The Improving Leadership Effectiveness by Assessment and Development (ILEAD) laboratory, supervised by Dr. Kristin Cullen-Lester, conducts interdisciplinary research on leadership and leadership development. Our research focuses on relational aspects of leadership, including leaders' social networks and the role of organizational networks in shared leadership, complex collaboration, and the implementation of strategic and large-scale change. We aim to improve development initiatives focused on enhancing individuals’ and teams' human and social capital and to understand how to enhance the leadership capacity of complex organizational systems by enabling more effective collaborative work practices that promote individual, team, and organizational adaptability, effectiveness, and well-being.
MEET OUR TEAM
DAVID KEATING
Graduate Student Researcher
Ph.D. student in Management
School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi
MBA, University of Illinois Chicago
My research interests include workplace relationships, negative work behavior, virtual/hybrid work, and changing nature of work. I am conducting within-individual investigations of workplace emotions, mood and affect, emotional exhaustion, and self-regulation.
BEATRISA PUCALEV
Graduate Student Researcher
Ph.D. student in Management
School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi
MS in Finance, Catholic University of Milan
My research interests include social influence and power dynamics in organizations. I am studying the impact of executives' networks on firms' outcomes.
JUAN DU
Graduate Student Researcher
Ph.D. student in Management
School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi
MS in Interdisciplinary Studies, Oklahoma State University
My research interests include leadership, teams, and social networks. I am studying the dynamic and multilevel nature of shared leadership.
POL SOLANELLES
Graduate Student Researcher
Ph.D. student in Management
School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi
MBA, East Carolina University
I am studying leadership, power dynamics, and alignment of strategic priorities across teams and organizational levels.
POL SOLANELLES
Graduate Student Researcher
Ph.D. student in Management
School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi
MBA, East Carolina University
My research interests include leadership, power dynamics, networks, and alignment of strategic priorities across teams and organizational levels. I am studying team assembly as a dynamic influence process.
JOIN THE ILEAD LAB
Application Instructions
Undergraduate research assistants in the ILEAD lab have opportunities to gain a variety of skills including:
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Research Design
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Project Management
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Study Material Preparation
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Data Collection and Management
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Data Analysis
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Identification of Challenges Facing Organizational Leaders
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Understanding Theoretical Constructs in Management and Organizational Behavior
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Translating Research Findings into Practical Insights
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Expertise in Teamwork
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Scientific Writing
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Professional Presentation Skills
Becoming a research assistant in the ILEAD lab is a selective process. If you are interested in being considered, please send your resume or CV to Dr. Cullen-Lester along with an email answering the following questions:
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Why are you interested in working for the ILEAD lab?
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What are your plans after graduation (it's okay if you're not sure, please share your current career goals)?
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What are your qualifications for working in the ILEAD lab (i.e., what is your GPA? What relevant courses have you taken? what prior research, internship, or work experience do you have? It's okay if you do not have prior experience but please share how you feel you can uniquely contribute to the lab).
Lab Alumni
The ILEAD lab began at the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business. I had the opportunity to work with these aspiring researchers and management professionals.
2019-2020 Researchers
Dr. EUN YOUNG NAE
Assistant Professor of Management
Pittsburg State University
Ph.D. student in Management & Leadership
Bauer College Business, University of Houston
MA in HRIR, University of Minnesota
I am studying trust/distrust, intergroup relations, and leadership.
WASSEM SARAKBI
Undergraduate Researcher
Graduate Year: Spring 2021
Major: Finance
Minor: Supply Chain
Senior Strategy Analyst at Worley
DIANE BAUMANN
Graduate Year: Spring 2020
Major: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Minor: Management
Undergraduate Researcher
OZZY SHEIKH
Post-baccalaureate Researcher
Graduate Year: Spring 2019
Major: Entrepreneurship & Accounting
Minor: Sales
2018-2019 Researchers
Jean and Kosta completed the Provost's Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program. Learn more about their projects below.
JEAN ALMONTE
Senior Associate at CohnReznick
Graduate Year: Spring 2021
Major: Finance - Global Energy Management
My PURS project examined the connection between the composition and structure of employees' interpersonal network that person's commitment to the firm's organizational strategy.
KONSTANTINOS VOGIATZIS
Associate - Audit & Accounting Advisory Services at KPMG
Graduation Year: Spring 2020
Major: Accounting
Minor: Leadership Studies
My PURS project examined if certain traits and types of social connections enable middle managers to exert greater influence in their organization.