Question
Was there a spark that kindled your interest before you ever seriously considered being a Professor?
Answer
Anant loves being a Professor
Being a Prof is an incredibly rewarding experience on so many levels. First, there is an element of moral unambiguity to it --- you absolutely know that you are doing work that is good. Educating students, discovering new things about the world, giving lectures and writing about your discoveries, mentoring students: these aren't activities that one associates with shades of gray. They are clearly on the side of the angels. Second, there are the close relationships with students. The dominant emotional current associated with the Prof/Student relationship is love. Even if it sometimes doesn't feel that way, Profs care about our students deeply. We want them to do well. We want them to shine. We are proud when they do and disappointed when they don't. And we want to awaken in their minds the love of the subject and the passion for discovery. The fact that you're always working with enthusiastic and vibrant young people doesn't hurt either! Which brings us to the third big reason why being a Prof. is just awesome: the thrill of discovery. Faculty life is about research. And research is about deepening our understanding. It is hard to describe just how good it feels to learn something new and then to share it with others. Everytime someone else understands it, we get to relive an echo of the original thrill through their eyes. There is nothing quite like it in this world.
Question
What was the most important thing you did to become a Professor?
Answer
Anant Sahai
The most important thing I did was a high risk PhD thesis that tried to do something bold. Getting a faculty job at a top place is not about getting all your ducks in a row. It is about getting noticed and having the talent to impress people once you've been noticed.
Question
What is the most important skill for someone who wants to become a Professor?
Answer
Anant Sahai
You've gotta be able to question things that other people might never have questioned before. You have to be willing to play around with ideas and look for opportunities for understanding that go beyond where our understanding is now. That is probably the most important thing.
Question
What was the most rewarding experience in your career as a Professor?
Answer
Anant Sahai
The most rewarding experience is seeing your students succeed.
If Anant can do it, sokanu
Questions For Anant
Question
Jørgen Hookham wants to know:
Where do you teach?
Answer
Anant Sahai
None
For me, it was just seeing my Profs when I was an undergrad, and even a bit before that when I first saw the faculty give public lectures. They were the smartest and most impressive people I had ever seen in my entire life. I was in awe of them. Of course I wanted to be like them!