Email: andrew.greenberg@wisc.edu
Tell us about your professional background, and your current role and work at UW–Madison.
I hold a PhD in Chemistry with a specialization in Chemical Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Currently, I serve as a Distinguished Teaching Faculty member in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE). Over the past 20 years at UW–Madison, I have been deeply involved in projects dedicated to communicating science and engineering research to broader audiences.
I teach CBE 554: Chemical Engineering in the Community, a course where undergraduate and graduate students design hands-on activities based on UW–Madison research and present them to the community. Additionally, I am a Co-Principal Investigator for the Department of Energy-funded Center for the Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics (CUWP), leading the center’s education and workforce development initiatives.
Since 2007, I have been a proud member of the UW–Madison Mentor Training Community. For the past decade, I have also served as the Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation-funded Mentoring Catalyst program, which seeks to enhance the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate engineering research students nationwide.
What are your experiences with and philosophy about mentoring?
For the past 20 years, I have served as the director of multiple summer research programs, supporting over 300 students who have participated in research at UW–Madison. During these programs, I have had the privilege of mentoring students on their research as well as their professional and career development. My approach to mentoring is guided by the philosophy that effective mentoring begins with actively listening to the research and professional aspirations of our mentees, then tailoring our efforts to help them achieve their goals.
Please share something important, interesting, or fun about yourself.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our two children, aged 10 and 14. One of my favorite activities is watching them play summer baseball and softball at tournaments across Wisconsin. I also have a passion for food and cooking, and during COVID, I developed an interest in pizza making. My wife and I love hosting pizza nights for friends and family.
What do you enjoy most about facilitating Delta Research Mentor Learning Communities for graduate students and postdocs?
I am honored to work with graduate students and postdocs who are passionate about developing their mentoring skills. Facilitating mentor training is consistently the highlight of my semester, as it provides an opportunity to connect with and learn from each group of participants. With each session, I discover new insights that help me grow as a mentor, enriching both my perspective and approach.