Tag Archives: Psychology

Research in a Pediatric Palliative Care Lab by Celia Huey ‘27

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Name: Celia Huey
Class Year: 2027
Major:  Psychology
Minor: Data Science, Child and Family Studies

Internship Organization: The Pediatric Palliative Care Innovation, Discovery, Evaluation, and Advancement Lab (PPC IDEA Lab)
Internship Title: Summer Intern
Location: Boston, MA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I am working on one of the lab’s research projects that is designing and testing a video decision aid to support conversations around goals of care between clinicians and parents of children with cancer ages 0-12. I am also shadowing different pediatric palliative care specialties.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied to this internship because I eventually want to work in pediatric palliative care. I believe that palliative care is so beneficial to serious illness in pediatrics and was excited to use my research skills to assist on a pediatric palliative care research project.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

The biggest challenge I have faced at my internship is that it is a very heavy topic. It is hard mentally for everyone to be seeing and doing research on children who are in the hospital and are very sick. While pediatric palliative care is such an important part of the hospital, it is not easy to support children and families of children with serious illness.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship has been shadowing the pediatric palliative care clinical team. Meeting children and families of children with cancer or other serious illnesses during some of their worst moments and seeing how the palliative care team can support them has been really impactful. It also puts all of the research I have been doing this summer into perspective.

Exploring Child Development: My Summer at the Princeton Baby Lab by Nusrat Binte Faruque Mim ‘28

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Name: Nusrat Binte Faruque Mim
Class Year: 2028
Major: Psychology

Internship Organization: Princeton Baby Lab
Internship Title: Research Assistant
Location: Princeton, NJ

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I am currently working as a Research Assistant at the Princeton Baby Lab in the Department of Psychology at Princeton University! My day-to-day involves a great mix of hands-on experimental work and detailed data analysis. It is a highly collaborative environment, and I get to work closely with incredible postdoctoral researchers and graduate students on pioneering developmental science. To break down my general responsibilities, my primary tasks include: 1. Helping with participant recruitment and scheduling to keep our studies running smoothly. 2. Running in-lab experiment sessions that utilize eye-tracking and looking-time measures. 3. Annotating video and audio recordings from previous in-lab and at-home studies. 4. Actively participating in lab meetings and reading groups to discuss new literature.

Beyond these core tasks, I am deeply involved in two incredible research projects that are pushing the boundaries of child development research: 1. Pioneering Polysemy Research: I work on sense coding for polysemous words; words that share a form but have multiple related meanings, like “cap” referring to both a “baseball cap” and a “bottle cap”. What makes this work so impressive is that traditional word-learning theories often assumed toddlers could only grasp one meaning per word. This research groundbreakingly demonstrates that toddlers as young as two years old already represent complex networks of multiple meanings in their minds! 2. NIH-Funded Neural & Vocal Controllability Study: I also perform behavioral coding and transcription for research examining early word learning and vocal development. What makes this study truly historic is that it is an NIH-funded initiative representing the very first time scientists are studying brain activity during real-time vocal controllability! Examining neural mechanisms as vocal control happens in real time opens up brand-new frontiers in how we understand speech and language development. In addition to my daily lab work, I participate in weekly professional development programs that have been invaluable for my growth.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship at the Princeton Baby Lab because I am deeply interested in developmental psychology and plan to pursue a PhD in the field. I wanted hands-on experience with cutting-edge child language acquisition research, specifically regarding how toddlers process and learn complex word meanings

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

During this internship, I am building a strong foundation in both the technical and methodological skills required for psychological research. Through our weekly professional development programs, I am learning how to code in R and conduct detailed data analysis, which are critical for evaluating complex experimental results. On the methodological side, I am gaining hands-on experience running eye-tracking experiments and performing rigorous behavioral and sense coding. These skills are incredibly important to me because they bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, giving me the exact toolkit I need to succeed in a future developmental psychology PhD program. 

