
Theda Daniels-Race
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
I conduct research, teach, and mentor students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
When most people think of a professor they think "teacher," and that is true. However, my work entails the two other "pillars of professorship"--research and service. On any given day, my research involves everything from grant writing, to presenting experimental results at conferences, to guiding students through their own masters and PhD programs. My service consists of working with an array of university committees that make decisions affecting both faculty and students.
Here's the first step for middle school students
I think it's important to get started as soon as you can. In one sense, I decided I wanted to get a doctorate when I was 5 years old, but I didn't know that I wanted to be a professor until many years later. These fine-tuned decisions can come as "late" as undergraduate or graduate school. So I think what you need to do early on is identify whether or not you have the patience for this field—it takes a lot of education, a lot of research into which direction to go...it can be a slow process!
""Going to college? I bet you're looking for an "Mrs. degree!""