Profile
Rodolfo John Alaniz is a doctoral candidate in the Science Studies Program through the Department of History. His dissertation examines how deep sea invertebrate specimens helped naturalists to adjudicate evolutionary questions during the nineteenth century. This dissertation is part of a broader interest in the scientific concepts of biological generation, heredity, classification and their effects on society. Other research projects include the examination of race, class, and sexual orientation in relation to evolutionary theories during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. John is originally from Austin, Texas, and is a first generation high school graduate. He completed his Genetics degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was introduced to formal leadership theory, social justice organizing, and diversity in the college classroom research. He has been named a National Academies Fellow in Science Education, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow in Teaching in the College Classroom, and Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) Scholar for his work on pedagogical development and diversity. Most of all, however, John loves lecturing on the history of science and creating vibrant academic experiences that explore the interactions between culture, knowledge, and the natural world. Service and organizing also form a large portion of John's activities outside of research and the college classroom. He also gives workshops on graduate diversity retention, leadership development in underrepresented communities, and academic mentoring.