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Three Adjectives: Collaborative, Innovative, Rigorous

Three Nouns: Discovery, Mentorship, Foundation

Camille Heynen ’27 Interns with Tools for Better in Ireland

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Name: Camille Heynen
Class Year: 2027
Major:  Psychology
Minor: Visual Studies

Internship Organization: Tools For Better
Internship Title: Business Consulting Intern (Communications & Design)
Location: Dublin, Ireland

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

Throughout my internship with Tools for Better, I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of different projects. From redesigning the company website to creating presentations, branding materials, logos, and communications for different organizations, no two days have looked the same. I have also attended client meetings, networking events, and community initiatives, giving me a great insight into how a consulting firm works. The variety of work has helped me grow both creatively and professionally.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship because it offers the opportunity to combine professional experience with living and working abroad. Spending the summer in Dublin has allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture, adapt to a different environment, and gain perspectives that I know will benefit me long after this summer.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

Yes! This internship came together in a unique way. I was originally planning to intern in Vienna through my study abroad program, but due to a scheduling conflict, I was offered the opportunity to switch to Dublin instead. Although it was an unexpected change, it ended up being one of the best decisions. It introduced me to Tools for Better and gave me experiences that I would not have had otherwise, making this opportunity even more meaningful.

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Adjectives: Creative, Supportive, Inspiring
Nouns: Growth, Collaboration, Opportunity

Was this internship what you expected it to be?

Not entirely. One of the best surprises was how welcoming the workplace was. Being part of a small team allowed me to build a really great relationship with my boss, who trusted me with a lot of independence throughout the summer. Having that level of trust gave me the confidence to try new things, be creative, and learn through the process, which is something I truly appreciated throughout the internship.

Jai Abbott ’27 Interns with Mentor A Promise

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Name: Jai Abbott
Class Year: 2027
Major: Sociology
Minor: Psychology

Internship Organization:  Mentor A Promise
Internship Title:   Disability Justice Educational Intern
Location: New York, NY

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

Universal Design Workshop 2 Title Slide

Mentor A Promise is a nonprofit created to provide physical resources and academic mentorship to housing insecure youth in New York City. I had the pleasure to work with both the Disability Justice Team, and the Blog Team in order to provide information that makes the mentorship process stronger and more accessible. Over the course of this internship, I created two different trainings and worked on a guidebook regarding Universal Design for Learning, contributed to a physical accessibility checklist for all Mentor A Promise in-person events, created a disability terminology guide, collaborated on a disability organizational guide for parents and children, and published two blog posts on harm reduction and disability accommodations in education. I also had the pleasure to complete a course in Web Accessibility, so all future digital projects I am involved with following this internship will be screenreader friendly, captioned, and have plain language available.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I have been involved in disability work prior to this internship in the Bi-Co. My freshman year, I took Disability and Literature with professor Danielle Allor, which provided historical foundations to my understanding of disability. I have also attended Enable meetings, and worked with our amazing Assistive Technology Specialist Grace Cipressi on the design of the Disability, Unity, and Innovation Center. Cipressi provided invaluable information about accessible design, and helped me to host the Disability and Neurodivergence Meet Up last spring. I have worked with nonprofits before in previous summers, and was interested in combining my passion for disability advocacy with more complex professional experience. Mentor A Promise had an established Disability Justice team, but it was also clear that they had space for new ideas and my perspective could be put to use.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

As a self proclaimed Canva Warrior, I loved putting together my workshops on Universal Design for Learning. Not only did I get to spend time considering accessible graphic design, but I was able to connect directly with many of the mentors and other interns at Mentor A Promise, and share what I find to be valuable information about working with disabled youth. This project challenged me, particularly when I was trying to create a plan that worked for both experienced teachers and new hires. In the end, these workshops occurred over 4 sessions and two weeks, with participants sharing their own experiences with accommodations, lesson planning, and trying to learn in a world that wasn’t built for you. I also recorded a version of these workshops without participants, so it can be viewed by new volunteers after this summer ends and I leave the organization.

