For my dissertation, I extensively explored attention and cognitive control, specifically examining the differences between proactive and reactive control strategies. Additionally, I investigated the level of awareness associated with these control mechanisms, providing valuable insights into how individuals manage cognitive tasks and stimuli across different situations. This involved conducting behavioral experiments, meticulously collecting data, and performing comprehensive statistical analyses to interpret the findings. The rigorous process culminated in the creation of a dissertation paper that was ranked 3rd in my entire class, underscoring the depth of research and academic excellence achieved.