Oliver Jacobs
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
For a long time, I have been passionate about wanting to use emerging technologies to help people. One aspect of research that I loved from the start was the idea that you can use emerging technologies to help a wide range of people by studying their behaviour. For example, emerging technologies can help answer previously untestable hypotheses, generate new insights into older theories, and much much more. Once I knew that I wanted to use emerging technology to study human behaviour it became very clear that the best way to do that was by pursuing a graduate program at a top-tier research university.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I chose to study at UBC because of an immensely supportive supervisor and lab where I could use virtual reality and eye-tracking to pursue my research goals. Furthermore, UBC, and the Department of Psychology, in particular, are internationally recognized as world leaders in research.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
In short, I was attracted to the people, the facilities, and the resources the Brain, Attention, and Reality Lab in the Department of Psychology had to offer. As I predicted, they have been very supportive.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The best part has been getting to meet new people with similar interests, hobbies, and ambitions.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
I have really enjoyed the industry experiences that I have been able to do through Mitacs and my program. I enjoy working with a small tech company called Maslo and I look forward to getting more experiences like that.
What do you see as your biggest challenge(s) in your future career?
I have a lot of interests in a variety of subjects so I suspect a major challenge for me in the future will be having to focus exclusively on one or two topics.
How do you feel your program is preparing you for those challenges?
I think my program is doing a great job helping me get industrial experiences so I can become more familiar with the norms of different company cultures so I can better choose where I want to fit in.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I played high-level hockey for a long time before giving it up early to focus on academics. I think the teamwork, dedication, and general commitment that was required taught me a lot about what it takes to be at the top of any given domain.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I like to socialize and go for food or play sports and games. I also like to listen to podcasts and teach myself new tricks.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Try to have fun and relax! I tend to focus on the bigger picture which helps with overcoming many of the little challenges along the way.
