Zhongyin (Maggie) Zhang’s ’24 journey through college was marked by a profound shift in focus from linguistics to animal behavior and cognition. Zhang says that shift was catalyzed by her experiences and academic pursuits at Haverford and now leads her to Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) for its animal behavior and welfare programs.
“The well-rounded liberal arts education I had at Haverford really prepared me to deal with all kinds of issues that might occur while conducting research,” Zhang says. “My psychology major taught me real skills while dealing with different populations, something that I believe will always be helpful as I continue my research career.”
Zhang initially chose Haverford College for its renowned Tri-Co linguistics community. During her freshman year, she immersed herself in linguistics classes across the Tri-Co campuses. However, her focus changed when she developed a keen interest in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying language-related disorders. A turning point came during the fall of her sophomore year when she organized a student-led seminar on communication disorders through the Hurford Center. This experience deepened her fascination with understanding the brain’s role in communication, leading her to enroll in a challenging behavioral neuroscience class at Bryn Mawr College.
“It was a really hard course for me at that time, but I was amazed by all the complicated work that our brain and body could do for us,” Zhang recalls.
Another pivotal moment for Zhang occurred when she was selected as a Velay Scholar, which supports women in science at Haverford, and she became a student researcher in Professor Laura Been’s lab.
“Professor Laura Been was such a supportive mentor, and even though I thought of myself as a somewhat slow learner, she and other lab members were always so encouraging that I started to build confidence in doing lab work,” Zhang says. The lab’s focus on hormones and behavior, particularly reproductive behaviors, piqued Zhang’s interest and led her to explore this new area further.
In the summer before her senior year, Zhang’s true passion was revealed. “I came to the realization that I was more interested in animal behavior and cognition while conducting all my past projects in the Been lab,” she explains. With that, she applied to graduate programs specializing in animal behavior, welfare, and conservation across multiple countries.
One of Zhang’s educational highlights was her course in feminist neuroscience taught by Professor Megan Massa.
“Though I am no longer in the field of behavioral neuroendocrinology, the gender/sex aspects of neuroscience research that I learned in that class was really enlightening,” Zhang noted. “That class encouraged me to consider the social factors in my research design as well as its social impacts.”
Additionally, Zhang appreciated her classes in Japanese civilization and Japanese prints with Professors Hank Glassman and Erin Schoneveld.
“Had I not decided to become a scientist, I would be interested in doing research in East Asian studies,” she said. “It was so nice that I was able to learn Japanese history and some Chinese history in these classes, something that I have always been interested in as an academic ‘hobby.’”
Mentorship was crucial throughout Zhang’s journey. She expressed gratitude for Professor Been’s support and appreciated the encouragement she received from Professor Rebecca Compton. Inspiration for her career also came from her two cats, Lina and Huhu, who sparked her interest in veterinary medicine and animal behavior.
“I really wanted them to stay happy and healthy so I figured that research programs in vet schools would be a great idea,” she says.
Zhang’s experience in the Been lab and her role as co-president of the Bi-Co Neuroscience Club highlighted the importance of science communication. “In the future, I hope that my research findings will be directly shared with the public and thus benefit all animals,” she adds.
Looking ahead, Zhang plans to pursue a master’s and Ph.D. in animal behavior and welfare with the aim of doing post-doc research and landing a job in the “super competitive” academic job market. But, she says, “If not, I am also open to jobs outside academia as long as they benefit animal health and wellbeing.”
For those navigating their post-college paths, Zhang offers this advice: “I know how confusing and challenging the time could be for us after college; the options seem too many and yet too few all at once. But I personally believe that the quality liberal arts education we got from Tri-Co will get us where we want. It’s just a matter of time.”
“Where They’re Headed” is a blog series chronicling the post-collegiate plans of recent Haverford graduates.