In 1994, punk band The Offspring released Smash, which became the best-selling indie record ever. But despite touring and making music, Bryan “Dexter” Holland, the group’s singer-guitarist, remained focused on another goal: a PhD. He earned that degree earlier this year—with a dissertation on the molecular dynamics of HIV. Though in Rolling Stone he cautioned that his research wouldn’t lead directly to a cure, he remains optimistic: “I believe that by adding to the vast amount of information that we’ve learned about HIV in the last 30 years or so, we’ll get there.” Rock on!