James Rauff
Why did you choose Northwestern?
I was working full-time and living in Lake County. Northwestern was close enough for commuting and offered a program that would blend my interests in mathematics and anthropology. (I had worked with Maya epigraphy for my MA degree. )
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what it is now?
My research at Northwestern was in machine translation. Specifically, I worked on software that translated Mandarin into English. My current research is in the genesis of symbolic thought. In particular, in the prehistory of mathematics and mathematical ideas in rock art. I carry a heavy teaching load, so most of my work is in mentoring students in their investigations.
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
I was inspired by Dr. Gil Krulee and his work in two-level grammars. This formal structure seemed suited to automatic translation. Gil also encouraged me to view my research broadly–not confined to a particular academic silo.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
I am most proud of the teaching awards I have received.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I've been working on trying to understand the petroglyphs of the American southwest. These enigmatic figures and patterns touch and connect all of my academic interests - linguistics, anthropology, mathematics, and computer science.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
Don't be in a hurry. Scholarship and teaching are webs of interconnections. Don't define yourself too narrowly.