Professor of the Month
Professor of the Month: Peter Lee
What projects are you working on right now?
Currently I ’m working on retrieval mechanisms in autobiographical memory. So essentially this is how we retrieve memories for our personal lives. My other research focus is on judgement and decision making, specifically numerical estimation. This is how we estimate numbers when we are uncertain about actual values. Much of what we do in life requires us to have some kind of rough handle on numerical values in order to make decisions.
What classes do you teach?
I ’m currently teaching two sections of psychology 105 and one section of psychology 212 (research methods in psychology).
Which do you prefer - Coke or Pepsi?
I guess it would have to be coke, the other day I picked up a bottle of Coke with Lime to put in my Rye.
What is the best part of your job?
That’s very hard to answer. I really enjoy all aspects of my job… So I guess essentially that’s the answer; the best part is that it is so varied. In any one day I can be preparing to teach, teaching, helping grad students, analyzing data, going to seminars, writing, etc, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s really also the fact that I have so much autonomy.
What is the worst part of your job?
I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and I get bent out of shape when time pressures prevent me from reaching the high quality that I want to see in my work.
When did you know you were interested in psychology as a career?
Well it’s a bit of an odd story because I really kind of fell into academia by chance. I ran away from school at about the age of 16 and became a firearms dealer later in life. During this time, I fixed a man’s gun and went to the pub with him for a few beers as payment for the job. It turned out the man was the head librarian at the local university. Eventually through a turn of events that sparked from our conversation at the pub I wound up in university in a Social Sciences program. During my 1st year I realized that I really enjoyed psychology and soon ended up as one of the top students in my course. It really went from there.
Which do you prefer, cats or dogs?
Dogs, definitely dogs. Cats really just provide sport and exercise for social, faithful, and intelligent animals like dogs.
What were your absolute favourite classes when you were an undergrad?
Basically all of my psych classes, I was fascinated by every one of them.
What classes were the worst?
Is there anything worse than sociology? I detested it as an undergrad. It’s basically just three theories and I found that to be incredibly monotonous.
What are some of your hobbies?
I’m a rifle and handgun instructor, I keep tropical fish, I brew beer, and I’m always making things in the workshop (including electronics).
If you could offer any advice or study strategies to students what would it be?
Be prepared, study the syllabus, and plan the entire semester ahead. Also make sure to finish assignments ahead of time and never ever procrastinate! Work hard, tremendously hard, but also make time to go out and have a good time with friends.
What is your favourite kind of beer?
Hophead by the Tree Brewing Company by far, it’s a premium tasting beer at regular price.
Where did you end up for grad school?
I started Grad School at Bristol University which probably had the best psychology department in Britain at the time. It was great because the department included some very prominent figures in psychology such as Alan Baddely. Norman Brown eventually turned up on sabbatical and convinced me to come to the University of Alberta some time later and I’ve been here ever since.
What was the hardest part of getting to the academic position you are in today?
Grad school. It’s very tough. You’re certainly given enough rope to hang yourself with and a minority of students fail because they don’t realize they are underperforming. However, most eventually understand that the onus is on them to perform to the best of their ability (and them alone). It’s just a question of how far you can go. I used to leave my office at 1 in the morning and start again at 8. But things do ease up near the end. You just have to really push yourself over that initial training at the start.
Where is your dream vacation getaway spot?
It definitely involves a yacht, preferably something like the Maldives Islands, and a distinct lack of humanity. Oh and two cases of Louis Roederer Cristal ’82 Champagne.
What is the one accomplishment in your life you are most proud of?
I’d say getting my PhD given my early history of leaving school at 16.
What is the one biggest goal you have yet to accomplish?
To decide on my final career. I ’ve been a soldier, businessman, and academic so far and I feel there is one more left. Sailing the ocean in a yacht would be great.
What is the best movie you've seen lately?
I’d have to say a film from the 60’s called Tunes of Glory. It describes the intense psychological tension of two officers after the Second World War and the fierce battle between them.
In the upcoming term, are you thinking of accepting volunteers in your lab or supervising honours or independent study (psych 496/498) students?
We are always on the look out for good students. So for sure. We will typically be recruiting 8 independent study students in the coming September term.
Any last words of wisdom?
Enjoy University. Don’t get wrapped up in grades and perceived success and don’t focus so much on GPA. Instead, focus on gaining knowledge. Don’t cut corners and avoid difficult courses just so you can get a good GPA because you won’t be developing the bulk of your knowledge and it will certainly come back to bite you. Challenge yourself.