Meet Professor Eber

Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have you with us this semester! As a recent graduate from Harvard, what are your first impressions of UMass Amherst?

My first impressions are that the people I’ve met have been friendly, supportive, and genuine. I feel comfortable on campus and love living in the area so far. I haven’t formally begun my job yet, but I have a very positive outlook and am excited to become part of the community in the department and at UMass.

What is one lesson from academic journey that's really stayed with you?

One lesson from academia that applies more broadly is that not everyone is going to like everything you do. It’s a valuable skill to be able to take suggestions both from those who support you and from those who are more critical. Trying to cater too much to what you think people want can often backfire. Others will often respect you for sticking with your convictions, particularly when you listen to and address important feedback.

What are some things you're most excited to try, either in teaching, research, or beyond?

I’m excited to try new ways of engaging students in class through interactive exercises and by teaching important concepts several different ways. In research, I’m eager to explore potential project collaborations with faculty and students in the department and possibly even with other schools at UMass.

What advice would you give to our undergraduate and graduate students?

Focus your time on the things you care about while also targeting where you would like to end up in the future. Being a student is a great time to test your interests by taking courses or getting experience working in areas you think you might like. Don’t overlook the opportunity to talk with people in roles that intrigue you to get their honest feedback about what they like and don’t like about their jobs. Be persistent and don’t rule out opportunities that seem difficult to achieve; often your interest in and fit for a job can be the most important criteria.

What kind of support do you hope to receive from the department as a new professor?

I hope to get regular feedback and mentorship from the department to help me to continually improve. Resources from the department that can guide me in how I conduct my teaching and focus my research would also be very helpful.

In which ways do you hope to connect with students outside of class?

I aim to be easily accessible to students outside of class, during office hours and by appointment. I have already enjoyed connecting with and learning more about some of our students while at academic conferences. I hope to meet all of the department’s students soon. If anyone is interested in talking with me, they should feel free to reach out ([email protected]).

Is there any research project that you are working on?

Of course! One project that I’m working on with Angie Acquatella and Amitabh Chandra aims to identify the value that people place on policies that redistribute resources to individuals who have health conditions and disabilities. Governments often invest in programs that help the disadvantaged, but we do not have a clear understanding of society’s priorities for allocating resources. This project will generate evidence on people’s social preferences to enable decisionmakers to quantify the value of alternative policies.

We ended our interview with a few speedy questions to Dr. Eber, offering a lighter glimpse into his interests and aspirations beyond classroom! Here are what he shared!

Three words to describe yourself? Calm, obsessive, outdoorsy

In one word, describe your teaching vibe? Empathetic

Dream destination? Madagascar

Best holiday? Halloween

Favorite book? Thinking, Fast and Slow

Hidden talent? Playing Nintendo games

One thing you can't live without? Smoothies

If you weren't a professor, what would you do? I would try being a nature and travel photographer