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Adjectives: Challenging, Educational, Immersive
Nouns: Growth, Collaboration, Courage   

Sawyer Fair ’27 Interns at Prevention Point Philadelphia

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Name: Sawyer Fair
Class Year: 2027
Major: Psychology

Internship Organization: Prevention Point Philadelphia
Internship Title: Prevention Services and Drop-In Navigation Intern
Location:  Philadelphia, PA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I have been working both in the prevention services department as well as the drop-in center. In  prevention services, I work in distribution for the syringe exchange, as well as navigation, which includes registering new participants and directing them to other services within the organization and outside. In the drop-in center, I give out hygiene products, food, and water, and assist in case management tasks such as applying for IDs, placing contacts for shelter placements, and referring participants to any other resources they may need.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I started interning at Prevention Point last June, and have continued since. I would like to work in case management in addiction and rehabilitation in the future, ideally with a harm reduction focus. I felt that this internship perfectly aligned with my interests and I completely fell in love with the organization and the people who utilize our services, so I knew I would continue this summer.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

I am learning skills in de-escalation and being firm in handling conflict, which was not something that came naturally to me. My instinct is to feel anxious when people are upset, which made it hard when I was trying to facilitate difficult conversations with people who need support. When conflict arises, I am learning how to help to the best of my abilities while remaining calm, which can be a challenge for me.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship by far has been the relationships I am building both with staff and our participants. I have gained so much insight on public health and intersectionality from each of these relationships. I take any chance I get to sit and talk with participants and love being a person they can come to when issues arise.

Chloe Buka ’28 Works with the Petey Greene Program to Help Educate Justice-Impacted Individuals 

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Name: Chloe Buka
Class Year: 2028
Major: Sociology, Minor: Psychology
 
Internship Organization: The Petey Greene Program
Internship Title: Summer Intern
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

The main part of my internship is going in person to a local correctional institute twice a week to provide individualized tutoring to men currently located there who are studying for their GED. In addition, I help to virtually coordinate a series of STEM demonstrations in youth facilities in DC, as well as help to provide backup for Eastern University’s higher education program, also located in the aforementioned local institution.

Why did you apply for this internship?

As a sociology major who recently took Punishment and Social Order, a course focusing on the United States’ carceral system, I have had the chance to learn all about the flaws of our current “justice” system, and I realize that this is an area that I want to focus on. The PGP came up in one of my discussions with my mentor after I had mentioned this interest, and I was instantly drawn to the hands-on aspect, specifically that I would be able to go in person and have face-to-face interactions with the people I am trying to help.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship has definitely been the amazing people that I’ve had the chance to meet, not just my coworkers, but also the incarcerated individuals that I have had the opportunity to work with so far. It’s amazing being around people who so genuinely want to learn and put such an effort in, and also to just experience people that I would have never had the chance to interact with if not for PGP.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

The most rewarding part has definitely been connecting with the students. As important as education is, the times when I have been able to sit down with someone and just learn their favorite music, the books that they like, their motivations to study, etc., have been the best moments for sure. Seeing how hard people have worked to be where they are has encouraged me to look further at my own motivations and push myself to do better. 

Bridging Data and Well-being: Investigating Hong Kong Youth Mental Health by Maika Kogawara ‘27 

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Name: Maika Kogawara
Class Year: 2027
Major:  Psychology, Minor: Data Science
 
Internship Organization: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Internship Title: Research Intern
Location: Hong Kong
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

Dim Sum lunch with all the interns and Centre staff members

I have been working as a research intern at the Centre for Health Behaviours Research (CHBR) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where I am focusing on youth mental health and digital behaviours. I’m currently assisting with the screening and literature mapping for the Birth to Work project. This is a massive landscape study looking at youth well-being and mental health across Hong Kong, tracking the entire developmental timeline from birth up to age 24. I’m also involved in a systematic review and meta-analysis focused on culturally adapted digital mental health interventions for adolescents.

