Dr. Iva Burdett from the Chemistry department describes herself as a “one-hundred percent nerd.” Growing up in a small Serbian village called Tobolac with only six children, she found solace in books—especially crime novels filled with murder, poison, and detective work. She dreamed of becoming an FBI agent, but as a non-American, that path was closed to her. Instead, she found her passion in chemistry, a subject she embraced when she moved to a larger town, Krushevac, at age nine.
At her new school, students had already claimed their specialities—one was best at sports, another at art. Burdett, struggling to find her niche, saw her chance when chemistry was introduced as a new subject. Determined to excel, she poured herself into the subject, drawn in by its mystery and logic. That passion carried her through a rigorous academic journey, earning her a Ph.D. In chemistry from Brandeis University and leading to research in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Dr. Burdett’s research has been widely recognized, with over 1,100 citations on her many publications.
Burdett’s road to academia was not without challenges. After completing her Ph.D., she was set on staying in Boston but struggled to find opportunities. It wasn’t until she reached page 19 of a Google search that she found an obscure postdoctoral position at New York University, which became the stepping stone to a career in New York. From there, she worked at Weill Cornell before fully transitioning to teaching. While she loved research, she found herself drawn to the classroom, where she could have a more immediate impact.
Now a lecturer at Queens College, Dr. Burdett is deeply committed to her students. She firmly believes in education as a means of strengthening the community, stating, “Queens College is my home. It’s not just a collection of buildings on Kissena; it’s the heartbeat of the neighborhood. What better way than to support our community by giving them the best possible education there is?” She has received multiple different teaching awards, including QC’s President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Her dedication goes beyond the classroom. She serves on the Academic Senate and advises the Alchemist Club. When she applied to teach at QC, rather than writing a lengthy personal statement, she included a link to her RateMyProfessor page, telling the hiring committee, “Don’t listen to me—see what my students have to say.” Clearly, it worked.
Dr. Burdett’s students echo that sentiment. “She goes out of her way to make sure her students succeed,” says Aaron Malekan, a freshman majoring in psychology. Another student describes her as “one of the best teachers I’ve had so far.” Valery Khaykis, a sophomore majoring in biology, sums it up: “She’s a professor that works with the students, for the students.”
When asked about going back to research, she said, “My heart is now with my students. Life is beautiful when you do what you love—and when your heart is no longer in it, it’s time to move on.”
