Most Important Skills for an Assistant Professor at UC Riverside
Michael, an Assistant Professor at UC Riverside, highlights the crucial need for strong communication skills, "explaining difficult concepts...in a way that makes sense," alongside data analysis expertise and programming proficiency in the research aspect of the role. The self-motivation to pursue research independently, coupled with meticulous attention to detail, are also key attributes for success in this career.
Communication, Data Analysis, Self-Motivation, Programming, Attention to Detail
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Bates
Assistant Professor
University of California Riverside
University of Michigan
History & Economics Michigan State University, (PhD) "Michael Bates has over 6 years of experience in policy research, advising, and teaching across in the areas of labor economics, education, and econometrics.
Economics, History, Art History
Education
Education
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are crucial for explaining complex research and teaching effectively.
2. Proficiency in data analysis and programming (statistical languages) is essential for conducting research.
3. Self-motivation, attention to detail, and curiosity are vital for independent research work and problem-solving.
Transcript
What skills are important for a job like yours?
I think communication is definitely really important, both writing very clearly and explaining exactly what you're doing. That's critical.
Also, as a teacher, being able to explain difficult concepts to students in a way that makes sense and people can understand is important.
Beyond that, for the research side, data analysis is critical. So learning how to program in a statistical language is key.
More broadly, no one's really keeping tabs on what I'm doing. So I have to have a lot of self-drive. I need to be curious about something and have that fuel me to continue to work.
Attention to detail is also important when you're looking at lots of lines of code. You need to figure out how to make it run and ensure the computer is doing what you intended it to do. You'd have a keen eye for those kinds of things.