graduate researcher

lecturer

teaching assistant

graduate assistant

postdoctoral researcher

University of California, Santa Barbara

This past June 2012, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Asian American Studies, under the College of Letters and Sciences, at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With my undergraduate degree, I studied and understood experiences of Asian Americans, as well as other ethnic groups, particularly their histories, communities, and cultures. Simultaneously, I was the department’s peer advisor, where I was in charge of handling administrative and clerical duties such as writing reports, sending emails and reminders regarding upcoming events, as well as working closely as the public relations liaison between the Department, the UCSB campus and its students. In my duties, I was able to showcase my ability to multi-task, handling different important events and information, while also executing projects in a timely manner, which all can be applied to the duties as an Administrative Assistant.

In my experience in evaluating existing literatures in cultural studies, analyzing a variety of data, conducting original research, as well as my experience in administrative services. I possess very strong verbal and written skills. I am also skilled in planning, scheduling, organizing, and promoting opportunities, and general office duties. I’ve been extremely active since high school in volunteering with non-profit organizations in Oakland, CA, and also in my college setting with my interaction with the surrounding community through community service and work as the Asian American Department’s Peer Advisor. I hope that my attributes, characteristics, skills, experience, and unique personality will provide an immediate impact for the employer I will be working for.

A typical day at work consisted of going into the research lab and prepping the room for the day's participant. I had to get the paperwork ready, make sure the data logs were prepared on the computer, and prep the equipment that we'd put on the participant. When the participant arrived I would have them fill out the paperwork, the hook up the psychophysiological recording equipment to the participant, and collect data. Then when the participant's experiment was over I would detach them from the equipment, gather the data, and get ready for the next participant. 
I learned how to train people, how to multitask, how to work on a team, how to gather psychophysiological data, how to do clerical work, and how to manage. 
Many days I would meet with my instructor to discuss efficiency and production. I was a manager under his supervision.
Since I was the lead Research Assistant I oversaw a group research assistants and was in charge of training all them on how to use the software on the computer, how to set up the recording devices, and how to log the data. 
The hardest part was trusting others to get the job done without my literal supervision, but only because their work was a reflection of me.
The most enjoyable part of the job was interacting with different people everyday.

A typical day would consist of clocking in and waiting for members at the desk. I would check in members as they would arrive, answer the phone when it rang, cleaned the facility often, filed liability waiver paperwork, rented out equipment and assisted people (members and nonmembers) with questions about the fitness center, the apartment complex it was in, Santa Barbara and the University as a community. I learned how to effectively use my time to benefit the University and how to assist anybody in anyway I possibly could. I didn't have any co-workers because we would maintain the front desk alone. The hardest part of my job was the loneliness when the fitness center was in it's down time with no members. I did enjoy how helpful and kind management was. He was almost a friend to the Attendants and always there when we needed them. I also enjoyed that by working for the University they allowed us to do our projects and homework during work hours if the facility was slow.

It’s an easy job for students at UCSB or SBCC to get. They don’t require an application or resume. However, for $12 an hour, the work is strenuous and the management is ruthless. To them you are completely disposable and someone else will take your place. Time off is impossible unless you get someone else to cover your shift. Even if you are sick, they force you to come in and guilt you if you don’t. They keep notecards of everything you do and will tally up every mistake you have ever made. The dish room is disgusting, moldy, and humid. They make you crawl under the food scrap belt and scrub which is unsanitary. The chefs are mostly nice. They don’t give students full time; they let you work 40 hours a week but won’t give you the benefits. They also won’t schedule you for more than 4 consecutive hours in a loophole created to not give you full-time benefits. Which means triple shifts starting at 7am and ending at 10pm with inconvenient hour gaps in between each shift. This job got me enough to pay rent over the summer but I would say it’s a last resort since they treat their workers so horribly. 

As a research assistant in the UCSB Anthropology Department, I often worked with the graduate student (and doctoral candidate!) to whom I was specifically "assigned", but together we collaborated with other graduate students and professors to gather, extract, translate, and statistically analyze data for the Tsimane Health and Life History Project. I helped translate countless interviews, charted and documented nutritional information, consistently updated the census, frequently used statistical programs to interpret and analyze data, etc. One of my personal projects focused on the effect of inconsistently-administered immunizations by NPOs on child growth and development. In addition to Tsimane-based research, we also worked together (using every anthropological method in the book) to earn grant funding for a program designed to enhance sustainability on campus (while reducing Styrofoam use). Not only was my time as a research assistant particularly rewarding, it was also highly productive, educational, and fascinating (it may have been when I first truly realized learning IS fun).

