Name

Lucia Guillory

School

Stanford University

Degree Program

Fourth year PhD student in Organizational Behavior

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Houston, 2008

Dissertation Topic

The impact of status and power on individuals

Research Interests

Power and identify

Advisor

Deborah Gruenfeld

Advisor’s Research Focus

Power

Hobbies

Painting, watching movies, working out

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I selected the PhD program in organizational behavior at Stanford based on the program’s research opportunities. I wanted to do research in power and identity and Stanford University offered faculty conducting similar research.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

I prepared myself for graduate school by conducting research and completing a senior honors thesis during my undergrad. I worked in 2 different labs doing research on organizational behavior, which motivated me to become interested in my current research on power and identify.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, my application required GRE test scores. In order to prepare, I worked through a GRE book and completed sample tests. To my knowledge, Stanford University did not require a minimum test score for admission.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I discussed the research I had been conducting during my undergraduate studies. I also talked about my research plans in a doctoral program and how I envision my research evolving in the future.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For my letters of recommendation, I chose faculty members who I had conducted research with. During my undergraduate education, I worked in the labs of a few professors, so it made sense to ask them for letters.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in organizational behavior?

I would tell a student who is considering applying to graduate school in organizational behavior to get involved with research as soon as possible. Because research is such a huge component of graduate school, it is important to determine whether or not you like to do research.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My program is 5 years long and consists of classes and dissertation research. During the first and second years of the program, students take core classes and organizational behavior classes. During the last 3 years of the program, students take only a few classes and mainly focus on researching and writing their dissertation.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

I decided to focus my dissertation research on power and identity because I found the topic interesting. In order to help narrow down my topic, I began reading about similar research, talking about my research interests with my advisor and running some preliminary research studies.

In order to determine a research focus, I would recommend that students start developing their dissertation ideas as soon as possible. This way, they can avoid feeling stressed or overwhelmed when it actually comes time to decide on a topic.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

The process of researching for and writing my dissertation is flexible and varied. Because I am not attending classes and don’t have any strict parameters for completing my dissertation, it is hard to say how much time I spend working on it.

During this process of researching my dissertation, my main challenge is finding tests that produce evidence that support the theories that I am proposing.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

The main role of my advisor is to support me in the research process. Because she is so knowledgeable about my particular area of research, she provides me with feedback on how to change or further develop an idea. I enjoy working with her tremendously.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, my doctoral program requires qualifying exams prior to graduation. Between the first and second year of the program, students need to pass an exam that gauges their knowledge of organizational behavior by testing them on all of the class material covered so far.

How does a doctoral program differ from graduate study at the bachelors level?

The main difference between a doctoral program and a bachelors program is the level of independence. While bachelor students test other people’s ideas in the lab, PhD students need to develop their own ideas and test them. In addition, PhD students have far less structure because they are not attending classes regularly during the later stages of the program.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

My PhD program does not cost me anything because I receive significant funding.

How are you funding your education?

I am funding my education through fellowships and a research assistantship. Each quarter, I conduct research studies and analyze and report data to my advisor. In return, I receive a stipend that covers my living expenses.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in organizational behavior?

The time commitments for a PhD in organizational behavior are strenuous but enjoyable, because I am passionate about the research that I am working on. Each day, I probably work on my different projects and analyze data until about 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. I also always try to exercise at the end of the day.

How has graduate school affected your family life?

Graduate school has affected my personal life in the sense that I had to move away from home to attend Stanford University in California. My family lives in Texas, so the distance can be difficult at times. However, I am dedicated to pursuing my PhD, so I am willing to reduce the time commitments I have for the rest of my life.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In the next 5 years, I hope to be a professor at a university or a researcher of organizational behavior. I don’t have a strong interest in any other type of lifestyle.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in organizational behavior?

I would advise a prospective PhD student in organizational behavior to determine their commitment level to research. They need to be passionate about their research and willing to spend time working on their research. Students should determine this in order to predict how successful they will be in a PhD program.

Similarly, students need to make their research a priority at every stage, whether it is discussing past research during the admission process or producing quality research during the dissertation process.