School of Information Sciences

PhD at 75: Noah Samuel

Noah Samuel

The PhD degree program at the iSchool celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. This profile is part of a special series featuring PhD alumni. Noah Samuel (PhD '21) is a user experience researcher at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Where do you work and what is your role?

I work at JPMorgan Chase & Co as a user experience researcher.

What do you see as the most important impact of your work?

My work is about making technology better for users. I love that I get to spend my time researching how to improve the experiences of actual or potential users of new or existing technologies. It is rewarding to see my work improve or directly remove friction and make technology easier for people to use.

Why did you choose to pursue a PhD degree?

After earning my master's degree in information science from my home country, Nigeria, in 2014, I wanted to advance my knowledge of the field. As the field rapidly evolves due to the development and convergence of many technologies, there was, and still is, a growing need for researchers to study the intricacies of the new technological advancement. Hence, I saw pursuing a doctoral degree as an opportunity to explore these issues. The iSchool was an apposite place for my PhD journey, given the people and the intellectual history of the School.

What has it meant to you to be an alum of the program at Illinois?

The iSchool is one of its kind among schools offering information sciences. It is a great privilege to be an alumnus of a program that has consistently continued to lead the field of information science research and scholarship. The School has been built on 75 years of historical antecedents and records of success. Prestige and honor come naturally from being part of the iSchool at Illinois, and I am always grateful for my time in the PhD program. The faculty and the administrative staff made my time in the program a great experience.

What advice would you give to new PhD students?

The iSchool has the structure and resources to help you find a path. However, to help with focus, given that the PhD journey can be very demanding and draining if not well planned, I will advise that you cut your coat according to your cloth as early as possible in the PhD program.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Get to know Manas Godha, growth and strategy lead

Manas Godha (BSIS '24) learned how to connect "different contexts, people, and processes with data and technology" at the iSchool. He is putting those skills into practice in his work as the growth and strategy lead at Advaiya.

Manas Godha

AISLE awards to be presented to alumni, adjunct lecturer

Carolyn Kinsella (MSLIS '03), Beverly Frett (MSLIS '04), and Adjunct Lecturer Karen Egan have been selected to receive awards from the Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE). They will be honored at an awards banquet during the AISLE Annual Conference, which will be held from October 5–7 in Champaign, Illinois.

Get to know Rebecca Greenlee, law librarian

As a law librarian II for the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, Rebecca Greenlee (MSLIS '21) helps patrons from all walks of life gain access to the law. She credits her graduate assistantship, the connections she made with her classmates, and the iSchool’s instructors with providing her with the foundation she needed for her role.

Rebecca Greenlee

New book explores video standards in film and archives

A new book co-authored by iSchool Adjunct Lecturer Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic, assistant professor of media studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, examines video file standards and the tensions that have emerged between the film industry and the archiving community that is tasked with preserving cultural cinematic productions. 

Jimi Jones

Get to Know Madeleine Wolske, director

Madeleine Wolske (MSLIS ’16) took an unconventional path from her master’s in LIS to her current role as the director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. She credits the iSchool for giving her experience in market research, data storytelling, and community informatics that provided the foundation she has built her career upon.

Madeleine Wolske

School of Information Sciences

501 E. Daniel St.

MC-493

Champaign, IL

61820-6211

Voice: (217) 333-3280

Fax: (217) 244-3302

Email: ischool@illinois.edu

Back to top