A Reflection Of My Summer Internship As A Research Assistant

-by Kayleigh Nash

Kayleigh is a second year Biomedical Sciences student, took part in Cardiff University’s On-Campus Internship Scheme in summer 2024.  Here, she reflects on what she gained from her internship – based in the Centre for Trials Research and DECIPHer Centre (supervised by Nina Jacob and Jeremy Segrott)

Initial Thoughts

As a Biomedical Science student, I’ve always had a keen interest in scientific research and so when the opportunity arose to experience working alongside a team of researchers, I was both thrilled, yet rather nervous! Although I had previously researched the daily responsibilities of a researcher, I lacked first-hand experience within a research team. Nevertheless, I was convinced that a career in research was the right path for me. As I eagerly awaited the beginning of my internship, I wondered if the role would meet my expectations and provide the hands-on experience I needed to confirm my aspirations.

My Experience

The initial days were filled with a whirlwind of introductions and orientations across both Centre for Trials Research and DECIPHer, as well as familiarising myself with the research project I was working on. The project focuses on the feasibility of virtual delivery of a parenting programme – a topic very prominent topic after the pandemic. I was very quickly welcomed by the team, and invited to weekly Project Team meetings where the team would get together and discuss the progress and running of the study. It was hugely insightful to be a part of these meetings and to witness how various roles within a research team work together and bring different aspects of research to the study.

My role within the team was focused on updating the background knowledge of virtual delivery of parenting programmes, through researching the surrounding literature. With the guidance of my supervisors and the subject librarian, I was able to update the background knowledge. I did so by creating a search strategy, running the search on scientific databases and screening for relevant articles. This not only enabled me to gain a better understanding of the current research in this area, but also allowed me to develop my research skills which will be hugely beneficial when completing future coursework and assessments.

Alongside this role, I was invited to attend a variety of meetings throughout the duration of my internship. These included centre-wide meetings in both Centre for Trials Research and DECIPHer, which were great for learning more about the running of the two departments, as well as providing a greater insight into the similarities and differences between the two research centres. As interns, we also had the opportunity to participate in short courses which were a great opportunity to learn more about key concepts underpinning research strategies.

Final Thoughts

This experience has been nothing short of transformative and has provided me with a much greater insight into the exciting world of research. I have learnt more about the structure of research teams, and the variety of roles that research teams are comprised of; the timeline of a study, from the initial funding application through to the dissemination stages; as well as various methods of research that I wasn’t previously familiar with, such as memory work.

This internship has certainly reinforced my passion for scientific research. As I continue my academic journey, I am very excited to build on this foundation and explore new avenues in research. For any students considering an internship, I wholeheartedly recommend applying – this programme has served as a huge stepping stone into the world of research and has opened my eyes to many future opportunities.