Congratulations to Gregory Rassolov on receiving the 2019 Wayne C. Booth Prize for Excellence in Teaching, awarded to graduate students for outstanding instruction of undergraduates! The son of theoretical chemistry professors, Gregory Rassolov has charted a similar course as his parents, majoring in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and now pursuing a PhD in the Department of Chemistry.
And while theoretical chemistry might be family tradition for Rassolov, he knows it’s a notoriously complicated subject for most undergrads to grasp. So in his role as a teaching assistant for the yearlong general chemistry sequence, Rassolov has enjoyed finding novel ways to engage with his students.
“When we began to cover the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, I spent a significant amount of time explaining concepts that can seem especially strange and mysterious the first time they’re introduced by using analogies and physical pictures that students can more easily comprehend—such as standing waves on a guitar string,” said Rassolov. “I feel like taking this sort of approach helps to demystify the subject material and make it less intimidating.”
Working directly with UChicago undergrads has cemented Rassolov’s desire to follow in his parents’ footsteps and become a professor once he completes his doctorate. Such a role would allow him to continue his inquiries into theoretical chemistry and help make chemistry more accessible for undergrads.
Read more about Gregory and the other Booth Prize winners at https://news.uchicago.edu/story/graduate-students-recognized-exceptional-teaching-undergraduates