UC Davis Engineering Faculty Find Harmony on and off Stage
Their Band Plays at Social Functions on Campus
At UC Davis, the College of Engineering is known for innovation, academic excellence and now, for rocking out. A band comprised entirely of faculty and staff members, The Technically Hip, is striking a chord not just with music lovers on campus, but also with those who value community, creativity and a healthy work-life balance.
Formed in 2023, The Technically Hip features core members from across the College of Engineering. Erkin Şeker and Jeremy Munday (guitar), along with Marina Radulaski (vocals), represent electrical and computer engineering. Jonathon Schofield from mechanical and aerospace engineering plays drums, while Alireza Pourreza from biological and agricultural engineering handles bass. Xianglong Wang of biomedical engineering rounds out the group on keyboard and bass.
Depending on availability, other campus musicians also join. Ryan Anderson from the Center for Nano-Micro Manufacturing plays bass and drums; Systems Administrator Joseph Menke fills in on bass and guitar; and even Dean Richard Corsi jumps in on occasion to sing backup or strum a guitar.
The Technically Hip emerged from a conversation between Corsi and faculty members. Sparked by his nostalgia for his favorite rock band from Canada, The Tragically Hip, Corsi proposed the name The Technically Hip as a playful nod to both engineering and music. They play all genres.
“The original vision was just to have a band that would come out and play at our social events, get everybody excited and feel good about being in the College of Engineering because we're so cool,” Corsi said. “We have our own rock band.”
Xianglong Wang said he sometimes brings his guitar to his classes for demonstration purposes.
“I teach electronics and signals, specifically the instrumentation measurement course that integrates all those same topics,” Wang said. “Sometimes I bring some of my instruments to demonstrate that you can use those kinds of filters to change what it sounds like, like when we do captures of EKG and those kinds of stuff.”
With busy schedules and demanding roles at the university, carving out time to rehearse isn’t always easy. The band typically practices once or twice a month, with sessions ramping up in frequency as performances approach. Practices often take place at a member’s home in a laid-back, informal setting.
“This is a difficult time for many,” Corsi said. “It's a little bit of sunshine for all of the great people on campus, and you get to let your hair down.”
The band has performed at a variety of campus events, including the fall and winter welcome gatherings hosted by the College of Engineering.
As Technically Hip continues to evolve, the members said they hope to expand their musical setlist and play at local Davis events beyond the university. But above all, the band remains a symbol of the collaborative and creative spirit that defines UC Davis.
“We want to interact with each other, and I think that this band is just a product of the fact that there is a nice, friendly social culture here,” said Schofield. “It makes me really happy to be here at UC Davis and not elsewhere.”
