Professor Finds Continued Education Important Step For New Opportunities
Equipping men and women with skills and knowledge for their professional lives is no easy task. At the university level, this task is for professors whose passion extends not only from expertise but for a desire to teach. As a computer science Professor, Patrice Koehl is not only a teacher, but an educator, scientist, and a responsible member of UC Davis.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
"Teaching, by far. I enjoy exploring new ways to communicate with students with the hope to improve their successes, which I measure as their ability to retain what I have covered in class and be able to use it efficiently, as well as their ability to solve problems. The biggest reward I get as an educator is when a student that took one of my classes come back a few years later to thank me as the skills she developed with that class helped her become successful. As a scientist, I really enjoy those moments when things finally 'click,' i.e. come together to provide a solution to a problem."
What is your educational background?
"I studied in France, starting with a master's degree in engineering, with specialties in math and physics. I then did a Ph.D in molecular biology. The key, however, is that I do not consider that my education ended when I finished my PhD. My research always takes me to new ground and I feel I always have to learn on the way. It is that education that helped me become a professor in computer science.
Did your education help your career?
"I really think it did for Research. Building a strong foundation in math, physics, and chemistry has proved useful in all research problems I have approached."
What advice do you have for future professors?
"You need to be passionate. Being a professor is hard work. You need to be driven by passion to overcome the problems you will face. Build strong foundations in the domains that relate to your field of interest, and be ready to go back to classes if you feel the need for it. Learn patience and develop your social skills; each student you will meet is unique and you will need to adapt to their needs."
Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.