Research portfolio / Mia Cheraghian, PhD
Understand the problem.
Inform the decision.
I connect user needs, market evidence and competitive intelligence with product and business decisions. Explore my work across three areas, with my role, methods and evidence described in each record.
UX research · Market researchCompetitive intelligence · Austin, Texas
How I work
I frame the question. I stay responsible for the answer.
- DefineClarify the question, constraints and decision.
- DirectChoose the methods and guide AI where used.
- CheckReview evidence, outputs and limitations.
- DecideExplain the recommendation and why it follows.
My client work shows practical AI-assisted delivery. Research records identify methods, contributions and evidence separately; AI-generated material is not presented as participant data.
See the workflow in the Protbyte project ↗01 / Research practice
UX & customer research
Understanding user needs, reviewing experiences and communicating practical recommendations.
Rackspace · Research practice
A summary of my research approach, not a confidential study artifact.
Research + executive decision support
Rackspace research experience
More than four years of UX research, market research and competitive intelligence at Rackspace, supporting executive decisions, positioning and sales enablement.
to recommendation.
UX work sample · Expert review
A participant journey, reviewed.
A public-site review of a hackathon journey: observations, likely user implications, priorities and recommendations. A self-review demonstration, with no participant testing or measured completion rates.
Volunteer UX research
Pandemic Professors
I led UX research initiatives to improve family and student onboarding through surveys and diary studies during COVID-19. This volunteer role is also documented in my professional background.
This is a role summary. A detailed study record, participant material and measured outcomes are not included here.
View my professional background ↗02 / Business decisions
Market & competitive intelligence
Connecting evidence about customers, markets and competitors with positioning, product and marketing decisions.
Rackspace · Industry research
Market evidence for product and business decisions.
My market and competitive research at Rackspace supports positioning, messaging, executive recommendations and sales enablement. Deliverables include competitor battlecards and decision-facing findings. Internal study artifacts and business outcomes remain confidential.
03 / Research depth
Academic & emerging-technology research
Published work, doctoral and conference research, manuscripts, peer reviewing and academic service.
Selected research
Papers, frameworks and a book chapter
without data sharing.Research by Mia Cheraghian and collaborators
Published · 2026
HAVEN
A framework for collective hotel learning without sharing individual guest records. Published in ICHRIE Research Reports, Volume 11, Issue 6, Article 2.
Conceptual framework · synthetic-data demonstration
to evidence of value.Research by Mia Cheraghian and collaborators
Published · August 2026
Beyond AI Licenses
Coauthored CMR Insights article distinguishing tool usage from evidence of value and proposing a four-layer AI audit.
24-practitioner study · decision framework
compassion.Research by Mia Cheraghian and collaborators
Published chapter · 2026
Ethical AI Storytelling
Coauthored chapter on AI-assisted volunteer tourism communication, authenticity, bias and cultural sensitivity.
Conceptual chapter · ethical analysis
discovered?Research by Mia Cheraghian and collaborators
SSRN preprint · 2026
GEO and Digital Equity
A three-layer framework examining digital exclusion in AI-mediated destination discovery.
Conceptual framework · research agenda
Earlier research, doctoral work and manuscripts
Doctoral, conference and developing work
Earlier research & submissions.
These entries retain the titles and publication or submission status already listed on my website. Manuscript and conference entries are distinguished from published work.
| Work | Type / status listed | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Making Tourism Accessible Through Wearable Technology ↗ | Dissertation · 2022 Texas Tech University | Quantitative research on smart glasses, travel hesitation and accessibility. |
| Smart Airbnb: The Importance of Smart Technology and Its Effect on Booking Intention | Conference poster · 2019 | Smart technology adoption and booking intention in the sharing economy. |
| Negative Online Reviews of Hotel Green Practices and Consumer Purchase Intention | Conference paper · 2020 | Reviews of sustainability practices and consumer booking behavior. |
| Wearing Your Destination: Smart Glasses for Accessible Tourism | Journal manuscript · Under review, as listed in 2026 | Smart glasses and accessible tourism; Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism. |
| AI-Generated Review Summaries and Decision Making | Journal manuscript · Under review, as listed in 2026 | Adoption of AI-generated review summaries; Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology. |
| The 90th Minute Problem: Edge AI for Smart & Safe Tourism | Conference submission · Submitted, as listed in 2026 | Edge AI and mega-sporting events; TTRA 56th Annual International Conference. |
Peer reviewing and scholarly service
Scholarly service
Peer reviewing
Journal peer reviewer
Cogent Business & Management
Completed journal reviewing service, supported by editorial acknowledgment.
Completed review verified · September 2026
Read the service record ↗Book-chapter peer reviewer
IGI Global Scientific Publishing
Two completed chapter evaluations verified through publisher confirmations.
Completed evaluations · 2025–2026
Read the service record ↗Academic service and teaching experience
Additional academic service & teaching
Contributing to the research community.
- Graduate Research Conference judge · Texas Tech University, 2021.
- Research Seminar Coordinator · Texas Tech GRAHM, 2019–2020.
- Instructor, RHIM 2308: Hotel Operations · Texas Tech University, Fall 2021; curriculum design and undergraduate teaching.
Professional recommendation
“She is an excellent researcher. She uses her analytic skills to think things through and come up with critical insights that drive our company strategy.”
Sharon Varalli · Former Manager, Rackspace
Read professional recommendations ↗Academic and independent research
Explore the published work.
Research records cover responsible AI, accessibility, tourism and organizational decision-making, with contribution and publication status described on each page.
View publications and scholarly service ↗Research opportunities
Let’s discuss your research team.
For UX research, market research and competitive intelligence opportunities, get in touch to discuss my experience and approach.
Discuss a research opportunity ↗