Why did you apply for this internship?  

I really wanted to gain solid research experience in a health setting, and this lab caught my eye because it perfectly bridges health psychology and child psychology. It’s an intersection I’ve always found fascinating and wanted to explore deeply. I also saw it as a fantastic opportunity to push my quantitative skills, working with R here has definitely been challenging at times, but seeing the outputs come together is so rewarding. Plus, being from Hong Kong, I was genuinely excited to see what the research sector looks like right here in my home city and work on projects that directly impact our community!
 
What has been your favorite part of this internship?  

The stress balls I always keep at my desk

Honestly, it’s the independence. The lab has this amazing culture where everyone is driving their own research on their own timeline. My supervisor gives me a lot of trust, which means I have the freedom and flexibility to manage my own day-to-day workflow and I absolutely love that autonomy. But what makes it work so well is that even though we are all working independently, we aren’t isolated. Everyone in the lab is incredibly friendly, so if I ever run into a tricky question or a weird data error, there’s always someone willing to step away from their own work to help me figure it out.

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you? 

The skills I’m building right now are giving me a massive confidence boost in my abilities as a researcher. First, re-learning Jamovi for data analysis and graphing has been a journey. It can be mind-numbing at first, but it is so rewarding the moment the output clicks and you finally understand what the numbers are saying. I actually surprised myself by discovering a love for quantitative data! To keep track of it all, I keep a stack of paper on my desk where I jot down outputs, double-check calculations by hand, and force myself to explain the correlations in my own words. 

Beyond the data, I’m learning how to navigate the professional world. Handling constant email communication has taught me how to maintain a sharp, professional tone. Most importantly, I’ve learned to be proactive. Instead of guessing what my professor wants, I’ve practiced stepping up, asking clarifying questions early, and actively volunteering for more tasks. Mastering this balance of  grit and proactive communication is exactly what I wanted to get out of this experience. 

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience? 

Impactful, Chill, Interdisciplinary 

Flexible, Challenge, Growth  

Camilla Breckon’s ’27 Work With Weight Stigma Intervention Research 

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Name:  Camilla Breckon
Class Year:  2027
Major:   Psychology         
 
Internship Organization:  Brown University Health
Internship Title:   Research Volunteer
Location:  Providence, RI
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

This research seeks to explore weight stigma and its impact on the life of teens. This comes in many different ways: the language that pediatricians use to talk about weight-related health behaviors, in-person interventions to address weight stigma or weight bias in teens, and understanding the implications of weight stigma on teens both physically and psychologically. The goal of these projects is to better understand the reasons behind weight stigma and how to address it in the world, seeking to support teens in feeling happier and healthier.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I volunteered in this research lab part-time last summer, and I found that it really solidified my interest in psychology research. It was very special to see how much the faculty and staff members care about the causes they are researching through how much thought they put into the participants’ experience, rather than solely focusing on data and results (though, of course, that is an important part of research). The education and experiences I gained in the previous summer led me to wanting to continue with this project, and take on a more active role.
 
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect? 

I have learned so much about working with qualitative data, rather than quantitative. This experience has really helped me broaden my understanding of what psychology research looks like outside of the classroom, and how I can apply the skills I’ve learned in the classroom into real life. Bryn Mawr classes offer an excellent foundation for beginning to exercise these skills in practical situations.

Was this internship what you expected it to be?  

I have never worked face-to-face with participants, and I’ve found that experience to be really valuable. It seems that often when people think of research, there’s this image of lab rats that comes up, but this experience has definitely shown such a humanizing side of research.

