Difference between revisions of "Eric Mukherjee"

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|Image = Eric2.jpg
 
|Image = Eric2.jpg
 
|Subjects = General, History, Science, Mythology, and Comic Books
 
|Subjects = General, History, Science, Mythology, and Comic Books
|schoolcur = Retired
 
 
|schoolpast = [[Brown]] (2007-2009), [[University of Pennsylvania]] (2010-2018)
 
|schoolpast = [[Brown]] (2007-2009), [[University of Pennsylvania]] (2010-2018)
 
|highschool = Washburn Rural High School
 
|highschool = Washburn Rural High School
 
| }}
 
| }}
  
'''Eric Mukherjee''' is a [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_20041023/ai_n11820126 multiple-choice genius] and [http://www.browndailyherald.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=ba5c7fce-fd01-47fd-bf2b-389cfb10293f political dissident]. Eric is the best biology and chemistry player in the history of the game and is often considered the best overall science player ever [http://hsquizbowl.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=8259&p=143811&hilit]. Eric played as an undergraduate at Brown helping them to several second place finishes at [[ACF Nationals]] and led the Penn team for several years as an MD-PhD student.  
+
'''Eric Mukherjee''' played as an undergraduate at [[Brown]], helping them to several second place finishes at [[ACF Nationals]] before leading the [[Penn]] team for several years as an MD-PhD student.  
  
After nine years of serious play and individual distinction without any national titles (including close 2nd-place finishes every year from 2007 through 2010), Eric finally led the winning team at [[2015 ACF Nationals]]. Eric has also been [http://hsquizbowl.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=18925#p320008 acknowledged] as "the single most sought-after [[Chicago Open|CO]] teammate," having been a key player on the winning teams in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2016 (having edited in 2015 and not played in 2011 or 2017), and taking second place in 2009 and 2013.
+
Eric is well regarded as a biology and chemistry player, as well as an overall science player, with various rankings (including his own) ranking him highly.
  
 
==Playing Career==
 
==Playing Career==
 
 
===Undergraduate===
 
===Undergraduate===
 +
Eric was previously a student at [[Brown]], where he served as vice president of the club after randomly running into [[Jerry Vinokurov]] in the mailroom. Alongside "fearless leader" Jerry, Eric helped the team to 2nd place at [[2007 ACF Nationals]] and [[2008 ACF Nationals]].
  
Eric was previously a student at Brown, where he served as vice president of the club after randomly running into [[Jerry Vinokurov]] in the mailroom. Despite invariably getting dragged into Jerry's crazy transportation schemes, he respectfully referred/refers to him as "fearless leader"; the pair formed a solid one-two punch. He helped the team to two 2nd place finishes at ACF nationals and high finishes elsewhere.
+
After he and level-headed teammate [[Dennis Jang]] almost spontaneously combusted due to the sheer amount of [[funn]] in [[2007 Moon Pie]], they resolved to write a good tournament and to punish the [[MIT]] team who wrote the set. They accomplished this with the second [[EFT]] set and [[Deep Bench|Deep Bench 2007 at Brandeis]] respectively.
  
He is known for maintaining his good humor under most circumstances; notable exceptions include the Boston mirror of [[Moon Pie 2007]], where he and teammate [[Dennis Jang]], a model of level-headedness, almost spontaneously combusted due to the sheer amount of [[funn]]. The experience gave him a burning desire to not only get revenge on [[MIT|MIT A]], but also write a good tournament to erase the memory.  He accomplished both at [[Deep Bench|Deep Bench 2007 at Brandeis]] and with [[EFT2]], respectively.
+
Alongside [[Matt Weiner]], [[Jerry Vinokurov]], and [[Jonathan Magin]], Eric won the [[2008 Chicago Open]]. With [[Ted Gioia]], [[Dallas Simons]], and [[Jerry Vinokurov]], he placed 2nd at the [[2009 Chicago Open]] while tying Vinokurov in scoring.
  
