The Course: Recent Episodes
The University of Chicago Hong Kong Campus
Created by The University of Chicago Yuen Campus in Hong Kong, The Course is a compilation of personal conversations with professors from The University of Chicago. Each episode features one professor, where they talk about who they are outside lecture halls, the path that led them to become a professor, and all the ups and downs along the way. For curious students and anyone interested, here’s The Course on career stories as told by professors from UChicago.
As an academic studying American politics at the University of Chicago, Assistant Professor Ruth Bloch Rubin recognizes she is living in an unprecedented time that future political historians will be studying intently. It is equally a great time to indulge in her political nerdiness with her students. In this episode, Professor Bloch Rubin discusses the importance of feeling driven by one's research focus but also being open to pivoting and adapting to one's experience and social changes.
With various interests, Associate Professor Marco Garrido was still determining his next steps after graduation and went off exploring the world. It was when he shared dinner tables with the poor and the rich that he finally found his research interest in the Philippines. Currently studying how people's daily experiences shape their understanding of democracy, Professor Garrido shares his thoughts on what career means and how he sees his role as a professor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the University of Chicago.
From being an English teacher in Central Lesotho to being a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar to working with the World Bank and the United Nations, Assistant Professor Molly Offer-Westort chose to experience various opportunities before embarking on an academic life. Now, she uses data science and statistical tools to understand people's online behaviors and help policymakers make better decisions. Tune in to hear Professor Offer-Westort talk about her childhood dreams and how her research now contributes to the public in understanding the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.
Professor Robert A. Pape from the Department of Political Science discusses how his early research interest in air power and international political violence brought him to sit with military officers and policy decision-makers on various occasions. Professor Pape also expanded his interest in national security and democracy as he continued his research and teaching path at the University of Chicago, and directs the Chicago Project on Security & Threats (CPOST). Tune in to listen to his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election.
Associate Professor Timothy Harrison finished high school and ventured off to build his career as a model until he decided to pivot to a scholarly pathway and fulfill his dream as a novelist. Now as an author and co-author of multiple books, Professor Harrison finds joy in teaching, reading, and thinking about various English literature in the 16th to 17th century. Tune in to listen to his view on why Humanities matter, and his unusual career journey to becoming a University of Chicago professor.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics Catherine (Katie) Kearns is on The Course to talk about her study in Mediterranean archaeology and how her work crosses to reconstructing and studying ancient environments. Growing up, Professor Kearns was an athlete, loved doodling, and also picked up Latin. When she was introduced to history and, later, archaeology, she knew that's the path she wanted to continue. Tune in to hear Professor Kearns' career story!
Assistant Professor of Marketing and Asness Faculty Fellow Andreas Kraft is on The Course this week to talk about his experience as a student-athlete. Professor Kraft came to the US as an undergrad with a scholarship to play wheelchair basketball, with thoughts on going professional. However, with time, he finds himself asking more and more questions related to marketing in his economics classes, and got intrigued by the research world. Eventually, he continues his academic journey and graduates with three degrees, and is now teaching and researching in the Chicago Booth School of Business.
Associate Professor Victoria Saramago of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures grew up fascinated by storytelling. From wanting to be a fiction writer to now an academic who studies novels, she digs into the relations between literature, cultures, and the perception of environmental change, environmental humanities, and energy. Listen to Professor Saramago's career journey of bringing her passion from Brazil to the US and continues to teach, research, and mentor students in her role as a UChicago professor.
Professor Carolina López-Ruiz from the Divinity School and the Department of Classics shares how her passion for the ancient world started from a young age, and her determination to have a career related to this sector led her to appreciate various languages and the cultural understanding it opens up for her. Tune in to hear her talk about her career from the very beginning to her latest book on the history and cultural impact that the Phenicians had on the ancient Mediterranean.
Professor Fred Ciesla from the Department of Geophysical Sciences is on The Course this week to share how his career path to becoming a geophysical sciences professor started when he was a child. He was inspired to study astronomy after seeing stars, in particular Venus, glowing in the night sky. His path led him to Cornell, NASA, and finally to UChicago, where he met various important mentors along the way and worked on various research questions. Tune in to hear Professor Ciesla's sharing and his curiosity about whether there is life elsewhere.
Associate Professor Emily Lynn Osborn from the Department of History talks about how studying African History merged with her sense of rebellion with the French language and interest in history. Opportunities that brought her abroad made her see the world differently, and these experiences transferred to her role at UChicago as she spearheaded the Study Abroad Civilization program in Senegal. Tune in to hear more about her thoughts on UChicago's educational mission, her research inspirations, and being on a reality TV show.
In this week's episode, Assistant Professor Jasmine Nirody from the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy revealed how studying snake movements in her undergraduate years inspired her to become an organismal and integrative biologist instead of a medical doctor. She also shares the practical applications of studying the biophysics of tardigrades and jumping spiders. Tune in to hear how her research focus has shifted to focus more on the why since coming to UChicago.
Professor of Molecular Engineering and Vice Dean for Education at the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Andrew Ferguson, talks about his parents encouraging him to pursue the path he wanted, studying chemical engineering and now researching immunoengineering. In this episode, Professor Ferguson breaks down the complexity of studying proteins, the potential careers one could have in his field, and the joy of nurturing other scientists.
Associate Professor Lewis Shi from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine shares his determination to be a doctor from a young age. After spending 12 years at Harvard as a "Preparation H," he found his niche in shoulder surgery and continues his fulfilling life as a surgeon, a mentor, and a researcher, all while having his family as his greatest support. Tune in to hear his advice on commitment and practice.
