Undergraduate Research Reports: Fizzah Kayani on Olfactory Narratives in Cinema
We're so pleased to provide undergraduate research opportunities! This past semester, Fizzah Kayani worked with Arianna Khmelniuk on Olfactory Narratives in Cinema, a project examining how scent-related language in film reflects and reinforces power dynamics, ideologies, and binary oppositions—particularly around gender, race, and global culture. Read about Fizzah's experience below!
Being an Undergraduate Research Assistant with BCNM and Arianna Khmelniuk has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. It gave me the opportunity to apply what I learned in the classroom to real-world problems and helped me grow both intellectually and professionally. My responsibilities included the creation and maintaining of an online database that contained all the information Arianna has gathered over the years. While my colleague Eshani focused more on the visualization aspect of the data, I worked on fact checking the entries and filling in the gaps within previous knowledge.
One of the biggest takeaways from my experience was learning how to think critically and analytically. If many sources have conflicting information, which one is more reliable? I became more confident in asking research questions, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions based on evidence. I also gained experience with research methods and tools specific to my field, which gave me a deeper understanding of how knowledge is created and challenged in academic settings. As a Media Studies and Data Science Major, this project was a perfect intersection of my interests, and I am excited to work on similar projects in the future.
Having weekly meetings with Arianna improved my communication skills significantly. I learned how to present research findings clearly and concisely, in meetings, reports, or informal discussions. This helped me become more comfortable explaining complex ideas to different audiences. These experiences made me a better writer and speaker, which I know will benefit me in future academic or professional settings.
Working closely with a graduate student was another valuable part of the experience. I received guidance and feedback that helped me improve my research approach and better understand the expectations of academic work. This mentorship also helped me explore my career goals and gave me a clearer sense of whether I wanted to pursue graduate studies or enter the workforce directly after graduation. It also gave me ideas for my own undergraduate thesis.
The Undergraduate Research Assistant role also taught me important professional skills like time management, teamwork, and adaptability. Research often involves solving unexpected problems and learning from setbacks, which helped me develop resilience and patience. I began to appreciate that progress in research doesn’t always come quickly, and that perseverance is just as important as creativity or technical knowledge. Most importantly, being a research assistant sparked my curiosity and deepened my love for film and media. It taught me to be more independent and self-motivated in seeking out knowledge and understanding. I now feel more confident in my ability to tackle complex problems, not just in research, but in any area I choose to pursue.
In short, working with BCNM and Arianna has been an incredibly enriching experience. It helped me grow as a student, a thinker, and a professional, and I believe the skills and insights I gained will stay with me long after graduation.