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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

Assistant Professor Mark Sheffield from the Department of Neurobiology talks about his career path and how he became a University of Chicago professor.

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.

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.