Name: Wilbur Wang
Hometown: San Jose, California
Age: 18
College: Wiess 
Major(s): Psychology, Cognitive Sciences

Undergraduate research: I am currently involved in undergraduate research with Professor Tony Ro, an associate professor in the psychology department (through the Century Scholars Program). My work thus far has involved examining the relationship between attention and eye movements, and we currently are investigating the role of the frontal eye fields in linking the two. To address this issue, we have run several experiments with a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation, which temporarily stops localized brain function through the transmittance of a magnetic pulse.

Last April, I traveled with Professor Ro’s lab group to San Francisco to participate in the Annual Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, and I plan to present the results of my current research at a future scientific conference.

Extracurricular activities: As a floor host at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, I go to the hospital every Friday and visit patients and provide them with care that nurses or doctors may not emphasize. For example, I often bring patients magazines, newspapers, and toiletries, and I am always there to engage in conversation.

I also am involved in One-On-One Tutoring, a campus organization that pairs Rice students with elementary school students for weekly tutoring and mentoring sessions at local elementary schools. And I am a part of the Rice Student Volunteer Program (RSVP) and serve on the Children’s Committee. This year, I helped plan Project Pumpkin, a big Halloween event held on campus for elementary school children in the Houston area.

Favorite thing to do at Rice: I enjoy attending concerts at the Shepherd School of Music. The musicians here are phenomenal, the halls are intimate, and Rice students can attend most concerts for free.

The thing that surprised me most about Houston: I underestimated the humidity and heat of the early school year and spring seasons. The weather can also be quite erratic at times. Nonetheless, autumn in Houston, and at Rice, can be especially gorgeous.

What I like most about Houston: A lot of things are convenient, and the bus line goes to many places downtown. The Rice Village, a shopping area, is within walking distance (or a shuttle ride when I’m lazy). There are definitely things to do in Houston away from school if you take the initiative and go out “beyond the hedges” to pursue them. I also really like the proximity of the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the country. There are ample opportunities for volunteering and working with professionals in the health field, a real plus for a premed student like me.

Ways in which Rice has changed/shaped me: Although I am not even halfway done with my Rice experience, I definitely know that Rice has been good preparation for real-world experiences. For example, the intimate environment created by small classrooms and emphasis on undergraduate research has pushed me to be more proactive in terms of my education. The label of “undergraduate” is often discarded, as the entire community here is really just a supportive group of people who want to learn. Getting my hands wet in undergraduate research has definitely exposed me to academic research—something I plan on pursuing in the future.

Something I’ve done at Rice that I didn’t expect to do: I’ve become very involved in my undergraduate research lab, something I didn’t know I would enjoy before coming to Rice. 

Favorite food at Rice: The South Servery always has the best vanilla ice cream.

My plans after graduation: I plan to attend medical school, and I am currently looking into applying to MD/PhD programs.

Rice is: A terrific institution for getting a well-rounded undergraduate education. There are plenty of ways to develop as a person here. First, the classrooms are intimate environments for student to be proactive in their education. It is a great place to take intellectual risks because the people around you—faculty and students—realize that taking the risk is far more important than being passive about your education. Outside the classroom, you can always get involved in activities that interest you due to the variety of clubs and organizations on campus. Rice is a community of scholars who actively seek to apply what they have learned to the ever-changing world.