post-polymerization functionalization of commodity polymers in pursuit of sustainable recycling methods. This research has since evolved into my senior thesis, and having the opportunity to engage in a long-term, in-depth research project has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my time at Pomona. Many of my peers have been able to participate in similar research projects at Pomona, and these experiences have opened avenues to graduate schools, industry jobs, and clinical research.
The Chemistry Department is an extremely tight-knit community that is endlessly supportive of each other. My classmates and professors not only support each other in the classroom but in all our extracurriculars. As a student-athlete on the water polo team, professors are extremely understanding of my dueling commitments, providing extra office hours when I may have to miss class, and keeping up with my games. This spirit of support is mirrored among my peers, as many of my classmates are deeply involved in campus life, from athletics to music to clubs, and we all make a point to show up for one another’s events. While the major may be demanding, the department lives up to the liberal arts name by fostering balance in its students, while preparing us for the next steps in life.