ThatQuiz Test Library Take this test now
How to become a tenured math professor
Contributed by: Simpson
  • 1. What is generally the first step towards becoming a tenured math professor?
A) Attending a top math conference
B) Earning a Ph.D. in Mathematics
C) Getting a job offer at a university
D) Publishing a groundbreaking paper
  • 2. What is a Postdoctoral Fellowship primarily for?
A) Earning a large salary
B) Teaching undergraduate courses
C) Completing dissertation requirements
D) Gaining research experience after a Ph.D.
  • 3. What is the main focus during a Postdoctoral Fellowship?
A) Teaching and Mentoring
B) Networking
C) Grant Writing
D) Research and Publication
  • 4. What is the typical duration of a Postdoctoral Fellowship?
A) 5-7 years
B) 6 months
C) 1-3 years
D) 10 years
  • 5. What is crucial for securing a tenure-track position?
A) Strong Publication Record
B) Extensive Teaching Experience
C) Perfect GRE score
D) Knowing someone influential
  • 6. What is a tenure-track position?
A) A permanent position with guaranteed employment
B) A short-term research grant
C) A temporary teaching assignment
D) A position that may lead to tenure after a probationary period
  • 7. What is the primary focus of a tenure-track professor?
A) Research, Teaching, and Service
B) Only Teaching
C) Only Service
D) Only Research
  • 8. What is 'service' in the context of a professor's responsibilities?
A) Contributing to the university and the profession
B) Cleaning the university buildings
C) Answering phone calls
D) Serving meals to students
  • 9. What is the 'tenure clock'?
A) The time spent in a classroom teaching.
B) The time spent conducting research.
C) The time period before a tenure decision is made.
D) The time allocated for administrative tasks.
  • 10. What is the typical length of the tenure clock?
A) 1 year
B) 5-7 years
C) 10-12 years
D) 2-3 years
  • 11. What is a critical component of a tenure application?
A) A popular social media profile
B) A high GPA from undergraduate studies
C) A large personal fortune
D) Letters of Recommendation
  • 12. What does a tenure review committee evaluate?
A) Political affiliations
B) Personal appearance
C) Financial status
D) Research, Teaching, and Service contributions
  • 13. What is the meaning of 'impact' in the context of research?
A) How quickly you can complete research.
B) The number of pages in your publications.
C) Influence and significance of your research in the field.
D) How many conferences you attend.
  • 14. Why is securing grant funding important for a math professor?
A) It shows popularity with students.
B) It is the only way to increase salary.
C) It supports research and can increase prestige.
D) It is required for teaching classes.
  • 15. What is the purpose of attending conferences?
A) Taking a vacation
B) Networking and presenting research
C) Avoiding teaching duties
D) Collecting souvenirs
  • 16. What is a good strategy for choosing a research area?
A) Choose a topic only based on current trends.
B) Choose a topic that is completely original and isolated.
C) Choose a topic that is easy to understand.
D) Choose a topic with both personal interest and funding potential.
  • 17. Why is mentoring students important for a tenure-track professor?
A) It generates free labor.
B) It guarantees positive tenure reviews.
C) It demonstrates commitment to teaching and service.
D) It reduces their teaching workload.
  • 18. What is the best way to improve teaching skills?
A) Ignoring student evaluations.
B) Using the same lecture notes every year.
C) Refusing to answer questions.
D) Seeking feedback and trying new approaches.
  • 19. What is the difference between 'pure' and 'applied' mathematics?
A) Pure is better, applied is inferior.
B) Pure is easier, applied is harder.
C) They are the same thing.
D) Pure is theoretical, applied uses math for practical problems.
  • 20. Which of the following is a crucial skill for a math professor?
A) Complete disinterest in teaching
B) Extreme introversion
C) Effective Communication
D) Inability to work with others
  • 21. What is the role of a dissertation in obtaining a Ph.D.?
A) It is a summary of existing knowledge.
B) It is optional.
C) It is a significant original research contribution.
D) It is a collection of previously published papers.
  • 22. What is a key factor in determining the prestige of a mathematics department?
A) The size of its budget.
B) The age of the university.
C) The quality and impact of its research.
D) The number of undergraduate students enrolled.
  • 23. What is the significance of publishing in top-tier journals?
A) It increases visibility and impact of research.
B) It guarantees tenure.
C) It impresses family members.
D) It doesn't matter.
  • 24. What does 'collegiality' mean in the academic context?
A) Always agreeing with colleagues.
B) Isolating oneself from colleagues.
C) Constantly competing with colleagues.
D) Working effectively with colleagues.
  • 25. What is an external review in the context of tenure?
A) An interview with the university president.
B) Letters from experts outside the university assessing your work.
C) A review of your teaching by current students.
D) A review of your personal finances.
  • 26. What should a tenure-track professor do if they receive negative feedback?
A) Argue with the person giving the feedback.
B) Reflect on the feedback and make improvements.
C) Blame others for the issues.
D) Ignore the feedback completely.
  • 27. Why is work-life balance important for a math professor?
A) To impress colleagues.
B) It isn't; professors should work all the time.
C) To maintain well-being and prevent burnout.
D) To avoid teaching responsibilities.
  • 28. Which of the following is a common teaching responsibility for a math professor?
A) Grading exams without looking at the answers.
B) Writing textbooks for all courses.
C) Designing and delivering lectures.
D) Providing free tutoring to the entire community.
  • 29. What is a syllabus?
A) A course outline and set of policies.
B) A student's transcript.
C) A mathematical formula.
D) A type of exam.
  • 30. What is the role of a department chair?
A) Leading and managing the mathematics department.
B) Spending the department's entire budget.
C) Teaching all of the courses in the department.
D) Avoiding all administrative duties.
Created with That Quiz — where test making and test taking are made easy for math and other subject areas.