University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos recently sat down with Chemical World’s Rebecca Trager, reflecting on his career journey and the diverse background that brought him to Physical Chemistry. In the interview, President Alivisatos discussed his childhood move to Greece where he had to quickly adapt to a new language and culture, a skill that he believes greatly benefited him later in life.
He also discussed his family's history, highlighting his father's journey as a refugee from Greece who became a doctor in the United States, and his maternal grandfather's similar path. Despite the strong pressure to pursue medicine, Alivisatos found his passion in science, a journey marked by a period of exploration during his undergraduate years at the University of Chicago. He described this time as one of broad curiosity, where he explored various fields of study, ultimately shaping his unique and multidisciplinary approach to research and leadership.
Read the full interview at Chemical World: “In situ with Paul Alivisatos"