1 Research Reflection by Emily Hernandez Alzamora

Faculty Mentor: Bryan Bonner, Ph.D. (David Eccles School of Business, Department of Management)

During Fall 2023, I had the opportunity to observe the process of collecting data through the research of a Ph.D. candidate whom Dr. Bryan Bonner was mentoring. For me, it was not only experiencing what it was like to collect data from focus groups but also being exposed to the process of how the lab was developed. Without going into specific details of the lab itself, it was interesting to consider how the setup of a lab is the difference between collecting data that was needed to present findings of a dissertation and missing the mark because something was worded differently, which could change the direction of data collected. Overall, I was able to gain valuable research experience and was mentored by both my faculty mentor and the Ph.D. candidate on the ins and outs of a Ph.D. program and what it would look like for me. Sometimes the impact of being a part of something, such as research, goes beyond a semester; it could mean opening a door for future exploration of a different career path