As president of national co-ed service organization Alpha Phi Omega, one of only eight neuroscience majors in his year and a resident assistant in Seneca Hall, one would be correct in assuming junior Luke Bamburoski has his plate stacked high.
Bamburoski, however, manages to also squeeze in time to complete the requirements for the Edgar Fellows Honors program and help in research with assistant professor of psychology Jason Ozubko. Their psychological experiments involve studying spatial memory formation, specifically utilizing Google Maps—as well as other software—to create virtual environments to study the formation of spatial memories.
Alpha Phi Omega—one of the largest organizations on-campus—serves the Geneseo community by logging up to 3,000 hours of service a semester, with Bamburoski at the helm. He oversees all aspects of the group, leading various teams and ensuring all runs smoothly.
Bamburoski sees his involvement with Alpha Phi Omega as an opportunity to “lead by example” and credits the “group of amazing people” with whom he works to his—and the club’s—success.
“It is best to step back, let people do their thing and lead from there,” Bamburoski said. “You can’t please everyone.”
A Brockport native, Bamburoski plans to go to medical school to become a pediatric neurologist following graduation. As a neuroscience major, he is part of a relatively new major at Geneseo.
“It is certainly challenging in terms of other departments becoming acclimated to us, following an adjustment for them and for us,” Bamburoski said. “I wish there was a greater capacity and more funding from the school for the program,”
Bamburoski, nevertheless, remains a true advocate for the neuroscience major and persuades others to join with his explanation of the program.
“It’s all the parts of biology that you want to study,” he said. “We need more people in the health professions who are trained in behavior, with more than just one class.”
Beyond the neuroscience major, Bamburoski is also avidly involved with Student Life on-campus.
“Being a resident assistant has taught me how to talk to others, making sure they feel heard and how to communicate effectively,” Bamburoski said.
During his first year as a resident assistant, Bamburoski was initially nervous about working with freshmen at Onondaga Hall, but felt at ease with the students quickly after building relationships and trust. He has continued working as a resident assistant and is now positioned in Seneca Hall on the north side of campus.
Speaking on his favorite memories during his time at Geneseo, Bamburoski told a story about his first year living in Wayne Hall and the Halloween celebrations the residents planned an event.
“The event was really helpful to forge connections, and having a small community within a community really helped me find a place at Geneseo,” he said.
In what little spare time Bamburoski has, he likes to run, bike and visit his favorite spots in and around Geneseo, including Letchworth State Park and the Genesee Valley.u
Favorite movie: The Blind Side
Favorite place to eat in Geneseo: Geneseo Family Restaurant
Favorite thing in Geneseo: Letchworth State Park
Favorite part of the brain: Prefrontal cortex
Favorite book: Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer
Neuroscience major junior Luke Bamburoski has distinguished himself as a prominent member of the student body. In addition to his academic research, Bamburoski also serves as president of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Bamburoski currently works as a Seneca Hall resident assistant as well. (Sophie Yeomans/Asst. Copy Editor)