In this Quick Hits, Professor of Biology Francis Steiner talks best student excuses, his favorite restaurant — in both Hillsdale and in Jackson — and what inspired him to study biology. 

Most adventurous food you’ve ever tried?

Sichuan food, when I was a post-doc at Rutgers University.

If you weren’t teaching biology, what completely different career could you see yourself in?

I would most probably be either an engineer, at least that’s what an aptitude test that I took in high school told me I should be, or an archaeologist.

What’s the most creative excuse you’ve ever heard from a student?

It’s more of what I saw than heard.  When I was the dean of sciences, I had a student come to see me about a math professor giving him a hard time for always being late to class, as he was in a cast due to a broken leg.  He seemed sincere and that he was voicing a legitimate concern, so I met with the teacher and slightly chastised that person for not being accommodating and considerate. The next evening (Friday) when my wife and I were attending a home basketball game in the gym, I happened to notice that same student not wearing a cast and literally bounding up and down on the bleachers.  You might guess that the following day he was back to wearing a cast, and late to class again. Let’s just say that he visited the dean’s office thereafter, and I apologized to the math professor.

If you could witness any groundbreaking biological discovery firsthand, which would it be?

That’s really a difficult question, but I think it would probably have to be the invention of the rabies vaccine by Louis Pasteur.

What inspired you to pursue biology as your field of study?

I always liked science and was inspired by my fifth and sixth grade science teacher, Miss Humm, but started to really like biology in high school, and was inspired by my sophomore biology teacher, Sister Barbara. Also  the fact that my father had very severe diabetes, and had to be treated by many doctors, which got me interested in medicine and human biology.

Favorite memory as a professor at Hillsdale so far?

One of my favorite memories might be taking on a research student, who was from Nepal, and traveling to a Beta Beta Beta convention for him to present his research project.  Since English was not his first language, he practiced his talk in front of me in the hotel, many times, over and over, the evening before the convention. He did such a good job the next day that he took third place, and was super elated about it, especially since he was extremely nervous.  Many years later, he happened to come back to Hillsdale, with his wife and children, and stopped by my office to thank me for my help, to meet his family, and for helping him along his career path.

What book do you think everyone should read?

I actually have two, “Rats, Lice, and History” by Hans Zinsser and “Arrowsmith” by Sinclair Lewis.

What advice would you give to your college self?

As for my “college self,” take challenging courses, respect your elders and mentors, don’t take yourself too seriously, work hard and do your best, — success truly  is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration —  find healthy outlets to relieve stress, and finally, be prepared for new discoveries, as Louis Pasteur wrote “Chance favors the prepared mind.”

Favorite local restaurant?

Probably the Finish Line for Hillsdale; Texas Roadhouse if you include Jackson.