Associate Professor Simeon Chavel from the Divinity Schools shares how he found his way to becoming a Hebrew Bible scholar at the University of Chicago through multiple chances. As he continues his research, teaching, and administrative work, Professor Chavel keeps his opportunities open, multitasks, and finds intriguing research topics to keep him passionate. Tune in for this week's episode to feel inspired by the Professor's work and outlook on life.
Ferdinand Schevill Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Music and the College, Professor Martha Feldman, joins us in this episode. Professor Feldman talks about her career journey from training as a professional guitarist to becoming a scholar researching Italian Opera and teaching Long and Song to UChicago students. She emphasizes the importance of believing in yourself and finding confidence to pursue one's passion and shares her upcoming plans in the field of music.
Professor Gabriel Richardson Lear of the Department of Philosophy and the Chair of UChicago's Committee on Social Thought joins us on The Course in this episode to talk about how her parents' early observation encouraged her to dip her toe into the philosophy world. From arranging state dinners to studying the works of Plato and Aristotle, Professor Lear finds the most satisfaction in mentoring and teaching students. Tune in to hear more about her career journey and also what the Committee on Social Thought studies.
Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering, Allison Squires, describes her experiment-filled childhood and all the joy science brought her. By walking through various opportunities, she found her place poking and perturbing molecules with her amazing team at the Squires Lab. Listen to her talk about how she got to her dream job and be prepared to feel her great enthusiasm for all the knowledge waiting to be discovered in the smallest particles in the world.
Haresh Sapra is the Charles T. Horngren Professor of Accounting at the Chicago Booth School of Business. Originally from a sugar factory on the island of Mauritius, Professor Sapra dreamed big with his family's encouragement and found his strength in accounting. Professor Sapra was an auditor before he pursued a PhD and finally landed a position as an academic at the University of Chicago. He credits his journey to his willingness to experiment and change. Tune in to learn more about his life journey!
In this episode, Michael K. Bourdaghs, Professor of Modern Japanese Literature and Culture at the University of Chicago, discusses his life and professional paths. His interest in Japanese literature and culture began when, out of the blue, he was given the chance to study for a year in Sendai, and the rest is history. He worked in the corporate world in Tokyo, then returned to the States to continue his studies and professional path. A professor at U Chicago since 2007, he describes a life filled with teaching, academic writing, and making time for his own fiction.
| In this episode, Medical Anthropologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Human Development Michele Friedner discusses her path to becoming a UChicago Professor. She describes an early interest in Indian culture that led her to study Indian religions as an undergrad, a time that vastly expanded her worldview and breadth of experience. Eventually, these varied interests coalesced around deaf and disability rights, which led her into the field of medical anthropology. Tune in to find out more about her research interest and how disabilities can be seen as strengths and impact one's life.
Professor Anthony Fowler, from the Harris School of Public Policy, researches econometric methods for causal inference to questions in political science, with particular emphasis on elections and political representation. In this episode, he describes how he switched from being a biology student to being fascinated by the political world. He also talks about the importance as an academic to disagree, challenge, and question opinions and research so to build a stronger political science research community. Professor Fowler talks about his career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Nancy Kawalek, from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, is the Director of STAGE: Scientists, Technologists, and Artists Generating Exploration, a laboratory that creates and develops new theater, film, games, and other artistic endeavors inspired by science and technology. Professor Kawalek's early career as an actor and her interest in science merged at STAGE and continued to grow at the University of Chicago. Tune in to listen to her sharing about her career path and how she became a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Amie Wilkinson, from the Department of Mathematics, studies smooth dynamical systems, ergodic theory, and mathematical chaos. Although she met an unsupportive advisor in college, her love for pure maths stayed strong, and she saw herself pursuing graduate school even more while working after college. Tune in to hear Professor Wilkinson talks about her career path and how she became a University of Chicago professor.
Professor John Mark Hansen is one of the nations leading scholars of American politics. His research focuses on interest groups, citizen activism, and public opinion, and he has written two books: Mobilization, Participation, and Democracy in America, which he wrote with Steven Rosenstone, and Gaining Access: Congress and the Farm Lobby. He is also the Interim Chair for the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago. Listen to his career story of becoming a UChicago Professor in this episode.
In this episode, Associate Professor Leslie Rogers from the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics talks about her path to becoming a UChicago Professor specializing in exoplanets. From stargazing as a child in Nova Scotia to graduate school at MIT to realizing at CalTech that she had a passion for working with students, Leslie Rogers describes a path where, at so many points, "the stars aligned."
Chibueze Amanchukwu is the Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering. His group works on energy-related challenges, with a specific focus on understanding how electrolytes can control electrochemical processes in batteries and catalysis. His work has been recognized with the NSF CAREER Award, the DOE Early Career Award, and the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar Award, amongst others. Tune in to hear Professor Amanchukwu's insights into becoming a professor and his dreams of impacting the world with his research.
Dipesh Chakrabarty is currently the Lawrence A. Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor in History, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, and the College in the Department of History. Chakrabarty’s current students in History and SALC work on a variety of topics, including: 20th-century Kerala, prostitution in British India, India-China relations in the 1950s, modern Islam in Bangladeshi history, and youth culture in colonial Bengal, among other subjects. Professor Chakrabarty talks about his career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Associate Professor Robert Gulotty, from the Department of Political Science, researches the relationship between national governments and global markets. As a rule follower, Professor Gulotty was initially attracted by potential careers with structure and stability. However, he found the life of the mind and the freedom of learning anything much more appealing in college and eventually decided to dive into academia. Tune in to hear more about Professor Gulotty's career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Associate Professor Jennifer Iverson, from the Department of Music, is a twentieth-century music scholar specializing in electronic music, avant-gardism, sound studies, and disability studies. As a FirstGen, Professor Iverson is drawn to supporting students in finding their belonging in the world through music. Listen to her share her career path to becoming a University of Chicago professor and her aspirations as an educator.
