Have you ever wondered how that professor ended up teaching the class you loved—or maybe even hated? What paths they took to become experts in their fields, guiding you through the wonders of the universe or the complexities of a new language?Join Itzal as she sits down with the educators behind higher education. We’ll explore the decisions that shaped their journeys, the moments that defined them, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.Get to know the real people in front of the chalkboard with the Academic Diaries.
Resilience, Parenthood, and Human Kindness with Prof. Despina Louca
Episode Notes
This episode is about persistence, identity, science, and the people who help carry us forward.
How do you get through the hardest moments in life? What does it take to be both a mother and a scientist in a demanding field? And perhaps most importantly: how do you repair a hairdryer without making your parents call the repairperson?
In this episode of "The Academic Diaries", Professor Despina Louca takes us through the remarkable journey that brought her from a small town in Cyprus to becoming Chair of the Physics Department at the University of Virginia.
A lifelong experimentalist, Professor Louca shares stories of fixing household items, adapting to life in the United States, and finding inspiration at Bryn Mawr College. Although she first imagined a future in medicine and later explored neurobiology, she eventually found herself drawn toward condensed matter physics.
She also speaks candidly about the difficult moments she faced throughout her career. Including navigating environments where outspoken and ambitious women were not always welcomed. Yet through mentorship, resilience, and the support of people who believed in her, she built an extraordinary scientific career and became a leader in her field.
Here are some links if you would like to know more about Prof. Louca:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despina_Louca (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despina_Louca)
Here is a link for the Cyprus invasion mentioned in the podcast:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/cold-war/what-caused-the-division-of-the-island-of-cyprus (https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/cold-war/what-caused-the-division-of-the-island-of-cyprus)
Art: Gene ChenEditor: Cristoforo Farnese De La RuaProduction: Sounds on GroundsMusic: Snakes and Fire (Instrumental Version) by Pär HagströmEs_Clear Blue Sky by Sara de Instrumentalist
26 Jan 2026
Decisions and Detours in Academia with Prof. Baessler
Episode Notes
How do you make hard decisions? How long should you take to decide whether to move to another country or get married? Is there a checklist,or even a “right” way, to decide big life questions? These are some of the questions Prof. Baessler and I explore in this episode of Academic Diaries.
Prof. Baessler begins by sharing what university was like in Germany, including the famously intense oral exam that summarized your entire education in one day. Pass it and you earn your degree. Stressful? Absolutely. Later, he talks about the experience of moving to America and starting a completely new life in another country, from opening a bank account to renting an apartment for the first time.
He also opens up about stepping away from academia for a time to focus on his family, and how, through a turn of faith, he was eventually able to return and continue his academic career. Something that’s incredibly difficult to achieve in most cases.
Throughout the conversation, Prof. Baessler reflects on the decisions that brought him to where he is today, and we talk about how overthinking can be just as detrimental as underthinking. Whether you’re navigating career crossroads, life transitions, or big personal choices, this episode offers honest insights on finding your way without losing yourself in the process.
If you would like to know more abut Prof. Baessler click on the link below:
https://www.phys.virginia.edu/People/personal.asp?UID=sfb5d (https://www.phys.virginia.edu/People/personal.asp?UID=sfb5d)
To check out the book I was raving about, here is Sync by Steven Strogatz:
https://www.cornellstore.com/Strogatz-Sync (https://www.cornellstore.com/Strogatz-Sync)
Art: Gene ChenEditor: Cristoforo Farnese De La RuaProduction: Sounds on GroundsMusic: Snakes and Fire (Instrumental Version) by Pär HagströmEs_Clear Blue Sky by Sara the Instrumentalist
21 Oct 2025
Sailing the Unknown with Academic Curiosity
Episode Notes
What do you do when a problem is unfamiliar and challenging, when you keep working on it and you’re unsure whether a solution even exists? That’s the journey Professor Pfister and I invite you to join us on. Threading into unknown waters, navigating uncertainty, and uncovering new possibilities.
Professor Pfister begins by recalling how his academic path might have gone quite differently. In France, he initially aspired to become a medical doctor. But destiny had other plans, and he eventually found his calling in physics. Along the way, he spent a year doing military service; a time that introduced him to people from all walks of life and gifted him a fresh perspective. When he returned to science, he did so with renewed appreciation and determination.
Today, as a professor at the University of Virginia, Prof. Pfister specializes in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, and his work in quantum optics and quantum information has earned him recognition and respect.
In our conversation, we explore how one builds the tools needed to sail into the unknown. We talk about how research is as much an art as a science, and how sometimes the truest discoveries come from persistence in places where no map exists. If you want to learn more about Prof. Pfister click on the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Pfister (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Pfister)
Art: Gene Chen
Editor: Cristoforo Farnese De La Rua
Production: Sounds on Grounds
Music: Snakes and Fire (Instrumental Version) by Pär Hagström
ES_Clear Blue Sky by Sara the Instrumentalis
19 Sept 2025
Beyond Advice: The Invaluable Power of Mentorship
Episode Notes
Have you ever wondered whether you’re really smart… or if your successes are just luck? In this episode, Professor Chris Neu discusses imposter syndrome, and how the right mentors made all the difference in helping him grow into the person he is today.
He starts his story on a school morning listening to the radio, and forming a dream—to one day become a high energy physicist. He talks about the hard parts in undergrad, the people who offered advice when he needed it the most, and what kept him going toward finishing his degree and eventually earning his PhD.
Now Professor Neu is a Professor in Physics at UVA (working with the CMS experiment at CERN) who’s deeply committed to mentoring students and helping them feel like they belong.
Professor Neu teaches the class “How Things Work”, which has exciting demonstrations of physical phenomena. Look here if you want to learn more about it:
https://news.virginia.edu/content/physics-idol-offers-students-alternative-method-assessment-popular-course (https://news.virginia.edu/content/physics-idol-offers-students-alternative-method-assessment-popular-course)
I mentioned that caring for your mental health is super important. Check for resources in your school to see if there is help available. I made use of Open Path Collective when I had no therapy from school, and they gave me affordable and good therapy when I needed it the most. (This is not sponsored)
Art: Gene Chen
Editor: Cristoforo Farnese De La Rua
Production: Sounds on Grounds
Music: Snakes and Fire (Instrumental Version) by Pär Hagström
ES_Clear Blue Sky by Sara the Instrumentalis
1 Sept 2025
Professor 101: What is it like to become a Professor in the US?
Episode Notes
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a professor? Now you can get an idea by listening to Prof. Cass Sackett’s story. He opens with his undergraduate journey at Harvey Mudd College and walks us through his path to becoming a Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia. Today, he’s a trusted supervisor, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and a valued member of the Physics Department
Prof. Sackett reflects on why he drifted away from mathematics and recounts his professor interview experiences. He offers insightful advice on graduate admissions—sharing what makes applications stand out and how you can improve yours. Most importantly, he emphasizes that what truly matters isn’t the title you earn—but the skills and experiences you gain along the way.
Prof. Sackett's Book: "Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics: A Practical Approach"
Links: https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/cass-sackett/ (https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/cass-sackett/)
https://uva.theopenscholar.com/cass-lab (https://uva.theopenscholar.com/cass-lab)
Art: Gene Chen
Editor: Cristoforo Farnese De La Rua
Production: Sounds on Grounds
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