As Rice University prepares to celebrate the Class of 2025 at commencement May 9-10, Rice News is spotlighting a collection of standout seniors.
Zoe Griffin arrived at Rice with a childhood curiosity about the natural world and a dream of studying biology.
Growing up in Pinedale, Wyoming, she spent her days bird-watching and catching frogs. That passion only deepened at Rice, where she dove into developmental biology research using lizards as her model organism, earning the nickname “lizard wizard” around campus.
“There is no better place than Rice to study natural sciences,” Griffin said. “The teaching, the classes and the people in the bioscience department have been exceptional.”
Outside of the lab, Griffin embraced campus life as a cheerleader, finding balance in both academic and creative outlets.
“It’s so much fun to interact with the broader Rice community and enjoy these vibrant events that create the most wonderful memories,” she said.
Video by Brandon Martin/Rice University.