Professor Genevieve Lakier, from the University of Chicago Law School, teaches and writes about freedom of speech and American constitutional law. Her work examines the changing meaning of freedom of speech in the United States, the legislatures' role in safeguarding free speech values, and the fight over freedom of speech on social media platforms. Professor Lakier talks about her circuitous career path and how she found her niche in the First Amendment and became a University of Chicago law professor.
In this episode, Shaoda Wang, assistant professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, shares his career path in the field of applied economics. He discusses his initial love for physics and later finds the connection between physics and economics and an early mentor who made him certain he wanted to become an economist, with hopes of making this world a better place by researching and educating future policymakers about developmental and environmental economics with a regional focus on China.
The University of Chicago Assistant Professor Wilma A. Bainbridge, from the Department of Psychology, leads the Brain Bridge Lab, which focuses on examining the bridge between perception and memory, through the lens of psychophysical experiments, neuroimaging, and drawing studies. In this episode, she talks about her undergraduate experience as a professional guinea pig, studying abroad in Japan, learning languages, and finding her way to researching memory. Professor Bainbridge's career path to becoming a University of Chicago professor continues to evolve as she grows in her multiple roles as a mentor, researcher, mother, and many more.
Associate Professor Paul Poast from the Department of Political Science teaches and researches international relations and is a foreign policy fellow with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a world affairs columnist for World Politics Review. Professor Poast talks about his career path, from potentially becoming a lawyer and athletic coach to becoming a University of Chicago professor. He compares being an academic to running a small business and credits his father for his entrepreneurial skills. Listen to the many anecdotes Professor Poast shares in this episode.
Judith Zeitlin is a Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago. Professor Zeitlin’s research focuses on Ming-Qing literature, cultural history, and the arts, specializing in Chinese opera and the classical tale. Her work combines literary history with other disciplines, such as performance, music, visual and material culture, medicine, gender studies, and film. She is also a faculty member on the Committee on Theater and Performance Studies. In this episode, she shares how a little luck is needed when building her career, along with lots of passion and hard work.
In this episode, organic chemistry Professor Scott Snyder discusses his career path to becoming a faculty at the University of Chicago. He describes science as "in his DNA" and discusses first falling in love with organic chemistry as an undergrad, a fruitful Ph.D. experience, and a professional career path that has included teaching at Columbia University, Scripps Research Institute, and now at the University of Chicago. Listen to Professor Snyder share how he juggles his various hats from co-authoring textbooks, leading a research lab, and working in an administrative role, but continues to enjoy organic chemistry though movies, the kitchen, and exercising.
Professor Jasmin Tiro is a professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Chicago She is the Associate Director of Cancer Prevention and Population Science at the NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Chicago. Her program of research identifies multi-level determinants of cancer prevention and early detection behaviors. She uses quantitative and qualitative methods to develop, test, and implement interventions. In 2014, Professor Tiro received the Outstanding Mentorship Award from the Center for Translational Medicine at UT Southwestern. In this episode, you will hear her share how her passion for science and experiments led her to the field of Public Health.
Professor Peter Littlewood is the chair of the University of Chicago's Department of Physics. He was formerly the Associate Lab Director and then Lab Director at Argonne National Lab. Professor Littlewood also serves on the advisory boards of several institutes, including the Faraday Institution, the Simons Foundation, the Paul Scherer Institute, the Carnegie Institute for Science, and the Max Planck Institutes at Halle and Hamburg. In this episode, he shares his journey to creating and teaching as a scholar and his aspirations for the future.
Entering college with little idea of what she wanted to major in, Assistant Professor Sarah Newman took various courses and discovered archeology as her main interest. As an archeologist in the Department of Anthropology, she continues her field trips and research on ancient Maya and Mesoamerica in hopes of understanding the various perspective of human, animal, and environmental relationships throughout the years. Share Professor Newman's enthusiasm for the many new opportunities and collaborative discussions she gets from being a faculty member.
Assistant Professor of Law, Adam A. Davidson, majored in theatre, minored in business, and taught as a substitute teacher but discovered his true passion for law when googling for answers. Listen to this episode to find out what Professor Davidson was searching for, which eventually led him onto a completely different career path. As a law professor now, he finds fulfillment by contributing to the legal system through his research, producing knowledge, and having a role in the legal academy and mentoring students.
Louis Block Professor of Public Health Sciences, R. Tamara Konetzka, had an unusual career path that took her to various roles and places before finding her true passion in public health, health economics, and health policy. In this episode, where she talks about her, research experience and career stories, she also emphasizes the importance of finding the right fit, be it the right Ph.D. school, the right job, the right research topic; fit is a recurring theme that guided her along the way. As a leading expert in her field, Professor Konetzka continues her work to mentor students, find evidence in research, influence policy-makers, and make better changes for society.
Inspired by his own family history and the neighborhood he grew up in, Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Ryan Cecil Jobson, found anthropology as the tool for him to systematically understand the collective human emotions. Along the way of his personal, academic, and career persuasion, he has found significant mentors who taught and supported him as he trailblazed a new research path for himself. Listen to his story of making sense of human history, emotions, climate, natural resources, legacy economies, and many more in the Caribbean.
