Research Experience in Sports Media
- Information Gathering/Data Collection: Researching information from multiple sources, including team and player statistics and historical records. I gathered and cross-referenced information to build an accurate foundation for stories.
- Interviewing: Producing unique interview questions, conducting interviews with athletes, coaches, and other sources, and identifying the most relevant parts of the interview to incorporate into a story. Interviewing allowed me to gather firsthand perspectives that could not be found through statistical or online research.
- Data/Statistical Research: Analyzing current and historical statistics to provide context and determine why specific numbers are meaningful. Rather than simply reporting statistics, I use comparisons and historical context to translate data into a compelling narrative and explain its significance to an audience.
- Audience Analysis: Considering what information will be most relevant and engaging to readers and determining how research should be presented to make a story accessible. My experience in digital sports media also gave me exposure to understanding audience interests and identifying topics that are likely to generate engagement.
- Research Synthesis & Storytelling: Bringing together statistics, interviews, historical information, and other sources to identify a central insight and communicate it through a clear narrative
Writing Samples
This article for the Daily Bruin required researching the 2025 season statistics of both Oregon and UCLA pitchers, as well as interviewing two UCLA players and UCLA’s head coach after the game. Beyond collecting statistics and interview responses, I had to determine which information was most relevant to the story and explain its significance to readers.
For example, Oregon pitcher Lindsey Grein struck out six of the first nine UCLA batters she faced. While the number of strikeouts alone was notable, I researched UCLA’s season hitting statistics and found that the Bruins averaged just 2.82 strikeouts per game. Including this context allowed me to explain why Grein’s performance was significant rather than simply reporting the statistic. This experience reflects my ability to gather information from multiple sources and translate data into clear insights for an audience.
This article for Los Angeles Sports Report required researching and comparing single-season hitting statistics for two Athletes Unlimited Softball League players, Maya Brady and Megan Grant. I used career and single-season statistics for both of the former UCLA softball players to establish the historical context behind their performance and identify the larger story connecting the two players.
Grant became the NCAA Division I single-season softball home run record holder in 2026 with 42 home runs and set a UCLA program record with 91 career home runs, while Brady finished her UCLA career with 71 home runs across five seasons. Rather than simply presenting these statistics, I used them to explore the continued impact of UCLA softball within the AUSL. UCLA had a league-leading 12 former players and multiple coaching staff members in the league, providing additional context for why the matchup between Brady and Grant was significant.
By connecting individual statistics to broader trends, I was able to turn a collection of numbers into a larger story about UCLA’s influence on the new league and the continued competition between two former teammates at the professional level.
Research Experience in Psychology
- Research Question Development: Identified a research topic aligned with the goals of the Center for Mental Health in Schools, collaborated with other student researchers to refine the topic, and developed an original research question examining the intersection of AI and inclusive education
- Literature Review & Meta-Analysis: Conducted an in-depth review of academic literature to examine existing research on the use of artificial intelligence and technology in schools to enhance inclusive education. I compared findings across sources to identify common themes in the existing literature
- Research Synthesis: Synthesized findings from a wide range of academic sources into a cohesive research paper by identifying connections across studies and determining what the collective research suggested about the use of AI and technology in inclusive education
- Academic Writing: Independently wrote the final research paper, transforming extensive academic research into a structured, evidence-based argument and clearly communicating complex findings
- Research Problem-Solving: Learned to navigate challenges throughout the research process, including refining the goals of the project and determining which sources were most relevant
How Sports Media and Research Intersect
My experiences in sports media and research have taught me how to turn quantitative and qualitative information into clear and meaningful stories. I have learned how to go beyond the facts and numbers and explain why this information is important to an audience. My psychology research experience introduced me to the formal research process, while my work in sports media gave me the opportunity to apply similar skills to the dynamic and fast-paced environment of reporting.
These experiences have strengthened my ability to work with both qualitative and quantitative information and translate complex information into clear and engaging stories. These experiences have also fostered my interest in research, understanding people and identifying trends behind data.