His junior and senior year also saw several notable victories (mainly a 2nd place finish at ACF Nationals 2008), though he was forced to miss both nationals his senior year due to interviews. During that time, he managed to win [[Chicago Open|Chicago Open 2008]] on a team with [[Matt Weiner]], [[Jerry Vinokurov]], and [[Jonathan Magin]] and placed 2nd in [[Chicago Open|CO 2009]] with [[Ted Gioia]], [[Dallas Simons]], and [[Jerry Vinokurov]] while tying Vinokurov in scoring in the latter instance.
+
Interviews for medical school prevented Eric from attending either nationals in 2009.
  
 
===Graduate===
 
===Graduate===
 +
Eric's first several years at [[Penn]] saw a decrease in involvement due to the rigors of medical school. After placing 2nd at the [[2010 ICT]] and 6th at [[2010 ACF Nationals|ACF Nats]] (one place behind his alma mater Brown), Eric missed the entire 2011 nationals season within the death grip of a hospital ward (as a student, not a patient). In 2012, Eric pulled an otherwise D2 squad of [[Saajid Moyen]], [[Patrick Liao]], and [[James Lasker]] to 4th place at [[2012 ACF Nationals]] and 11th at [[2012 ICT|ICT]].
  
His initial year at Penn saw a decrease in his playing time, but he managed to chock up some impressive wins while leading Penn to a second place finish at the [[2010 ICT]]. After spending the 2011 nationals season within the death grip of a hospital ward (as a student, not a patient), he returned to active competition in 2012, leading a team of [[Saajid Moyen]], [[Patrick Liao]], and [[James Lasker]] - two freshmen and a sophomore - to a 4th place finish at [[2012 ACF Nationals]].  
+
After gaining [[Dallas Simons]], a Penn team led by Eric would place 3rd at the [[2013 ICT]], [[2014 ICT]], and [[2014 ACF Nationals]] and 4th at the [[2013 ACF Nationals]]. Dallas would be replaced by [[Chris Chiego]] in the 2014-2015 season when Penn won 2nd at [[2015 ICT]] and 1st at [[2015 ACF Nationals]], the only championship to date for both Eric and the Penn team.
 
 
The intervening years saw several high-top-bracket finishes for Penn A, with no finals appearances. The acquisition of [[Dallas Simons]] led Penn to more high finishes over the next two years, though Simons was later replaced by geography/CE specialist [[Chris Chiego]] for the 2014-15 season. After much focused studying and with key contributions from all four players, Penn A managed to make it to the finals of both national tournaments in 2015, winning [[ACF Nationals]] against strong teams from Chicago, UVA, Stanford, Maryland, and Michigan.
 
 
 
After 2015, Eric continued leading a team of [[Jaimie Carlson]], [[Jinah Kim]], [[Paul Lee]], [[Max Smiley]], [[Aidan Mehigan]] and others to several victories at invitationals and high-level finishes at nationals. In his final year of eligibility, he led Penn to a 4th place finish at [[2018 ICT]] (with [[Jaimie Carlson]], [[Jinah Kim]], and [[Aidan Mehigan]]) and to 2nd place at [[2018 ACF Nationals]] (with [[Jaimie Carlson]], [[Jinah Kim]], and freshman [[Nitin Rao]]), the latter after winning two thrilling games (against [[Columbia]], then a short-handed [[Yale]]) in a three-way tie for second place and handing 1st place [[Chicago]] its only loss.
 
 
 
Apart from his leadership of Penn A, Eric also contributed to winning teams at [[Chicago Open]] 2012, 2014, and 2016, with the 2014 win helping UVA complete their [[Triple Crown]].
 
 
 
After completing his MD-PhD degree, Eric is currently continuing his training at [[Vanderbilt]] as a dermatology resident, where he continues to read and write as much as possible, with the occasional appearance at open tournaments and side events as time permits.
 