Professor John A. Schneider is from the Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences and understands that individual health is not just about personal efforts but also about the surrounding environment and public resources available. As a researcher and educator, he strives to bring broad, meaningful changes in the public health sector while providing personalized care to his clinic and center members. In this episode, Professor Schneider shares his childhood anecdotes and how his experiences led him to this unique position of serving his community. His insights shed light on the importance of empathy, compassion, and the role of public health in creating a healthier and more equitable society.
Anastasia Giannakidou, the Frank J. McLoraine Professor of Linguistics, has always been captivated by the intricacies of language. Growing up in a picturesque Greek town, she developed a deep appreciation for language's diverse meanings and structures because of Greek education. Throughout her journey from Greece, to the Netherlands to the United States, where she now teaches at the University of Chicago, she has constantly pushed boundaries by exploring new languages and undertaking exciting projects. Professor Giannakidou shares her insights on the immense value of multilingualism and how language is intertwined with various aspects of life.
Professor Darcey Merritt of the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice returned to academia from being a social worker to address the voiceless status of parents in welfare systems. She aims to fill this literature gap, empower the voiceless, and dismantle systemic racism. As a role model to others facing similar challenges, she emphasizes bringing people together for positive change. A new professor joining the University of Chicago, listen to her insights and vision for a better future here.
Adrienne Brown, an Associate Professor in the Departments of English and Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity, shares her journey of following her interests and passions and how it led her to become a faculty member at the University of Chicago. As a student, she lived in the present and studied what interested her without a clear career path in mind. Her love for English, writing, architecture, and literature kept her motivated, and she pursued these subjects with fervor. Professor Brown's dedication to her interests has opened up many doors, and she continues to explore new opportunities to teach, work, and share her passions.
This week's interview features Associate Professor of Sociology and Deputy Dean of the Social Sciences Robert Vargas. Professor Vargas is a first-gen student who grew up thinking he would become a baseball player. Over the years of encountering various mentors and hearing many encouragements, he decided to pursue sociology as a research tool to understand cities, law, and race. Listen to his stories of bringing sportsmanship to academia and aspirations to actualize productive discussions into positive city changes.
Professor Jennifer E. Mosely at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, talks about her winding path of studying psychology, working at a residential treatment facility, where she found social work, and discovering her niche in researching non-profit organizations. As she collaborates across disciplines and sees various shifts in the social work field, she actively works to impact human service organizations and communities positively. Tune in to hear her story here.
George Herbert Mead Distinguished Service Professor, Linda Waite, from the Department of Sociology, heads one of the most extended longitudinal studies on human social life, health, and aging. In this episode, she discusses how her research brings to light the interconnections of social relationships, human life outcomes, and health conditions as one age. Professor Waite also recounts her days in college and as a graduate student discovering sociology and demography and working at the Census Bureau.
John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor, Chuan He, from the Department of Chemistry, won the acclaimed Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 2023, and the Nobel Prize could be the next! Born in China and growing up knowing he would like to be a scientist, inorganic chemistry intrigued Professor He, and that's the path he chose for himself for teaching and research. In his lab, The He Group, Professor He encourages diversity, independence, and critical thinking for his students.
Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law, Geoffrey R. Stone, did not want to be a professor. He deliberately messed up his interview at the University of Chicago but still got an offer. Listen to him share why he decided to accept the offer, eventually becoming the Dean of Law School, Provost of the University, and personally invited by President Obama to be on the President's Review Group. Professor Stone continues to be passionate about the nation's various First Amendment and Civil Rights issues. He urges his students to keep an open mind and to think and hear opposing opinions.
From the newly formed Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity, Associate Professor Eve L. Ewing chose to become a professor because she wanted to understand the odd education system in Chicago that she experienced as a student and later as a middle school teacher. Leveraging her academic role now, she targets to improve the education system and her community. Along the way, Professor Ewing continues to pursue her passion for creative writing and arts, so you will see her publishing not just research writings but also comics, TV series, and many more. Listen to her story and hear how curiosity can inspire and impact lives.
The first in his family to become a doctor, Professor Jay Koyner is a professor, a physician, and a researcher focused on acute kidney injuries. In this episode, Professor Koyner talks about his childhood, finding the right mentors, and what inspires his research work at the hospital.
Navigating the gaps and differences as a young migrant, Associate Professor Julie Y. Chu found anthropology and its methods of understanding the world most fitting. Professor Chu shares anecdotes of encounters as a child and student that led her to become a professor after working in grassroots and nonprofit organizations.
Associate Professor Kristen Schilt from the Department of Sociology talks about her childhood interest in Punk and Riot grrrl and how a sociology course gave her the tools to combine her interest with studying the world. With positive experiences in teaching classes as a teaching assistant, Professor Schilt finds academia the best place for her research. Professor Schilt hopes to shift the world's unjust perspectives through books, films, and mentorships.
William H. Colvin Professor, Chris Kennedy from the Department of Linguistics, majored in Russian Language and Literature in college and had a musical career in a rock band after graduation. An ivy poison incident pivoted his career path, putting him on a trajectory focusing on linguistics and related disciplines. Listen to Professor Kennedy's windy career course here!
Willemien Otten is the Dorothy Grant Maclear Professor of Theology and the History of Christianity from the Divinity School. Growing up with her father, a pastor, in the Netherlands, Professor Otten found her calling in reading and interpreting the works of Eriugena. The encyclopedic work of Eriugena provided various insights into human life and nature, which matched Professor Otten's interests. In this episode of The Course, she shares her career and research at the University of Chicago and how religious texts can be relevant to contemporary issues like women's reproductive rights.
