What's a word for extreme, insatiable thirst for knowledge? [duplicate]
There is the term philomathy that conveys a meaning similar to the one you are looking for:
- an enjoyment of and passion for learning new facts and acquiring new knowledge
(Collins)
I'm not sure it would work in a grad school essay, but epistemophilia is rather strong in its meaning.
love of knowledge; specifically : excessive striving for or preoccupation with knowledge
Merriam Webster