A-Lone Researcher

For every researcher who’s ever had to carry the weight alone, this book is for you!

A-Lone Researcher is a thoughtful blend of real stories, personal reflections, and practical frameworks from those who’ve walked the solo path. From navigating layoffs to rebuilding confidence and influence, this book offers not just comfort but tools to help you survive and thrive as a one-person research team.

Because being alone doesn’t mean doing it all without support.
It means learning to lead from where you stand.

🔍 What you’ll get inside:

• 🔑 Chapter 1 | Unplanned Journey Into Research: A personal story of how I became a researcher by accident and how that shaped the lens for this book.
• Chapter 2 | Life as A-Lone Researcher: The unseen realities of being the lone researcher, from self-doubt to being left out, and why you're not alone in this experience.
• 🔑 Chapter 3 | Building Credibility as A-Lone Researcher: Practical steps to build credibility when no one knows what you do (or why you matter).
• 🔑 Chapter 4 | Setting Boundaries Without Losing Impact: How to set boundaries without guilt, avoid burnout, and still stay valuable to the team.
• 🔑 Chapter 5 | Embedding Research in Company’s Culture: How to go beyond one-off projects and influence how decisions are made at an organizational level.
• 🔑 Chapter 6 | Creating Support System for A-Lone Researcher: How to find support, create your own circle, and stay grounded, so you can keep growing.

🔑: Available on Complete Version

👨‍💻 Who wrote this?

Nizar Maulana Azhari is a Lead Product Researcher who has spent most of his 7+ years working as the first or only researcher on the team. He’s used to building research from scratch, often in places where people weren’t sure what research was supposed to do.

Outside his day job, Nizar founded Beyond Research, a community for Indonesian researchers to connect, learn from one another, and navigate the uncertainties of the field together. He also shares his reflections regularly on social media, believing that knowledge grows when it’s shared.

This book is a step toward a long-held dream: to become a writer. And maybe, in telling his story, he helps others feel a little less alone in theirs.

My LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nizarmaulanaz/

📌 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this book still useful if I’m not a UX researcher?
A: Absolutely. While written from a UX research perspective, many lessons apply to not only other researcher, but also solo designers, analysts, strategists, or anyone trying to build a new function in an unfamiliar place.

Q: Is this more of a personal story or a how-to book?
A: It’s both. You’ll get real, relatable stories with actionable takeaways.

Q: I’m not a beginner. Will I still learn something new?
A: Yes. Even experienced researchers face moments of isolation, stakeholder tension, or burnout. This book offers fresh insights into navigating those moments with clarity and care.

Q: Is this book helpful for managers or leaders?
A: Definitely. If you lead or hire researchers, this book gives you a deeper understanding of what solo researchers go through. And ultimately, how to support them better.