Associate Professor Jennifer Scappettone is from the Departments of English Language and Literature and Creative Writing. On The Course this week, she elaborates on her zigzagged career path, from studying history to teaching English in Japan to managing study abroad programs in Central Italy. Right when she thought she had forgotten English as a language, she decided to pursue a graduate degree in English Literature and creative writing. Professor Scappettone's diverse interest is reflected by her interdisciplinary work and the course formats she creates for her students.
William Rainey Harper Professor, Patrick Jagoda, spoke no English as a child but grew up to become a professor in the English department. While forging his career path, Professor Jagoda incorporated his interests in various fields, from theater to experimentation to video games, to creative writing. He now walks a unique way built by many failures and his strong belief in collaboration and interdisciplinary.
Chasing after castles and her own faith, Associate Professor Rachel F. Brown is now proudly an academic who teaches Medieval, Pslams, and Tolkien at the University of Chicago. In this episode, she talks about how her faith inspired and brought pushback to her career, pushes her students to be creative in her history classes, and challenges herself through various projects. Listen to this career story of a once-science major, a fencer, a poet, and many more.
Neubauer Professor, Heather Zheng, from the Department of Computer Science, shares her career story in this episode. From working outside of academia to eventually finding her love for mentoring students and enjoying the research freedom she gets from working at the University of Chicago. Professor Zheng believes that it is all about timing and readiness, and there is no need to stress because career paths are malleable.
Professor David Kovar from the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology talks about his journey to becoming a fundamental scientist at the University of Chicago. Entering college with hopes to become a soccer athlete, he later finds himself blown away by cell mechanisms and wanted to know more. Professor Kovar now continues his endeavor in understanding how healthy cells work with his teammates in the Kovar Lab. Listen to his career story and advice for young scientists.
David Lee Shillinglaw Distinguished Service Professor Ka Yee C. Lee from the Department of Chemistry has multiple roles at the University of Chicago. As a provost, researcher, and mentor for her students, she constantly aims to bring a positive impact to people and things around her. In this episode, Professor Lee describes her school days as a head girl in Hong Kong, her research passion, her ultimate vision as a professor, and her role in making the University's campus in Hong Kong come to life.
As an interdisciplinary researcher in the psycholinguistics and computer science field, Assistant Professor Allyson Ettinger from the Departments of Linguistics and Computer Science talks about how she finds herself intrigued by languages (both natural human languages and programming languages) and the processing of it in human and computer brains. Listen to her comments on the recent development of public interest in Artificial Intelligence and her story of becoming a professor at the University of Chicago.
Howard C. Nusbaum is the Stella M. Roley Professor of Psychology. In this episode of The Course, Professor Nusbaum outlines his childhood interests and elaborates on how his parents influenced his career choice. As a professor at the University of Chicago, Professor Nusbaum is continuously inspired by his students and intrigued by all the research work that can be done in his field.
David Schmitz is the Associate Professor of the Department of Physics. He studies neutrinos, subatomic particle that plays a big role in the universe. But Prof. Schmitz started off as an architectural engineering major in college when he discovered his passion for physics through a core class. As he found great mentors, and opportunities to research at Antarctica and in the Fermi Lab along his career path, he eventually chose to be a professor at the University of Chicago.
Kathryn Takabvirwa is an assistant professor at the Department of Anthropology. She discusses how she was attracted to Anthropology and how her upbringing in Zimbabwe influences her current research topic. In this episode, Prof. Takabvirwa candidly shares her experiences and thoughts as she builds herself up for her academic career at the University of Chicago.
Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor, Chihway Chang, talks about her childhood growing up in Taiwan and having her father as one of the biggest influences in her career journey. From being a straight-A student majoring in physics to bending the rules in her artwork, Professor Chang continues to exercise her creativity in astrophysics and cosmology. Listen to her share her story of becoming a professor at the University of Chicago.
Ariel Fox is an assistant professor of Chinese literature from the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. While she majored in political sciences as an undergrad, she found herself more intrigued by her minor degree in East Asian History and pursued a research journey in the humanities field. Focusing on the history of Chinese plays, dramas, and operas, listen to how Professor Fox's career path unfolded, bringing her to the University of Chicago.
Professor Patrice Rankine, from the Department of Classics, reminisces about his childhood bonding with his father over photography and the pivot he made to study classics in college. As classics continuously sparked joy and creativity in his life, he hopes to share it with his students through his teaching and writings. Listen to Professor Rankine's story of finding belonging and strength in the world of classics.
Chiara Cordelli is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. Coming from Italy, she brings her creativity to her research work on social and political philosophy, with a particular focus on theories of distributive justice, political legitimacy, normative defenses of the state, and the public/private distinction in liberal theory. In this episode, she talks about why she chose to be an academic and the ups and downs in this journey to becoming a professor at the University of Chicago.
Shereen Chaudhry is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Growing up thinking she will attend med school, Professor Chaudhry found herself consistently asking questions and looking for patterns of human behavior. With the encouragement of many mentors, she eventually went to grad school. Now as a professor at the University of Chicago, Professor Chaudhry researches on how people navigate social interactions and relationships with others.
Assistant Professor Ellie Hecksher from the Biological Sciences Division, shares how she found her love for evolutionary biology when observing a dish of cells. She also describes her fascinating research work on Drosophila in her lab at the University of Chicago, and her joy in mentoring and teaching students.
Associate Professor Daniel A. Arnold from Divinity School describes his travels to Nepal and India in college, and how the years working in a bookstore and studying non-instrumentally in a seminary led him to find his real love for philosophy. His profession as a professor sometimes juxtaposes with the ideal intellectual life, but interactions with students always help put things back into perspective. Listen to Professor Arnold talk about his career journey to becoming a professor at the University of Chicago.
