Eric Gablehauser

Dr. Eric Gablehauser is the head of the Physics department at the California Institute of Technology, and the boss of Sheldon, Leonard and Raj.

Sheldon dislikes having a boss such as Gablehauser, who, according to him, has done no original research in the last twenty-five years and spent his career writing books which reduce scientific concepts to anecdotes "each one dumbed down to accommodate the duration of an average bowel movement". But Sheldon takes things too far when he introduces himself to Gablehauser as "an actual real scientist", which is followed by a series of insults. As a result, Gablehauser fires Sheldon, but re-hires him some time later, not because of Sheldon's apology (which never actually takes place), but because Gablehauser has a soft spot for Sheldon's mother. ("The Luminous Fish Effect")

Dr. Gablehauser is also responsible for introducing Dennis Kim to the university ("The Jerusalem Duality") and for hosting the Physics Bowl. ("The Bat Jar Conjecture") He is later asked to settle one of many arguments between Sheldon and Leslie Winkle. ("The Barbarian Sublimation")

Dr. Gablehauser makes a point of calling Howard "Mr. Wolowitz", whilst referring to Sheldon, Leonard and Raj as "Dr. Cooper", "Dr. Hofstadter" and "Dr. Koothrappali" respectively. He has also described Sheldon as "nuts" on at least one occasion. ("The Jerusalem Duality")