Stepping Into the Field: My Journey as a Psychology Intern by Jolan Zheng ‘26 

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Name: Jolan Zheng
Class Year: 2026
Major:  Psychology, Education
Minor: Mathematics
 
Internship Organization:  Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital
Internship Title:   Assistant
Location:  Hangzhou, China
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

This summer, I am interning in the psychology department at Zhejiang Province People’s Hospital, where I work closely with clinicians and staff as a psychology intern. Much of my work involves observing therapy sessions, assisting with case discussions, and supporting intake procedures for new patients. I also help with documentation and research-related tasks, which gives me valuable exposure to how psychological theories are applied in real clinical settings. Each day, I am learning how professionals approach patient care with empathy and cultural awareness, while also strengthening my own communication and observation skills. I also had the opportunity to participate at hospital ward rounds with the director of psychology. Through this experience, I learned to listen more attentively, take accurate notes, and analyze cases from both clinical and humanistic perspectives, deepening my appreciation for the balance of professional expertise and empathy in psychology.
 
Why did you apply for this internship?  

I applied for this internship because I wanted to connect my academic background in psychology with real-world clinical experience. I also saw this as an opportunity to explore potential career paths in clinical psychology while contributing meaningfully to patient care.

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect? 

One thing I didn’t expect to learn during my internship was how much psychology involves teamwork and communication beyond direct patient care. I assumed most of the work would be individual or between doctor and patient, but I realized that effective treatment relies heavily on collaboration among doctors, nurses, interns, and social workers. I didn’t expect to realize how many different life stories, challenges, and struggles people carry with them. Through this internship, I have met individuals from very diverse backgrounds, each facing unique circumstances that shape their mental health. Some of the cases even involved extreme behaviors that I had never encountered before. This experience has opened my eyes to the complexity of human experiences and reminded me of the importance of approaching each patient with empathy, patience, and an open mind.  

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience? 

Eye-opening, Challenging, Rewarding 

Growth, Empathy, Patience 

 

 

A Summer Supporting Twice-Exceptional Kids by Sydney Schmidt-Nowara ’26

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Name: Sydney Schmidt-Nowara
Class Year: 2026
Major: Psychology
Minor: Asian American Studies 

Internship Organization: The Quad Manhattan
Internship Title:   Psychosocial Internship
Location:  New York, NY
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

As a Psychosocial Intern at the Quad Manhattan, I support the positive behavioral development of “twice-exceptional” children – a population that is simultaneously gifted/talented and has learning/neurodevelopmental differences in a summer camp setting. At the beginning of the summer, I conducted an in-depth exploration of campers’ neuropsychological profiles, which allowed me to devise individualized behavioral and/or social goals (e.g., “I will use my words to share my needs/emotions/wants with others”) for each child. Now, on a daily basis, I collaborate with a team of psychological professionals to facilitate and measure campers’ progress through these goals.
 
Why did you apply for this internship?  

Before this summer, although I had taken several developmental psychology courses at BMC and even work at a developmental psychology lab at Haverford College, I had yet to fully experience the work of psychological practice. I applied for this internship to (1) immerse myself in the real-world application of psychological theory/research and (2) learn more about “twice-exceptionality” and how to support this underserved population of learners. With the knowledge and experience I will gain this summer, I hope to better understand the path I want to take through the field of psychology.
 
What was your favorite part of this internship?  

My favorite part of this internship is the level of communication between staff members, which includes other interns, teachers, and camp administrators. There is a constant line of communication between staff and leadership, which means that everyone is in the loop – and thus able to provide support – during moments of conflict, unexpected change, or on-the-spot problem-solving.
  
What is most rewarding about your internship?  

The most rewarding part of my internship has been building trust and rapport with my group of campers. A lot of kids are coming into this summer program having only been in the public school system, which is an environment that often fails to serve the needs of twice-exceptional learners. For instance, a twice-exceptional child may need the support of a paraprofessional, but also may belong in a highly advanced “honors” class; the education system often fails to simultaneously meet these needs, as the categories of “high ability” and “disability” are commonly viewed as mutually exclusive. As a result, the kids attending the Quad Manhattan may be quick to distrust adults and educators. For this exact reason, it is even more rewarding when I have moments of connection with campers.