Child development, relationships and careers: My research journey
Honors student, McNair Scholar and NURA awardee Paola Alvarez believes the key to research is simply being willing to explore
What makes companies like Google or Microsoft so appealing to job seekers? Salary is certainly a factor, but many overlook the importance of an applicant’s age. Different generations, after all, are drawn to different values. This intersection of management, generational diversity and workplace performance is the focus of my research. But my path to this field did not begin with a passion for business. In fact, it started with children.
Early into my freshman year, I walked into the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno Honors College with no real idea of what research was and I was immediately welcomed by Dr. Ingram-Waters. She quickly took an interest in me, and through her, I was introduced to the world of research. Instantly, my mind flooded with doubts: “Am I even qualified for this? What if I don’t belong here? I don’t know anyone who does research – how do I start?”
Without any idea of what my research interests were, much less any understanding of what research entailed, I was curious and decided to pursue it. As I began to explore (REUs), funded through the , I started reflecting on my experience. I have always enjoyed working with children – whether it was tutoring elementary students, assisting at the University’s Child and Family Research Center, or raising my four younger sisters. Thus, my curiosity for understanding and working with children made child development feel like a natural fit.
After weeks of submitting applications and anxiously sending cold emails, I was granted a summer position at the University of California, Berkeley’s Developmental Labs. Under the , I went into research full throttle. I spent most of my days recruiting participants and collecting data with Ph.D. student Joshua Confer, throughout different zoos and museums in the Bay Area. My summer at Berkeley was enlightening and I developed an interest for coding with RStudio. I learned from researchers in different fields and embraced the belief that there’s no right or wrong way to explore new concepts. I fell in love with research. However, I also came to realize that my research interests lie beyond child development.
Upon returning to the University for my sophomore year, I felt a strong urge to broaden my research focus to adults. I quickly learned about the Honors Community and Mentorship program, where I was introduced to Ph.D. student Audrey Cerfoglio and her research on love-bombing at the Social Ecological Crime Statistics (SECS) Lab. Drawn to the unique focus on romantic relationships and the chance to explore adult psychology, I immediately accepted Audrey’s offer to join the lab. With her help, I learned how to conduct extensive literature reviews, analyze qualitative data, and utilize online analysis programs. The more I explored her research, the more fascinated I became with social psychology. It wasn’t long before I began wondering if similar concepts could be applied beyond romantic relationships and to broader settings, such as the workplace.
Having been introduced to industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology through prior management courses, I developed a growing interest in exploring how relationships and diversity influence workplace performance. It was then that I discovered Alexis Hanna, Ph.D., through the College of Business, and her research on people-career fit, work environments and recruitment. Seeing my interest in I/O, Dr. Hanna welcomed me into the . Through her mentorship and guidance, I was able to design and conduct my own study on generational differences while continuing to work at the SECS lab. With the combined support of Dr. Hanna and the McNair Scholars Program through the First-Generation Student Center (special thanks to Jarell Green and Heather Williams), I was fortunate to receive the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Undergraduate Research Award (NURA). I was also able to present my work at both the Summer Wolf Pack Discoveries Symposium through the Department of Undergraduate Research, and the at Baylor University.
My growing curiosity for I/O psychology also pushed me to seek opportunities across the country. More recently, I’ve had the wonderful privilege of joining the at Brown University led by . Learning from leading researchers in my field has sparked a newfound interest in studying racial inequalities within the workplace, and I am excited to explore these issues further.
Moving forward, I aim to present my research at the and prepare to apply for graduate school. Research has opened doors for me I never imagined, and I owe much of my experience to the incredible faculty and advisors who guided me along the way. I strongly encourage anyone interested in research to take the leap – take the time to explore your own interests; it is absolutely worth it!
ÁùºÏ±¦µä the author
Paola Alvarez is a third-year undergraduate researcher who came to the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno from Las Vegas. She is studying psychology through the College of Science and is pursuing a minor in human resource management. Paola is also a member of the Honors Community and Mentorship program.
