Yale University – from student to staff!

Name: Katie Myerscough (BSc 2024)

Degree subject and school: Psychology with professional placement

Type of Global Opportunity: Professional Placement Year (Research)

Where did you go? 

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America

What type of placement did you complete? (Study/work/volunteering/research)?

Work/Research – Lab manager and research assistant in computational psychiatry lab

What motivated you to take up a Global Opportunity?

The ability to contribute to innovative research on depression, challenge myself to live and work abroad and the opportunity to meet new people and have extraordinary experiences.

What were your top 3 highlights from your time abroad?

Meeting incredible people, exploring unbelievable places, and the opportunities for professional and personal development.

What was your biggest challenge? How did you overcome it?

Adjusting to different work habits and maintaining contact with family and friends despite the time difference were significant challenges I faced. However, confiding in colleagues, I learnt how to adapt my work style and routinely arranged calls to keep in contact with everyone.

How has your placement been beneficial to your studies as Cardiff University or your future career?

Since finishing my placement, I have been offered a full-time position in the Yale psychology department as a clinical research technician. This is incredibly beneficial to my career goals and is an incredible opportunity that was only possible through undertaking my placement.

What is the one thing you wish you’d known before you left?

I wish I had considered safety to a greater extent and ensured I knew who to contact if I needed support.

What would you say to a student that was unsure about spending a period abroad?

This was the most valuable experience I have ever undertaken. Not only do you gain countless relevant skills, but you also prove to yourself how capable you are and what the world has to offer!

What are 3 things to do in your host destination?

Visit New York, eat incredible pizza at Sally’s or Pepe’s, and watch and participate in many sports and unique experiences!

Please sum up your experience abroad in one sentence

An unforgettable year that has shaped my future career!