 
 
===Writing===
 
  
Eric is one of the best--and most sought after--science writers in contemporary quizbowl. He served as the head editor for the [[Lederberg Memorial Science]] and its sequel, was a co-editor of the [[2009 ACF Regionals]], and edited science for the 2007 [[Chicago Open]], [[Gaddis|Gaddis II]], [[The Emergency]], several iterations of [[Penn Bowl]] and [[PACE NSC]], and 2015 [[Chicago Open]].
+
After winning the title, Penn continued to be a top bracket regular - alongside [[Jaimie Carlson]], [[Jinah Kim]], [[Paul Lee]], [[Max Smiley]], [[Aidan Mehigan]] and others, Eric placed 7th at [[2016 ICT]], 7th at [[2017 ACF Nationals]], 4th at [[2018 ICT]], and 2nd at [[2018 ACF Nationals]].
  
His writing outside of science has often been overlooked, but he has been one of the most important writers of accessible tournaments; he edited several successful incarnations of the Early Fall Tournament by nitpicking every question to death, was the driving force behind the second iteration of [[THUNDER]], and several editions of [[Penn Bowl]], despite his best efforts to try to hand Penn Bowl off to the next generation of Penn students. However, his writing has also often featured vanity trash questions on comic books, deep cuts from the Star Wars expanded universe, and similar "geek trash" interests.
+
Because Eric was very sick during SCT, Penn did not qualify for the 2017 ICT; they were not awarded a wildcard bid.
  
Eric was also the central figure in the [[5th of March Incident]], and subsequently (with [[Matt Jackson]]) helped edit NHBB's national tournaments in 2015. He has occasionally contributed to NHBB, PACE, and HSAPQ since then.
+
Apart from his leadership of Penn A, Eric also contributed to winning teams at Chicago Open in [[2012 Chicago Open|2012]], [[2014 Chicago Open|2014]], and [[2016 Chicago Open|2016]] - the 2014 win saw him replace [[Dennis Loo]] to earn [[2014 Virginia|Virginia]] their [[Triple Crown]].
  
== Nicknames/Appellations ==
+
==Writing/Editing Work==
*DE
+
Eric regards himself one of the best science writers in contemporary quizbowl and is a prolific writer and editor who contributed significantly to the current state of science in quiz bowl. More recently his questions have been criticized for their focus on the med school curriculum and their tendency to be on things that Eric had previously negged. His writing outside of science also features a distinctive abundance of vanity trash questions reflecting Eric's "geek trash" interests like comic books and deep cuts from the Star Wars expanded universe.
*Dark Eric
 
*Mukherjee
 
*Lord Eric Mukherjee
 
*Mukherjesus
 
  
== Writing/Editing Work ==
+
Eric, [[Matt Jackson]], and others helped edit many of NHBB's tournaments in 2015 as part of the [[5th of March Incident]]. He has occasionally contributed to NHBB, PACE, and HSAPQ since then.
  
 
===College===
 
===College===
 
 
*[[Chicago Open]] - Biology and Chemistry (2007), Co-Head Editor (2015), Contributor (2011, 2013, 2018)
 
*[[Chicago Open]] - Biology and Chemistry (2007), Co-Head Editor (2015), Contributor (2011, 2013, 2018)
 
*[[EFT]] - Co-Head Editor (2007, 2008), Contributor/Editor (2009, 2010)
 
*[[EFT]] - Co-Head Editor (2007, 2008), Contributor/Editor (2009, 2010)
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===Forthcoming===
 
===Forthcoming===
 
 
*[[MSTP]] - Head Editor
 
*[[MSTP]] - Head Editor
 
*[[Michigan Housewrite]] - Biology and Chemistry
 
*[[Michigan Housewrite]] - Biology and Chemistry
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[[Category: Brown]]
 
[[Category: Brown]]
 
[[Category: Penn]]
 
[[Category: Penn]]
[[Category: Messianic figures]]
 
[[Category: Mukherjews]]
 
 
[[Category: Original QBWiki Page]]
 
[[Category: Original QBWiki Page]]
 
[[Category: People]]
 
[[Category: People]]

Revision as of 10:58, 16 December 2020

Eric Mukherjee
Eric2.jpg
Noted subjects General, History, Science, Mythology, and Comic Books
Past colleges Brown (2007-2009), University of Pennsylvania (2010-2018)
High school Washburn Rural High School
Stats HDWhite • NAQT

Eric Mukherjee played as an undergraduate at Brown, helping them to several second place finishes at ACF Nationals before leading the Penn team for several years as an MD-PhD student.

