Over the last few months we have been fortunate to have a number of brilliant interns join our Research Group. In this blog we’re delighted to feature two – Nana and Kavisha. Read on to find out what they got up to and their key takeaways…
Nana-Afia Ansu
Hi – please introduce yourself!
My name is Nana-Afia Ansu, and I am in my final year of sixth form, where I am studying psychology, sociology, and biology A-level. I had the incredible opportunity to complete a summer internship with the Social Biobehavioral Research Group at University College London.
What made you interested in this internship?
I secured this position through the Nuffield Research Placements Programme, which I applied for earlier this year. In my application, I expressed my passion for psychology and my aspirations to hopefully pursue it further in higher education. This field of study perfectly aligns with my A-level subjects, and throughout my time at UCL, I felt a sense of optimism about the new knowledge I could acquire from the diverse and supportive team around me.
A key aspect of my application that helped me connect with the Social Biobehavioral Research Group was my volunteer experience with children with special needs at a primary school, which sparked my interest in special needs and research related to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. I was able to employ my personal experience with autistic family members to understand the research done surrounding autism and associated topics such as low community participation with the help of my supervisors.
What did you find most rewarding about your work experience?
One of the moments which stood out to me through the two-week period I interned for was feeling like a valued member of a dedicated research team. I was generously given access to a wealth of qualitative and quantitative resources for researching and gathering secondary data, which I utilised in my scoping review on the ‘community participation and wellbeing outcomes among autistic youth’.
The Group not only provided valuable insights into epidemiology and research but also allowed me to connect with both current and former PhD students. Their experiences opened my eyes to various academic paths I could pursue in the future. Being the youngest member of the department at that time, I initially found the jargon used in team meetings slightly daunting. However, by researching the group’s past work and asking questions whenever I felt confused, I was able to gain clarity and maximise my experience with the team. Although preparing for my 10,000-word scoping review was overwhelming at times, I realised that focusing on learning from those around me was the key to making the most of my two-week journey.
What are you taking away from this experience?
After spending a week in team meetings, conducting guided research on my project, and networking with professionals during lunch, I realised that research could be a significant part of my future career path. My developing background in research methods from my A-Level psychology and EPQ work provided me with a firm foundation, but this internship made the research I had previously sifted through feel tangible and real.
I very soon realised that the dedication of Research Fellows like Emeline Han and Alexandra Burton (my supervisors) directly influences our social landscape and the lives of community members. Furthermore, it was during this experience that I learned about social prescribing and the role of link workers in supporting specific groups facing various mental health challenges, as well as the wide range of other roles available in research departments, including statisticians and communications administrators.
I truly appreciate the unique perspective I gained during my time in this enriching environment. Thanks to the Social Biobehavioral Research Group for their warm welcome.
Kavisha Panditha
Hello, please introduce yourself!
My name is Kavisha, and I’m a recent Psychology graduate.
What led you to undertake this internship?
As someone interested in pursuing Clinical Psychology, I was excited to dive deeper into specific aspects of the career, including research through partaking in the In2research programme. The programme included an 8-week placement hosted by Dr Alexandra Burton, Senior Research Fellow in the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at UCL, where the group focuses on investigating how different social assets and social deficits can impact people’s health.
Can you tell us a bit about what you were you working on day to day?
As part of the placement, I focused on conducting a qualitative research project exploring the Mechanisms of Action (‘the whys’) of how a group singing intervention aimed at mothers experiencing Postnatal Depression, called Melodies for Mums (M4M), can improve mothers’ mental health and wellbeing during a 10-week period.
My research involved thematically analysing six focus groups, taken from the large-scale implementation of the intervention (SHAPER-M4M), using the Multi-Level Mechanisms Framework, with findings demonstrating M4M can improve mental health and wellbeing in mothers with Postnatal Depression by triggering psychological, social and behavioural mechanisms. Additionally, the research highlighted potential moderating factors that can affect M4M intervention’s desired outcomes that can be considered in the future, which will inform the design and development of future creative arts health interventions for women experiencing Postnatal Depression.
What did you enjoy about the experience?
This placement has been an invaluable experience for me. Having the opportunity to conduct a qualitative research project where I learned and developed new research skills like using a theory-based framework intended for the arts intervention to conduct a thematic analysis; learning to use new software, NVIVO, for the first time to analyse data; presenting my research project in an academic poster format and understanding how vital non-pharmacological interventions can be for different populations that are suffering from poor mental health and wellbeing.
Additionally, having the opportunity to sit down and get to know the team and learn about their career journeys, the projects that they are involved in, and the impact their work has, and the accomplishments of the Group has been really inspiring to hear. Dr Burton has been really supportive throughout the placement providing not only guidance but also opportunities to further develop by allowing me to sit in team meetings of different projects, support other researchers with any tasks and inviting me to attend different workshops run by the team.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned?
Reflecting back, the most valuable lesson I learned from this placement is the importance of staying open to diverse career pathways. While it’s natural to focus on a specific direction, flexibility and openness to new opportunities can lead to unexpected and rewarding career trajectories. This experience has shown me that being adaptable in the face of new challenges or interests can enrich your professional journey in ways you might not initially anticipate, so always stay curious and be willing to put yourself out of your comfort zone!
My time has been an incredible learning experience full of insight and I am excited to figure out my next steps in the research field and I am grateful to everyone who has made this internship so memorable.