Following her award as EHL's Researcher of the Year 2025, Dr. Laura Zizka reflects on her approach to academic research. Rather than focusing on individual achievement, she shares the habits and collaborative spirit that have shaped her research journey, along with practical advice for the next generation of scholars.
Recently, I received an honor called ‘Researcher of the Year 2025’. Like many awards, it came as a welcome surprise. It made me grateful for the opportunity and for the recognition of my hard work. To share the benefits of this award with others, I would like to answer two key questions that I am often asked about the key to successful research: What has contributed to my research productivity and what advice would I give to aspiring researchers?
The first question focuses on how I manage to score so many points each year, which has led to this award. Like my esteemed colleagues, I work hard to produce high-quality research, but I have no extra hours in the day to get it done. Rather, I found that the process I follow could be a differentiating factor. Thus, in the next few paragraphs, I will share what has worked for me. As you will quickly see, this award was not for me as an individual; instead, it is a celebration of what authentic collaboration can be!
The Power of Authentic Collaboration
A few years back, I received an email inviting me to join a group of international researchers for a Research Marathon (RM). This was unlike other experiences I had working on research projects with others. The Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research (JHTR) provided us with the first contact, a research theme, and three sessions at the CHRIE conferences to present our work.
The first theme was hospitality and sustainability. Once the theme was announced, we brainstormed potential ideas. I proposed an idea about pro-environmental behavior, while my RM colleague suggested a project on visitors' perceptions of green hotels. We both drafted a proposal and presented it to the team. In the end, we managed to complete both projects and publish them in highly ranked journals. Since that first year together, we have continued to publish two papers every year. One of the secrets to our success is the organization of the RM itself. The three conferences throughout the year made each project feasible.
Furthermore, we have established a rigorous process that we all adhere to. From the first meeting, we immediately established a work pattern. We met for one hour and created shared drives for our work. For each project, one member took the lead while the rest of us contributed.
Building a Research Process That Works
As the years have passed, we have slotted into our roles. I do the role that most researchers dread because it is very time-consuming: I find the literature and read it. I pull out the key ideas, concepts, and themes and connect them together. This process helps me to stay abreast of what other researchers are doing and saying about the topic.
I believe that all of the secrets can be found in the literature. Different perspectives and findings, often contradictory, lead to gaps that our study can fill. The literature is also used in the introduction and, later, in the discussion. Once I have completed the literature review, I can send it to my coauthors so they can complete the other sections.
Once we prepare the first draft, we start a roundtable of final reviews. We each read and annotate the paper, almost as if we were reviewers of our own paper; we are fair reviewers of what we have done well and what we still need to improve. Once we agree on the final changes, we submit the paper. When we receive reviews, we also work as a real team by dividing who is doing what and how.
Five Lessons for Aspiring Researchers
Regarding what advice I could give to aspiring researchers, there are many lessons I have learned since embarking upon the research journey. It can be a rocky road or a smooth ride. I will focus on several pieces of advice I wish I had received when starting my research.
1. Grow a Thick Skin
Reviewers can be brutal. When contacted by editors to review submissions, we are advised to give constructive comments that will help the authors to improve. Even if the work is rejected, the authors should receive clear guidance on why the paper was rejected and how they could improve their work in the future. With that said, I have received comments that were unacceptable, hurtful, and brutal. There are times that I read through the comments in despair, wondering how terrible my study must have been.
2. Find a Topic that You Are Passionate About
The research process is a long and daunting one. If you embark on a project that you do not believe in, it will be really difficult to push through when you have a mountain of articles to read or when you are staring at a blank page. Sometimes, my co-authors and their needs or expectations can spur me on. Or a deadline for a funded project pushes me to complete the work. But, most often, my own interest motivates me to continue.
3. Own Your Work
In the era of Generative AI, there is a tendency to outsource parts of the research process to it to save time. I have heard colleagues say they used Generative AI to find and draft the literature review, suggesting that this part of the process is lengthy and should be shortened by using AI. However, this puzzles me. If you didn’t read any of the literature, how can you gauge the output? How do you know that the literature review you received actually reflects what the literature was positing? It seems nearly impossible to link previous studies to yours if you haven’t read the initial articles. Further, if there are any errors in the article you submit, it is solely your responsibility.
4. Choose Your Co-Authors Carefully
You may think that doing a research project with your colleagues will be simple because you like each other or have done other work projects together. However, consider the following: Do you have similar work ethics? Do you have the same idea regarding deadlines? Oftentimes, working with lesser-known colleagues can be a welcome surprise. Your work may complement each other. Nonetheless, if you find that you do not work well together, complete the project at hand and think twice before working with that person again. Sometimes, it is just not a fit; it is no one’s fault, but trying to work with someone who has a different perspective about research could prove to be much more stressful than successful.
5. Consider Your Options
In the early years of research, the tendency is to accept all offers and agree to all projects. I suggest you consider each project and its role in your research plan. Most researchers develop a niche area in which they excel. They become an ‘expert’ in one area of expertise. Thus, if you have a clear research topic or area that you intend to focus on, you may want to refuse other projects that will take up your valuable time and energy.
Understanding Research Nuances
I have one final thought on this topic: not everything in research is as clear-cut as you may think. Early in my career, I applied for funding and was told to revise and resubmit. I interpreted that as a rejection and walked away. I was too embarrassed to admit it and lost a great funding opportunity.
Years later, I told a colleague who said I’d been a fool! A revise-and-resubmit was a positive response and could have led to a successful funding proposal. Thus, talk to your research colleagues who have experience. Share your concerns and fears. Be open and honest. Most of all, be true to yourself.
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