Unexpected Opportunity for NTC Senior Paves New Pathways

By branching out and slowing down, NTC senior, Emma Schubert took advantage of an unexpected opportunity this summer. Thanks in part to a grant from the NTC Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Schubert spent her summer as a research assistant to Elio Brancaforte, associate professor of comparative literature and German in the Tulane University School of Liberal Arts. 

Originally planning an internship in the legal or political field, Schubert embraced her passion for literature and traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, and Oxford, England. This trip provided Schubert with an opportunity to meet and listen to professors from around the world and also present her own research. 

“In our first week in Baku, we attended the international scientific conference, ‘Translating Empires: Representing People, Places and Power in and Around the Caucasus.’ Standing at the same podium as experts in their respective fields gave me a taste of what it would be like to devote my career to academia and research,” said Schubert.

Majoring in political science and philosophy, Schubert says this trip opened doors and provided experiences that otherwise would not have been possible, which included accompanying Professor Brancaforte to special collections and manuscript reading rooms that are typically only accessible to those with active research in the field.

Schubert’s interest in storytelling, which was ignited in a creative writing class last semester at Tulane, was bolstered by this summer opportunity. “This experience not only allowed me to enjoy stories written by authors over four hundred years ago, but also to start believing in and seeing a career path in literary editing or publishing,” said Schubert.

When asked what advice she has for other students contemplating an unexpected opportunity, Schubert says to go for it and connect with professors along the way. 

“Professors are there because they want to teach and further your learning experience and knowledge. Approach them, ask questions and try not to be intimidated by their expertise, because they genuinely want to pass it on to you.”