We would prep food in the kitchen, load it onto the van, then we would leave to the arena for the event. We then would set up in the snack bar at the arena and take a break before the snack bar opened. When we would set up we have to count inventory and clean the stations. We also would get assigned different jobs every shift: cashier, food runner, food prep (popcorn, pretzels, nachos, etcs.), or maintaining a sanitary workplace. My manager was a very relaxed yet fast-paced one, he expected us to be rather fast and pick up our tasks quickly, while still being an approachable presence. The supervisors are also students, however, they expected the same from us as well. My coworkers are a pleasure to work with because they not only are reliable, but they also were nice to work with. The hardest part of the job was having to pick up on things without being told, but in the end made it more rewarding when I was able to figure it out on my own. The most enjoyable part is learning new skills in customer service that require patience and willingness to learn.

1.event planing for weekly events (bowling social, hiking, outdoor sports)
2.weekly general meeting with officers 
3. market research
4. sponsor relationship connections with local businesses
5. internal relationship solving
6. internet service management
7. running social media platform for association (Instagram, WeChat)
8. outreaching to potential members
9. connecting various organizations at UCSB
10. I learned the importance of time management while holding weekly meetings with officers, contacting local businesses and restaurants where events would be held, merging clubs and associations for networking, and half a full time load as a student.
11. The hardest part was making sure every one of my officers were accountable for their task and I could achieve my goals despite the lack of time.
12. The most enjoyable part was to realize that as a team we could achieve any goal and reach and deadline successfully through constant and clear communication.    
13. It was fulfilling to know how I could reach out to both a Chinese population and American one and unite them with common interests.

Balance complex daily calendar for the Vice Chancellor. Telephone or visit departmental reps and arrange meetings. Prepare correspondence using MS Word and Word Perfect. Screen phone calls and visitors for the Vice Chancellor. Open and gather materials for daily meetings, Distribute mail and pull materials as required. Prepare the Vice Chancellor for a full day of meetings, presentations, speeches, etc. Make any necessary travel arrangements.

Meet weekly with the V.C.'s Executive Committee -- discuss divisional policies, budget, departmental problem areas, student disciplinary action.

Coordinate travel and meeting arrangements for Annual Executive Committee Retreat. Assist in long-range planning and policy development for the Division of Student Affairs (600-plus employees). Develop annual budget.

Review and finalize divisional staff reviews, promotions, and raises.

If you could stand clear of this job at the Club and Guest house. A typical day working at the club and guest house is terrible. You are micromanaged by 5-7 people a day. You have no autonomy over your job and you have management that are very incompetent. The chef is very emotional at times and it makes it hard for you to do your job. Directors are constantly working over your work for things they want that’s not policy. As a supervisor I did more management work than the F&B manager. Catering events were very heavy and stressful and you are expected to work all events every event. Other managers throughout the building won’t assist you with big events. Also, the probation period is a sham. They can release you for anything so no matter how hard you work it’s always subjective to the directors of campus dining. Students are great! Very hard working and knowledgeable of the place. It’s management that makes this job very difficult and undesirable. 

I would arrive at work everyday at noon and greet all my coworkers. Then I would enter into my boss's office and most likely everyday is a different task. I like it when things are too repetitive. Sometimes a new order of clothing would come in and I would help hang and display for potential clients. On other days when it gets a little slow in the showroom, I would help steam, file, and help out with FedEx tasks. Sometimes she would send me to do other errands such as go to other showrooms in Downtown LA and pick up new clothing displays. I like this task too because I get to walk around and explore LA for a bit on the job. The days that are the most hectic are when clients come and my job would be to meet and greet them,, show them to my boss's office, and basically just help out such as getting the right portfolio for the clients and such. My favorite time on the job is sample sales which happens every last Friday of the month.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Graduate researcher 4 salaries reported	$3,750 per month
Lecturer 34 salaries reported	$80,559 per year
Teaching assistant 4 salaries reported	$32,750 per year
Graduate assistant 7 salaries reported	$33,043 per year
Postdoctoral researcher 8 salaries reported	$75,647 per year

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