Associate Professor Diana Franklin from the Department of Computer Science explains how a lifelong desire to teach led her to develop new tools and programs to teach kids about quantum computing. From being a computer architect to a computer science educationist, Prof. Franklin continues her journey to bettering the STEM education environment with zombie games and lots of research.
Roger L. and Rachel M. Goetz Distinguished Service Professor of Creative Management, Harry L. Davis, from the Booth School of Business, talks about how he thought to become a faculty member at The University of Chicago when driving by at a young age and actualizing this thought through his career path. As a professor, a dean, and a great grandfather, he shares his stories and wisdom in this episode with those interested in becoming involved in an academic institution.
Assistant Professor Alisa Knizel, from the Department of Statistics and the College, talks about how various math competitions during her schools years in Russia led her to find her interest in math and also arrive at a crossroads to choose between her two biggest passions - math and art as a career. Professor Knizel shares her research work and the joy of being a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Joshua A. Frieman from the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics describes entering the field of cosmology when it was still very small at the University of Chicago and marvels at what he and his fellow researchers have learned about the universe in the years since. After spending much of his career years in Fermi Lab, he is back at the University of Chicago as a professor to continue his teachings and research on dark energy.
Neubauer Family Assistant Professor Chong Liu from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering explains her path into the field of molecular engineering, describes how her research may someday change the way we acquire the resources needed for clean energy sources, and shares what she finds most rewarding about her role at The University of Chicago.
Associate Professor Chelsea Foxwell from the Department of Art History talks about how being a museum docent as a kid and her first encounter with an art historian inspired her to study Japanese art history. Her early interest in creative writing translates to her work in the field of art history and becoming an author. She further shares advice for those interested in studying the art of foreign cultures and gives us a sneak preview of an exhibition she's organizing.
Assistant Professor Po-Chun Hsu, from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, researches innovative, dynamic materials for light and heat management. His PhD thesis project in cooling textiles was selected as Top Ten World-Changing Ideas by Scientific American. In this episode, Professor Hsu talked about what in molecular engineering fascinates him, his dream of growing an academic tree and creating things that can positively impact the world. Listen to his career story of becoming a professor at the University of Chicago
Assistant Professor Sophie Salvo from the Department of Germanic Studies discusses how her lifelong love of reading and interest in languages led her to the study of sex and gender in German literature. She also explains why she loves having a job where she gets to discover new things and refreshes her sights on world literature as she teaches as a professor at the University of Chicago.
Associate Professor Leah Feldman from the Department of Comparative Literature talks about her dream of studying art but later finding her passion in languages while she travels abroad. Now a multilinguist who speaks French, Russian, Azeri, Persian, and many more, she studies people, culture, and various topics through art and finds joy in creative collaborations. Listen to her story of becoming a University of Chicago professor.
William Benton Professor of Psychology Boaz Keysar talks about his circuitous career path that began in the Israel Military, to being a salesperson, and eventually pursuing a PhD in the US. As a professor at The University of Chicago for the past 31 years, he studies the use of language and its impact on human thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Tune in to learn more about his career path, surprising findings his lab has discovered, and thoughts for aspiring psychology majors.
[Photo credit: Tomer Keysar]
Assistant Professor Christopher Campos from the Chicago Booth School of Business describes his journey from being in the Marines to majoring in statistics and economics and eventually becoming an applied economist at the University of Chicago. He shares the feeling of elation he gets when patterns emerge in his data and compares his current job in academia to his former career in the Marines.
Associate Professor Greg J. Norman, from the Department of Psychology, once dreamt of being a professional athlete and competing in the Olympics but was forced to pivot and stumbled upon the research field that studies stress and its effects on the body. Now, as a psychophysiologist at the University of Chicago, he talks about the resistance along his path, the joys of his job, and what he thinks of failure.
Associate Professor Constantine Nakassis from the Department of Anthropology is a linguistic anthropologist who is intrigued by the various meanings in communication. As a graduate student, his unplanned trip to Southern India inspired him to focus on Tamil Nadu, India, for his research. Tune in to listen to Professor Nakassis share his take on finding passion, being a graduate student, and becoming a professor at the University of Chicago.
Assistant Professor Sunyoung Park, from the Department of the Geophysical Sciences, researches a wide range of topics in seismology, including deep earthquakes and the development of novel approaches to studying the earth’s internal processes. Professor Park talks about how she discovered her interest, her childhood in Korea, and her career path to becoming a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Yoonsun Choi challenges the social norms of being an educated female of her time and continues questioning people's assumptions of Asian Americans as model minorities through her research that follows hundreds of families over the course of many years. Her childhood in Korea, journey to the US, and aspirations to make the world a better place as a social worker eventually brought her to the University of Chicago. Listen to her excitement at being able to share the results of her studies.
Associate Professor Thomas Talhelm talks about how he (unintentionally) ended up in China because of his love for language. As he evolved from being an English teacher, a journalist to a social entrepreneur creating Smart Air, he discovered the value of research. Now, as a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, he explains his findings - The Rice Theory and encourages listeners to think of whether they have answers to even the most basic questions.
From being a first-gen student to pursuing a PhD and becoming a social psychologist at the Booth School of Business, Professor Linda Ginzel shares her career story of becoming a University of Chicago professor. She reminds listeners of the importance of expressing gratitude, how teaching, learning, and practicing leadership is hard but doable, and explains her take on UChicago's motto, “Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched" in this episode.
