LTR: Renee Savas, Brandon Dickson, Dean Donna Kotsopoulos, Cristina Masciantonio, Rachel Kotsopoulos
Undergraduate research fuels academic and professional success
For Dean Donna Kotsopoulos, undergraduate research assistants are core members of her research team. Throughout her career, she has mentored countless undergraduate students across disciplines who have enhanced their academic experience though engaging in real-world research.
“I love the interdisciplinary skill set that comes from recruiting campus wide,” said Kotsopoulos. “The students all bring different areas of excellence depending on their programs – from writing, to mathematical, to social and critical lenses. It creates a thinking incubator for the entire team.”
According to Kotsopoulos, the ability to hone writing and critical thinking skills and working alongside diverse researchers across Canada and internationally are all valuable experiences that help students build professional skills.
“They all have the opportunity to publish and present the work nationally and internationally, and it is all transferable to any role they may take in the future,” Kotsopoulos added.
“Any one of these students can write a research proposal worthy of being funded by a federal program. This means they can produce compelling thinking and strategy for any future employer, too.”
We spoke to five of Kotsopoulos’ past and current research assistants to learn how their undergraduate research experience helped to fuel their future academic and professional success.
Renee Savas: Igniting a passion for public policy
Undergraduate degree: BA in linguistics and a minor in psychology, Western University
Current program: MA in public policy and administration, Toronto Metropolitan University
When Renee Savas joined Kotsopoulos’ research team, she was seeking a way to become fully engaged with the academic community and gain hands-on experience. What she didn’t anticipate was how the experience would shape her academic and professional journey in public policy.
Savas assisted Kotsopoulos on a paper titled “A Review of the External Processes Related to Assessing Quality of New Undergraduate Academic Programming in Canadian Universities.” The research examined how new undergraduate programs are reviewed and approved across Canadian provinces, and how quality assurance processes vary across regions.
“It was my first experience engaging in formal qualitative coding and, more broadly, my introduction to reading and working through complex policy documents,” said Savas.
“I did not yet know that I would go on to pursue a master of public policy and administration, but looking back, it helped shape how I think about systems, governance and the importance of evidence informed decision making, which are some central themes in my current studies.”
Savas explains that the opportunity to build strong research and analytical skills has helped her to stand out in a competitive environment. These skills have benefited her throughout her graduate studies and will continue to serve her well as she begins a role with the Ministry of Education in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch this spring.
“This experience gave me something concrete to draw on in graduate school and job applications,” said Savas. “Looking back, it was both a meaningful academic experience and a practical step that supported what came next.”
Laaraib Khattak: Setting the stage for a career in research
Undergraduate degree: BA honours double major in economics and psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
Current role: research and evaluation analyst, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Laaraib Khattak pursued a research assistant role because of her interest in in-depth analysis and understanding systems at a structural level. Her work with Kotsopoulos examining student success in post-secondary mathematics sparked a passion for research that has shaped her professional journey.
“Working with Dean Kotsopoulos had a significant impact on my academic and professional development,” said Khattak. “Her guidance helped me better understand academic research processes and professional expectations, which supported my transition from university to a career in research.”
Khattak’s role involved reviewing and analyzing information from mathematics departments to compare admission requirements, placement practices, remedial programming, math help centres and support for underrepresented groups. She reflects that this experience helped her develop key skills that she now applies in her role as a research and evaluation analyst at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
“The research assistant position strengthened my research methodology, data analysis, literature review and academic writing skills,” said Khattak
“It also developed my ability to synthesize findings clearly and work on structured, deadline-driven projects. These competencies supported my transition into my career.”
Brandon Dickson: Gaining tools for graduate research and beyond
Undergraduate degree: BA in political science and english, Huron University
Current program: PhD in global governance, Balsillie School of International Affairs, University of Waterloo
Brandon Dickson has supported Kotsopoulos’ research for over eight years. It’s a role that has prepared him to succeed throughout his impressive academic journey – from his undergraduate days to his bachelor of education at Western to his master of arts in global governance and his PhD in global governance at the University of Waterloo. Soon, he’ll go on to a post-doctoral position in the politics and governance of education.
For Dickson, the research assistant position was the “most influential experience” of his undergraduate studies. As he entered graduate school, the work set him apart from his classmates.
“I was able to scale a research question, develop appropriate theories and methods, and perhaps most importantly, understood the process of submitting my work and having it accepted for publication,” said Dickson.
“Working for Dean Kotsopoulos also allowed me to develop my resume through publications and conference applications, which has allowed me to secure major scholarships in my graduate education.”
Dickson has worked with Kotsopoulos on a range of projects spanning from mathematics education to sustainable finance at Canadian universities, and Canadian university administration and governance. Across projects, he has been fully immersed in the research.
“I conducted site visits, led interviews and focus groups, did policy analysis, literature reviews, and was involved in knowledge dissemination including the opportunity to author peer reviewed papers and lead international conference presentations,” explained Dickson.
“My research experience gave me interdisciplinary skills I have been able to translate to working across academic and government settings.”
Rachel Kotsopoulos: Building transferrable professional skills
Current program: BA in media and communication studies, Western University
Rachel Kotsopoulos says she has gained many valuable skills from her work with Dean Kotsopoulous, most importantly technical and professional skills that have helped prepare her for an upcoming internship at National Bank on the debt capital markets team.
Rachel is currently working on her first research project that explores higher education organizational governance across more than 15 Canadian universities. Through this work, she has honed competencies in research ethics, data analysis and qualitative coding.
“I gained experience in organizing and analyzing large amounts of information and coding qualitative data,” said Rachel. “The work has also improved my attention to detail, time management and my ability to communicate findings. These skills are highly transferable and will be valuable in any future role.”
The role has also been a welcome enhancement to her undergraduate studies and a way to contribute to meaningful work while building valuable connections.
“In my program we have a large focus on systems, governance, policy and how they work, so I was excited by the opportunity to contribute to research which examines these structures,” said Rachel.
“A research assistant position allows you to apply what you learn in class to real-world research and see how academic work translates into impact. It also provides you with mentorship, networking opportunities and exposure to professional standards. It is a great way to grow both academically, professionally and personally.“
Cristina Masciantonio: Preparing to flourish in law school
Current program: BA double major in governance, leadership, ethics, and history, Huron University
Cristina Masciantonio has her sights set on law school post undergraduate studies. With three research projects under her belt, she feels confident that working as a research assistant is ideal preparation for those interested in attending graduate or professional school.
“I think if any student wants to do a master’s or doctoral studies, this is really helpful and valuable for them to be able to flourish in that,” said Masciantonio. “They will gain a lot of the experiences and the tools that are necessary in order to complete those studies.”
Masciantonio has supported projects on international student retention, post-secondary financial viability, sustainability and quality assurance processes, and the use of non-disclosure agreements with women leaders in higher education. These opportunities have deepened her education beyond her degree and enhanced her academic and professional competencies.
“A lot of the skills that I’ve retained from learning about research ethics, to improving my communication and synthesis skills, and developing strong time management and organization skills are going to help me in my studies and going forward,” said Masciantonio.
“Another thing I would stress is the value of mentorship because you're not going into it alone. You have other professors and scholars who are guiding you and helping you as you navigate a new experience.”
