The Course

Professor Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos from the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy is on The Course this week to discuss his career path. From majoring in physics to psychology, to playing the Bouzouki and working in Greece for a year, it was only later in life that Professor Hatsopoulos found Neuroscience and found his passion as a scientist working on how the brain directs body movements. As his research team continues to explore this field, wearable robots or exoskeletons might not be too far in the horizon. Tune in to hear more about his career story!

Professor Fred Chong is the Seymour Goodman Professor of Computer Architecture and is also a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In this episode of the Course, Professor Chong shares how he witnessed the evolution of computers and A.I., while finding a niche, quantum computing and computer architecture, for himself to dive into as a research pathway.  As a faculty member at the University of Chicago, he finds joy, meaning and impact in teaching and guiding students. Tune in to listen to Professor's career story.

Professor Claudia Brittenham is from the Department of Art History and the Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity. She is also the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies. In this episode of The Course, she talks about why she so enjoys the study of objects, the many alternatives she considered as she honed in on her area of focus, and how she transitioned from being an art curator to a University of Chicago professor.

Assistant Professor Chiara Galli from the Department of Comparative Human Development is on The Course to talk about how her childhood experience moving to the US from Italy influenced her decision to study migrant issues. Professor Galli also shares various insights on choosing a major, being in an interdisciplinary department, and also her love for research methods. Don't miss out on her sharing!

Assistant Professor Paula Harper's participation in the choir drew her to music classes in her English major college days, and accidentally gave her a second major by the time she graduates. As she continues her journey to finding her unique path, she found her research interest by combining music, virality and social media platforms together. Join us this week on The Course, to hear Professor Harper share her story of working beyond conventional boundaries in a study field and how UChicago enabled her throughout the way. 

Professor Scott Gehlbach from the Department of Political Science and Harris School of Public Policy would almost have gone back to his family farm business had it not been for his love for city life and the various life-changing experiences. After spending extensive time in Eastern Europe, he found his research niche and continues to quench his curiosity through conversations with scholars at the University of Chicago. Tune in to this episode to hear his winding road toward academia. 

Professor Jennifer Pitts from the Department of Political Science is on The Course this week to talk about her career journey from being captured by art history to working as a reporter to finally pursuing a graduate degree in political theory.  She also shares her recent focus on the international writings of W.E.B. Du Bois, and the most gratifying part of her job as a professor.

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.