The Humans of the Triple I Lab series shines the spotlight on graduate and undergraduate students who are conducting research in the Triple-I Lab. We are pleased to introduce you to Adora, an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Commerce (Finance). Adora helped PhD candidate Manal and Professor Jane O’Reilly conduct research on personality and Negotiation Outcomes, and “How do Remote Employees Develop a Sense of Belonging”.
How did you become a research assistant at the Triple-I Lab?
I took ADM 3998: Applied Research in Management, and I wrote a letter of interest to join Jane’s study, which was of particular interest because I could relate, as I attended high school virtually. I also wanted to learn more about personality and negotiation. I realized if my desire was founded by passion, I would be motivated to perform at my best.
What is the research project you are helping with?
For the months prior to being hired at the lab (September 2024), I was a research assistant for Jane working on "How do Remote Employees Develop a Sense of Belonging” study. Afterwards, I also helped with Manal’s research on personality and negotiation.
What are your main tasks?
While working with Jane, I was recruiting people to interview, conducting the interviews themselves, transcribing, and performing literature reviews. For Manal, I was supporting her project by completing ongoing tasks. I’m not sure if this pertains to the lab itself but I also had the chance to write an article about remote working for the Knowledge Hub. I met a lot of wonderful people attending the Incubator series too (hosted once a month in the Triple-I Lab classroom) – it is a neat experience because of its collaborative and inquisitive environment. I approached the lab with a lot of curiosity, not knowing what kind of experience it would be going in and it did not disappoint — the lab offers a lot of exposure to exciting research developments!
What do you like most about being a Research Assistant?
Having people to geek-out with! I really appreciate the support of the lab. I don’t think I could've written an article for the hub or learnt this much about research projects if I hadn’t been involved in the lab. It was an informative experience about what it would be like to pursue research as a career. It has also been amazing to see the new technological developments uOttawa and the Triple-I Lab has embraced. For example, seeing AI being integrated with qualitative research.
If you had to give one key piece of advice to undergraduate students interested in research and the types of technology we have in the lab, what would you say?
I have two answers - reaching out to Amelia (Lab Specialist) to see what’s happening in the Triple-I Lab. If it’s research in general, make your intentions known to someone who’s research or field interests you. Perhaps it can be hard to determine what type of research you would like to pursue, and I think the best way is to talk to a professor for whom you enjoy their class. Make yourself aware of what's out there and make your intentions known – so you can be your own catalyst!
What’s your favorite spot or piece of equipment in the Triple-I Lab, and why?
My favourite space is the Boardroom because I can meet everyone and say hello. It is a very warm and welcoming environment – I am always greeted with smiles. Technology-wise, FaceReader is pretty cool.