[Photo credit: Tomar Keysar]
Professor Matthew Jesse Jackson discusses his path from being an ABD comparative literature student to graduating with an art history degree all because of his fascination with the challenging and surprising nature of the art. In this episode, he also shares his thoughts on what art is, how it's important to never stop being a student, and the most gratifying thing about his job as a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Sarah Nooter, from the Department of Classics and the College, talks about her passion for poetry and how understanding the meaning of poetries and its importance to human civilization brought her to becoming a professor at the University of Chicago. She also understands the challenges of being an academic in the humanities, so she shares a few points for those interested to consider.
Associate Professor Tiffany Shaw, from the Department of the Geophysical Sciences, explains how her high school teacher inspired her to pursue maths and physics, and eventually found her research interest in atmosphere and climate change. Professor Shaw reflected on her career path to becoming a University of Chicago professor and shared tips with those who are interested in solving problems using physics and maths as tools.
Professor Philip V. Bohlman discusses how his childhood as a young musician in his town led him to become the first ethnomusicologist at UChicago and describes what it's like to study the Eurovision song competition, the auditory cityscape of Kolkata, and everything in between. He emphasizes the importance of learning and writing in more than one language and what one can learn from listening to different musics.
Assistant Professor Lin Bian describes how her mother's work as a teacher influenced her interest in teaching and finding out she achieved her childhood dream from a decade ago. Her fascination for developmental psychology led her to understand what it's like to be a woman in STEM and study why there are not more women in STEM. In this episode, she gives out a piece of evidence-based advice that, hopefully, will shift the current culture and people's perspective.
Associate Professor Ada Palmer has multiple careers as a University of Chicago professor, an accomplished historian, and a science fiction author. In this episode, she discusses how she sees history horizontally with one question at a time, the importance of looking at historical figures as human beings and why self-care has been crucial to her success. She even shares the history of calculus and Machiavelli's laundry.
Associate Professor Malte Willer looks at how his training in Germany and in the States prepared him for a career in academia to understand the logic and philosophy behind languages at The University of Chicago. As much as he initially worried about his career with a philosophy degree, he equally emphasized the importance of having a Plan B and shared other advice for those interested in philosophy.
As associate professor Miwa Yasui grew up in various countries throughout her childhood, she developed a strong sense of curiosity about the different human behaviors as a result of culture and family upbringings. In this episode, Professor Yasui talks about how this curiosity brought her to clinical psychology, her research in cross-cultural mental health, and her career trajectory to becoming a professor at the University of Chicago.
Assistant Professor Kirill Ponomarev once trained and dreamt of becoming a professional soccer player but also found his love of math, which brought him to the field of econometrics and to the United States. He talks about how he benefitted from conversations with his fellow graduate students, forming study groups as he completed his PhD, and now, the work that he does as a faculty member at the University of Chicago.
Assistant Professor Darryl Li describes how his experiences growing up as a first-generation Asian American, working in NGOs, and working in Gaza in the early 2000s set him on a path toward studying both anthropology and law. He explains why he thinks his practical approach has served him well, bringing him to becoming a professor at The University of Chicago, and his upcoming plans in his academic journey.
Assistant Professor Aimee Hilado draws from her background as the daughter of immigrants and finds her interest in working with immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and forcibly displaced populations. Her clinical work and research focus on immigrant trauma and mental health issues. As Professor Hilado joins the University of Chicago with more hopes for the future, she shares the wisdom she's learned from each chapter of her career.
Associate Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics Alex Imas, from the Booth School of Business, once worked two jobs, pursued music and built a start up until a radio interview pivoted his career path to becoming a University of Chicago professor. As he grew up as a war refugee and debated on becoming a medical doctor, he found his passion for behavioral economics and aspires to make a difference with his research.
Assistant Professor Milena Almagro talks about her initial passion for mathematics and how it extended to facilitating her research in urban economics. She also explains how her globe-trotting career path has given her a unique perspective on the microeconomics of gentrification and her aspirations as she starts her academic career at The University of Chicago.
Professor Janelle Goodwill explains how her childhood aspiration of becoming a clinical psychologist has led her to a career researching suicide prevention. Along the academic journey is many rejections, and she is thankful to have strong models and mentors by her side, guiding her to now becoming a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Ariel Kalil describes how she pivoted from being a francophile to an interest in childhood development and parenting. The search for finding small but impactful changes in parenting behavior led her to become a professor at The University of Chicago, where she is continuously inspired by her colleagues, students, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Professor Daniel Holz from the Department of Physics, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Enrico Fermi Institute, and Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics researched Einstein's theory of gravity, focusing on black holes and gravitational waves. In this episode, Professor Holz talks about his days as an international student in the Philippines, his interest in poetry, physics, and maths, and how he eventually found his passion in black holes. Prof. Holz talked about his career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor studying things that he loves.
From a boy in China to now an Associate Professor at the Booth School of Business, Professor Linwei Xin researches supply chain management and e-commerce operations and teaches both MBA and PhD courses. Professor Xin also works with companies to solve practical problems and aspires to make theories practical and find deeper theories from practices. In this episode, he talked about his career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Assistant Professor Luis Martinez from the Harris School of Public Policy talks about how he finds himself studying the interaction between economics and politics in developing countries, with a regional focus on Latin America. He also shares how his family's support and his diverse interest in various subjects led him to complete a PhD in Economics. Tune in to hear more about Professor Martinez's experience and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Associate Professor Damon Jones from the Harris School of Public Policy conducts research in economics on inequality, tax policy, and household finance, as well as the impact of government policy in those areas. In this episode, he talks about his journey to becoming a University of Chicago professor and how the support of his family and mentors made a difference in his trajectory. Professor Jones also highlights the pros and cons, joys and challenges of being a faculty member.
