Benjamin Uhrich

Research Interests:

I am interested in topics under the Occupational Health Psychology umbrella, such as workaholism, work-life balance, and occupational safety. However, I am open/looking to learn about other topics and methods of research, which is why the OS program was a good fit for me.

What career would you like to pursue after graduation?

As of right now, I would like to work as an external consultant for a private firm. However, I really enjoy teaching. My answer to this question will probably change half of a dozen times over the next three years.

What faculty are you working with and what are you working on with them? (i.e. through your GA)

I am working with Dr. Yang Cao on research that will help us to understand why some universities adopt interdisciplinary doctoral programs and others do not.

What excites you most about beginning the Organizational Science program?

I will be learning how to look at my research questions of interest through the perspectives of different disciplines. I look forward to the challenge and intellectual growth that learning about three other disciplines will bring.

What about the program and/or graduate life has been most surprising?

Teaching is fun and lesson planning is difficult!

What are some of your hobbies/interests/ what do you do for fun?

I am very physically active and enjoy playing team sports and disc golf. I aspire to learn about photography, cooking, and how to play the guitar, but progress on those interests has been a little slower.

What is your favorite Movie?

Here’s a few: Gladiator, True Romance, Crash, Old School, and Top Gun. Did I cover enough genres?

What is your favorite Food?

Cheesy Mexican food with a massive pile of chips and salsa.

Tell me an interesting fact/trivia about yourself.

I love to travel. When I was 21 years old, I went to Japan for 11 weeks to lifeguard… yes, I said lifeguard! A couple of years ago I took a two-month, solo backpacking adventure to nine European countries as well.

What would your recommendations be for prospective students?

Spend time figuring out what your intellectual interests are (know that these will constantly change) and find a professor with similar interests that will let you work on their research projects. Even if you just conduct the experiments, hopefully they will let you see how the entire project is planned and executed. This kind of experience is invaluable at the undergraduate level because it will help you understand the research process, learn more about your area of interest, and look excellent on your graduate school application.