Eric is well regarded as a biology and chemistry player, as well as an overall science player, with various rankings (including his own) ranking him highly.

Playing Career

Undergraduate

Eric was previously a student at Brown, where he served as vice president of the club after randomly running into Jerry Vinokurov in the mailroom. Alongside "fearless leader" Jerry, Eric helped the team to 2nd place at 2007 ACF Nationals and 2008 ACF Nationals.

After he and level-headed teammate Dennis Jang almost spontaneously combusted due to the sheer amount of funn in 2007 Moon Pie, they resolved to write a good tournament and to punish the MIT team who wrote the set. They accomplished this with the second EFT set and Deep Bench 2007 at Brandeis respectively.

Alongside Matt Weiner, Jerry Vinokurov, and Jonathan Magin, Eric won the 2008 Chicago Open. With Ted Gioia, Dallas Simons, and Jerry Vinokurov, he placed 2nd at the 2009 Chicago Open while tying Vinokurov in scoring.

Interviews for medical school prevented Eric from attending either nationals in 2009.

Graduate

Eric's first several years at Penn saw a decrease in involvement due to the rigors of medical school. After placing 2nd at the 2010 ICT and 6th at ACF Nats (one place behind his alma mater Brown), Eric missed the entire 2011 nationals season within the death grip of a hospital ward (as a student, not a patient). In 2012, Eric pulled an otherwise D2 squad of Saajid Moyen, Patrick Liao, and James Lasker to 4th place at 2012 ACF Nationals and 11th at ICT.

After gaining Dallas Simons, a Penn team led by Eric would place 3rd at the 2013 ICT, 2014 ICT, and 2014 ACF Nationals and 4th at the 2013 ACF Nationals. Dallas would be replaced by Chris Chiego in the 2014-2015 season when Penn won 2nd at 2015 ICT and 1st at 2015 ACF Nationals, the only championship to date for both Eric and the Penn team.

After winning the title, Penn continued to be a top bracket regular - alongside Jaimie Carlson, Jinah Kim, Paul Lee, Max Smiley, Aidan Mehigan and others, Eric placed 7th at 2016 ICT, 7th at 2017 ACF Nationals, 4th at 2018 ICT, and 2nd at 2018 ACF Nationals.

Because Eric was very sick during SCT, Penn did not qualify for the 2017 ICT; they were not awarded a wildcard bid.

Apart from his leadership of Penn A, Eric also contributed to winning teams at Chicago Open in 2012, 2014, and 2016 - the 2014 win saw him replace Dennis Loo to earn Virginia their Triple Crown.

Writing/Editing Work

Eric regards himself one of the best science writers in contemporary quizbowl and is a prolific writer and editor who contributed significantly to the current state of science in quiz bowl. More recently his questions have been criticized for their focus on the med school curriculum and their tendency to be on things that Eric had previously negged. His writing outside of science also features a distinctive abundance of vanity trash questions reflecting Eric's "geek trash" interests like comic books and deep cuts from the Star Wars expanded universe.

Eric, Matt Jackson, and others helped edit many of NHBB's tournaments in 2015 as part of the 5th of March Incident. He has occasionally contributed to NHBB, PACE, and HSAPQ since then.

College

High School

  • PACE NSC - Head Editor (2012, 2013), Contributor (2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018)
  • HSAPQ (formerly)
  • NHBB - Editor, Regional A-Set and Nationals sets (2015), sporadic contributor after
  • IHO - Editor, Cold War History event (2016), History of STEM event (2018)
  • NASAT - Head Editor (2018), contributor in almost every other year
  • NAQT - Writer

Forthcoming