Matthew Briones is an associate professor of American History and the College from the Department of History. He talked about how his childhood in boarding schools led him to Harvard as a student, then to UChicago as a professor, and all along, trying to understand human relationships through history. Professor Briones shares his insights into living life as a student, a teacher, a professor, a father, and most importantly, a human.
Associate Professor Royce Lee from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience joins us in this episode to talk about his initial interest in poetry writing, going through med school and residency, and eventually becoming a psychiatrist working and researching what he describes as a left brain/right brain field. Listen to Prof. Lee compare neuroscience research with electronic music and his childhood stories that led him to become a UChicago professor.
Assistant Professor of Music and the Humanities Jessica Swanston Baker, from the Department of Music, is an ethnomusicologist, and she researches music of the Black Atlantic, mostly in the Caribbean. She also teaches world music classes and other classes related to music, dance, and the African diaspora. Professor Baker talked about her career path from an aspiring opera singer to now as a University of Chicago professor.
Alan Yu is the Professor of Linguistics and the College from the Department of Linguistics. Professor Yu also directs the UChicago Phonology Laboratory as well as the Washo Documentation Project. Professor Yu talked about being an immigrant, being interested in astronomy, and as a linguist working on preserving the Washo language, culture, and stories. Here's his career story to becoming a University of Chicago professor.
Doron Ravid is an Assistant Professor of Economics and the College, from the Department of Economics. His research focuses on mathematical models that study questions about the kind of information people choose to communicate and learn. Professor Ravid talks about his career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Assistant Professor Yuehaw Khoo is from the Department of Statistics, and he is also a member of the Committee on Computational and Applied Mathematics. Professor Khoo spoke about his faith, his interest in theories led him through his career path, and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Paul Sereno discusses how he's made a career of digging up bones and shares a few pivotal moments in his journey. From playing Tom Sawyer in a school play to the moment in the New York Natural History Museum that changed everything, and now as a professor at The University of Chicago.
Professor Julian Go discusses how his interest in historical sociology brought him to grad school and eventually became a professor at The University of Chicago. He briefly shares his thoughts on imperialism, policing, and how these two are intertwined through a historical perspective; and his hopes for a better future by communicating with his students and the public.
Professor John Rappaport discusses how he pivoted from mathematics to law, finding ways to change the world bit by bit, and shares some of the advice that helped him on his way to academia.
Professor Hajin Kim discusses how her interest in trade and her experiences with Korean cuisine led her to focus on the environment and explains how she fell in love with law, and with her colleagues at the University of Chicago.
Professor Peggy Mason from the Department of Neurobiology, researches pain modulation, empathy, and pro-social behavior through the lens of neurobiology. In this episode, she shares her love for animals and neurobiology and how these passions brought her to becoming a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Kimberly Kay Hoang from the Department of Sociology talks about her background coming from a Vietnamese refugee family, her choice of pursuing academia instead of law school, and navigating life amid global crises.
Professor Amir Jina takes us through his journey from theoretical physics to his current position at the intersection of economics and climate research and discusses moments that influenced his path to becoming a professor at The University of Chicago.
Professor Tara Zahra talks about her childhood dream of becoming a ballet dancer, the person who inspired her to become a history professor and the most gratifying and challenging aspects of the job.
Assistant Professor Anjali Adukia is from the Harris School of Public Policy and the College, and the director of the MiiE Lab. In this episode she talks about her childhood, starting off as a molecular and integrative physiology major, her volunteer work, being in India during the 2004 Asian Tsunami, and how all these experiences led her to become a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Yau W. Wah talks about how a teacher in junior high sparked his passion for physics, and what he's learned in his long career at The University of Chicago.
Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and the anthropology of religion, Alireza Doostdar from the Divinity School, talks about moving from electrical engineering to education technology to now, anthropology. How growing up with the Iranian revolution impacts his views and becoming a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Jiwoong Park from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering shares his experience of filling an empty lab with ideas, dreams, challenges, and most importantly, passionate people in his research team. His love for teaching and finding solutions guided his career path to becoming a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Wei Wei Lee describes her journey through the medical field, the value of her experiences studying medicine in China and Hong Kong, and what she loves about being a clinical physician.
As a child, Professor Caterina Fugazzola wanted to be a math teacher. In this episode, she explains how international travel and the guidance of some great mentors led her to Global Studies and how teaching keeps her from getting bored.
Professor Mark Templeton talks about his circuitous journey to environmental law, how his travel experience and government work inform how he teaches today and a few of the perks of being a clinical law professor.
Professor Adom Getachew discusses how her interest in international politics led her toward her current research, discusses the slough of archival research and why it's all worth it for those "Aha!" moments, and shares some advice she wishes she'd followed.
Assistant Professor Mark Sheffield from the Department of Neurobiology talks about his career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor.
Professor Brodwyn Fischer describes her many research trips to South America, explains how her early interest in theater has translated into her current work, and talks about why she loves being challenged by UChicago students.
Professor Salikoko Mufwene describes his globe-trotting path from Congo to UChicago, describing how his interests have evolved along with his field, and why his time at Jamaica was so formative.
Professor Kenneth Pomeranz discusses his upbringing in Queens as the child of refugees to pursuing a career studying the history of China.
Professor Nicole Hallett, a clinical professor of law, discusses what drew her to clinical work, how her experiences outside academia shaped her career choices, and why she finds immigration law so fulfilling.
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, Hae Kyung (Haky) Im, works within the Department of Medicine. She discusses her career path and how she became a University of Chicago professor.