Level 3 harvesting is very important! Especially if you have lots of little villagers to feed!
Medicine is also a nice thing to have if and when your people get sick- Having a master heals them faster, but anyone can heal someone else.

Points do start out slow, but as you get villagers with better research skills, they will actually gather those points even faster!! Make sure you have at least 2 or 3 (or more if you can spare them!!) working at that research table.. you'll get points in no time!