Arizona State University biophysics graduate Samuel Webster has been selected The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' fall 2023 Dean's Medalist for the Department of Physics. 

The Dean's Medal recognizes the highest achieving students from humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Department of Physics nominates students based on their academic achievements, contributions to research, and their impact on the physics community. 

“Samuel is an exceptionally bright student, who can combine a solid theoretical background with impressive creativity and the ability to grasp promptly new ideas and approaches,” said Banu Ozkan, professor and biophysics program director of the Department of Physics. 

During his time at Arizona State University, Webster made a conscious effort to just say "yes" to new experiences. 

In 2019, Webster participated in a student exchange program where he studied physics at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Though the experience taught him a lot about physics and how physics is taught in other countries, it made him appreciate the small group settings available at ASU. 

Through ASU Webster also completed a Global Intensive Experience in India, an exchange program in Singapore, and an Undergraduate Research Experience with Professor Ralph Chamberlin. He credits each of these experiences in playing a part in his decision to pursue a career in medicine.  

"Every time you go out and do something, it's like you learn a little bit about yourself, you learn a little bit about what is available, what you want to do. So much stuff to take advantage of and each [experience] kind of pushed me in a different direction until I ended up where I was."