Behind the Test Tube: Q&A
Aleksa Milosavljevic—Graduate Student, Frontier Lab
Where is home/where did you grow up?
I grew up in Serbia, a small country in the southeastern part of Europe, in the center of the Balkan peninsula.
Why did you choose chemistry as a career?
I was always a fan of Severus Snape and potion-making.
Proudest accomplishment while at the University of Rochester?
All the molecules I've successfully brought into existence for the first time in the history of the universe and the growth and success of all the students that I've mentored so far.
What do you like to do when not in the department?
Read books and play games with my friends.
A Rochester must?
Having good winter clothes!
Feast/meal of the times? Details, please!
Any sweet or savory pastries, straight from the oven!
An inspiring book/movie /show? We are really curious as to why!
“The Trial” by Franz Kafka. It reminds me of research – the moment you think you have things understood, something unexpected happens that sets you on a new tangent.
A holiday that rocks? Care to tell us why?
Christmas!! Using the bra-ket notation, <Aleksa|Christmas|Aleksa> = maximum laziness!
Care to share about a special tradition in your family/town/country?
Most families (orthodox Christian religion) in Serbia celebrate a holiday called "Slava". It is a day in the year which is devoted to celebrating a family's patron saint. Typically it involves a lot of food and a lot of people and kids even get a day off school! It is actually quite a complicated tradition that is hard to summarize (so you can ask me about it or read up on it on Wikipedia).
Fun fact or quote:
“I don’t want to believe, I want to know” Carl Sagan
Ask me about…
Anything from synthesis and NMR to Doctor Who and Mass Effect.
The goal of this initiative is to highlight the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives in the Department of Chemistry and help our community develop stronger connections and synergies. You can think of these spotlights as the beginning of a conversation that we very much hope you will continue in the corridors of Hutch and beyond.
If you wish to contribute to this initiative, please complete our questionnaire.