- Category
- Impact
- Date
- July 27, 2026
When Sarah Reynolds (’22, ’23, ’27) enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2020, she was only planning on taking a few Computer Science classes. But by the time the fall semester was underway, she was already “hooked on research."
Six years later, Sarah is nearing the completion of her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, with a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.S. in Software Engineering in her repertoire.
“I’ve always been a big-picture person who likes to figure out the scope of the project and plan before I jump into something, which aligns with the abilities of software engineers,” she explained. “As a Ph.D. student, I teach one of the software engineering classes, and my dissertation focuses on software engineering for artificial-intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) systems.”
Research on How AI Can Support Student Success
Sarah’s research details methods of creating trust between humans and ML models.
“My dissertation is focused on creating a specification repository for ML models,” she said. “Specifications are the goals for a system, broken down in a highly detailed way.”
The broader goal of her work is to chart a path in which people, particularly software engineers, can increasingly trust and benefit from ML in their education, work and everyday lives. Her published work has primarily focused on improving undergraduate research experiences.
“As teaching is one of my passions, I look forward to continuing to investigate, implement and evaluate best practices for student success,” she shared.
She effectively demonstrates how instruction and research intersect in the pursuit of a Ph.D.
Learning to Teach Supports Ph.D. Progress
Teaching students has been essential to Sarah’s journey to earning her Ph.D. When it comes time to defend her dissertation, she will need to both understand her work and communicate its value effectively.
“The most impactful work means nothing if you cannot get other researchers excited about it through your papers and presentations,” she said.
Sarah strengthened her communication abilities by sharing her knowledge with software engineering students in a way they can understand and benefit from.
“There is so much that I learn in my research that I love to distill in my classes,” she said. “I think my experience teaching has made me a better researcher, and that my research makes me a better teacher.”
Mastering the art of communication is just one aspect of Sarah’s program that requires ample effort. Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. should consider a variety of factors before jumping in.
What to Know Before Starting a Ph.D. Program
Obtaining a doctorate was not part of Sarah’s original plan — her personality traits, interests and sense of discipline naturally brought her to this point. An affinity for problem solving led her to computer science, which in turn led her to further higher education and complex research opportunities.
From Sarah’s perspective, prospective Ph.D. students should be ready to:
- Embrace self-guided learning
- Explore teaching and learning environments
- Maintain a passion for the research process
- Stay curious and learn to love constantly taking in new information
- Work with a supportive advisor who shares your interests and work style
Most importantly, Sarah encourages candidates to remember their “why” and to maintain strong relationships with their advisor. She credits her advisor, Dr. Omar Ochoa, for supporting her throughout the Ph.D. process.
“Without a specific career goal or academic passion that aligns with a Ph.D., it is really hard to stay motivated and on track — that’s why choosing a mentor is so important,” she said. “Even as my career goals and ideas about my future have evolved, Dr. Ochoa has provided the necessary advice and guidance to keep myself goal oriented.”
Benefits of an Embry-Riddle Ph.D. Program
Embry-Riddle's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) has supported Sarah through every stage of her Ph.D. candidacy — providing opportunities to forge meaningful relationships and conduct significant research. EECS has also supported Sarah at conferences where she can present her work and build connections beyond the campus.
“Everyone in the department has been so welcoming and informative,” she said. “I have access to such a wealth of experience and knowledge that they share, and it has improved my abilities."
Her years at Embry-Riddle have taught Sarah the value of consistent and genuine effort.
“If you really want to become the top of your field ... you have to take advantage and ownership of the opportunities presented to you,” she said.
Future Career Plans and Research Impacts
Sarah is focused on finishing strong while reflecting on the future of her research and career.
“I like to think about the impact it may have,” she said. “Even small work builds the community, and as humans, we need to think about what we are putting out into the world.”
As AI becomes a progressively hotter topic in popular culture, Sarah remains confident in the positive consequences that its advancement will bring.
“ML and AI can have such an incredible impact on humanity,” she said. “With any technological advancement, there are positives and negatives, and I think it is our job as researchers to keep those impacts in mind.”
Sarah will graduate with a powerful sense of self and clarity on her future goals.
"I know who I am as a student, researcher, mentor, colleague, teacher and more because I have been able to experience all those roles, receive feedback and interact with others who are succeeding."
Teaching has inspired Sarah to pursue a career in academia, but she is ready to take on the rewards and challenges of whatever comes her way.
“I love the creativity that research projects allow me to have professionally, but I also really love sharing knowledge and interacting with students,” she explained. “My timeline has shown me that life can take you in ways that you do not expect, bringing things you never considered into your life to give you new opportunities and experiences.”
