Sid Bhattacharyya, PhD
Associate Professor
Information and Decision Sciences

Degree: PhD, University of Florida
Courses: IDS 507: Advanced Systems Analysis and Design Project; IDS 512: Information Systems Project & Program Management; IDS 572: Business Data Mining
Areas of Interest: Emerging Technologies for Decision Support, Evolutionary Algorithms, Inductive Learning, Neural Networks, Case-based reasoning, Genetic Algorithms, Data and Knowledge Base Management Systems, Object-Oriented Databases.
Research Specialties: Business intelligence, Data mining, Complexity, Network science, Computational modeling in business, Evolutionary computation, Machine learning, Information Technology, E-business

What class do you enjoy teaching the most and why?
IDS 507: Business Systems Analysis and Design because it contains practical material relating to business practices rather than theory which is similar to what is done in the real world.

From all your years of teaching at UIC, which story is the most memorable and why?
I have a graduate level projects course where the students work with clients in an experiential learning atmosphere to learn how they perform and function day-to-day. Closer to the end of the semester, I go out with the class to a local bar and in an informal setting am able to learn more about the individual students, their backgrounds, hopes and dreams. I build relationships with my students, become friends with them and keep in touch even after they graduate.

What do you do on your days off?
I work from home at least one day a week but, aside from that, I enjoy playing music. I play the violin and I am currently learning to play the guitar.

What was the last book you read for fun?
A comic book called "The Adventures of Asterix." I happened to stumble across it recently and started reading it.

What drew you to UIC? What made you want to teach here?
The city drew me to UIC and the diversity made me want to teach here. I liked the idea of belonging to an entity that was moving ahead ambitiously.

What advice do you have for MBA students?
I recommend that it be the students that take the initiative to meet and speak with the faculty. As a result, both the faculty and the students will enjoy it. In addition, I follow the motto "work hard and play hard" and I recommend that students do the same.

What do you enjoy most about the city of Chicago? Do you have a favorite spot in the city?
I enjoy the city's music. My favorite place is Andy's Jazz Club on Grand and State.


CONTACT THE LGSB:

Liautaud Graduate School of Business
815 W. Van Buren (MC 077) Suite 220
Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: (312) 996-4573
Fax: (312) 413-0338

E-mail: mba@uic.edu