As part of Scheller’s Graduation 2020 Profiles series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our doctoral program to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and their advice for individuals interested in an academic career.
Meet Nikhil Paradkar
What were you doing before beginning your doctorate?
I was a master’s student in Georgia Tech’s Quantitative and Computational Finance program.
Where will you be working after graduation?
I will be joining the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Finance department.
Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?
As a master’s student in Georgia Tech’s Quantitative and Computational Finance program, I had taken some courses taught by Scheller’s Finance faculty. As a result, I had a fair understanding of the various research interests of the Finance department, which aligned closely with my own. This highly influenced my decision to join Scheller.
Who was your favorite professor (and why)?
My favorite professor at the Scheller College of Business is my dissertation chair, Sudheer Chava. I learned a great deal about the intricacies involved in the research and publication process from him during my time in the PhD program. Moreover, I greatly valued the time and effort he put into ensuring my success. Lastly, I also appreciated his honest and frank feedback on my work, which motivated me to excel further.
I also learned a great deal from Manpreet Singh. I greatly appreciated his “open door” policy when it came to discussing research ideas and I found this very helpful when I was working on my job market paper.
What is your best piece of advice to an applicant hoping to get into a doctoral program at Scheller College?
I would say that it’s very important to thoroughly do your homework before applying. It helps to have a little sense of the broad area of research one is interested in pursuing as an academic and how closely it aligns with the faculty at Scheller. At the same time, a PhD program is long and research interests can change over time. Thus, it’s important to keep an open mind and make maximum use of all the PhD-level seminars that are part of the PhD coursework to expand one’s general knowledge of the field.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue your doctorate in business?
My parents.
How did the extracurricular offerings at Scheller College help you during your time here?
I enjoyed the PhD student socials. They were a great way to make new connections and also learn about the research interests of PhD students in different departments in Scheller.
Anything else you’d like to share that we might find of interest?
I am very grateful to everyone at Scheller who supported me over the past six years. I have found the faculty and administration to be very supportive of research in my time here.
What is your favorite relaxing/de-stressing activity?
Going to the Campus Recreation Center (CRC).
Fun fact about yourself:
I am fluent in three languages and have basic conversational and reading/writing skills in two additional languages.
What are some of your hobbies?
I enjoy watching sports at both the collegiate and professional levels.
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
- Travel to every continent
- Attend the Super Bowl or a game of the NBA Finals