Faculty Interview: Dr. Wrobel

I had the great opportunity to meet with a MSU anthropology faculty member last week. Dr. Wrobel is an associate professor of anthropology specializing in bioarchaeology. He is also the director of the Caves Branch Archaeological Survey Project in Belize.

When I asked Dr. Wrobel how he became interested in bioarchaeology, he stated that at first he wasn't an anthropology major. In fact, he started in pre-med, but while he was interning at a hospital, he discovered that he didn't really like sick people. He managed to "stumble upon" anthropology, and studied abroad in Mexico. He found archaeology in particular fascinating, and was lucky to work with a professor of biological anthropology as an undergrad.

His favorite experience as an undergraduate was his first archaeological field school in Belize. This experience not only included hands-on archaeology, but also allowed him to be immersed in another culture. He also mentioned that being part of a larger archaeological community including foreign and community scholars was also an incredible experience.

If Dr. Wrobel had the chance to re-study anthropology as an undergraduate, he mentioned that he would like to explore other topics in anthropology and gain a broader picture of the field. 

While an undergraduate, Dr. Wrobel had equal passions for both bio-anthropology and archaeology. Because he wasn't sure exactly what he wanted to study, he attempted to gain as many experiences as possible by immersing himself into the field of study and even volunteering with a professor and presenting a paper. Dr. Wrobel's advice for undergraduates in general is, "if you think you might like it, try it out."

However, Dr. Wrobel didn't go directly into graduate school. Before studying at graduate school, Dr. Wrobel worked in contract archaeology in order to gain more experience. By the time he applied to graduate programs, he knew what he wanted to do, including the program and the project. While looking for prospective graduate programs, Dr. Wrobel also made sure that mentors with whom he could work with were also at the university.

Dr. Wrobel mentioned three things when I asked him what were the biggest differences between undergraduate and graduate programs. First, coursework is more specialized, so if you're studying anthropology, all of your classes will be in anthropology or directly related to your specialization. Second, classes are smaller and, thus, more interactive. Third, graduate work also involved professional development, including learning the skills and background to become a professional.

His favorite opportunity during graduate school was the fieldwork. As Dr. Wrobel described fieldwork as the opportunity to do nothing for several months but working on a project that you yourself designed. Furthermore, he mentioned that it can be a little stressful, especially since you make your own decisions.

Finally, Dr. Wrobel offers some advice to undergraduates. He said that undergraduates should immerse themselves into whatever they want to do, whether that would be by touring a lab facility or visiting a site. He also says it's helpful to be inquisitive, and to learn as much as possible.

Thanks, Dr. Wrobel!