Summer research internship: Exploring Socio-Affective Abilities in Autistic Adults
This summer Lily Doran, a second year BSc Psychology student, has spent time on a research internship under the supervision of Dr Idalmis Santiesteban, a lecturer and autism researcher in the Department of Psychology.
Lily was awarded a studentship from the British Psychological Society [BPS] and has created a research project exploring socio-affective abilities in autistic adults as part of her summer internship.
She will also be continuing her research into autism during her final year project, which will focus on empathic understanding in older children and adolescents.
Here, Lily and Dr Santiesteban discuss the summer internship, conducting the research project at the Department of Psychology and the benefits of taking part in the internship for future study and employability.
Why did you want to take part in the internship?
Lily: I’m going into my third year and [working on] my third-year project, in the area of autism. I’ve also got a study that is going on over the summer, as my interest is autism. My little brother is autistic and I want to go and learn as much as I can about it. It’s a study I’m really passionate about, but the skills that I’ll get from it [the internship] will help me so much in my third year.
With this, my confidence has grown as I’m getting more confidence in my skills. Idalmis has introduced me to so many different people that will help me and I couldn’t be more thankful. It’s such a good opportunity.
I’m doing it [the summer internship] as part of a module next year. The 399 - It’s a work experience module and you can do any type of work experience. Luckily I’ve been able to do this internship as part of that, so it has worked out really well for me.
What are the benefits of the internship for your future employability?
Lily: It is really helpful. With the 399 [work experience module], it makes you focus on certain skills – one you want to develop and one that you already have – which made me look at it from an employee perspective. ‘This is what I’ve already got, but this is what I want to develop’. I want to develop my report writing, as I’ll be using that a lot next year. With the internship I am developing those skills.
I’ve also been able to develop networking skills. I’ve been going to different meetings and I’ve been presenting my study, which I would not have had the opportunity to do beforehand. I can see how much I’ve come on and I would have been a bit apprehensive to present my study and do stuff like this, but now I will.
The internship we’ve got is with the BPS [British Psychological Society]. That’s another thing I can put on my CV to say that I’ve got. I’m proud of that. That was through Idalmis as I did not know about that.
Dr Idalmis Santiesteban is a lecturer and autism researcher in the Department of Psychology
What has it been like working with one another?
Lily: I say this all the time, but I really hit lucky with Idalmis. She sees what I want and my passion and she really works hard. She helps so many people, for example The Brain Charity. The Liverpool Autism Hub – all the people who she has brought together. You can see how much they benefit, as well as me. It’s lovely.
Dr Santiesteban: It’s lovely working with Lily. As her supervisor, it’s always a pleasure when a student comes to you because they have a passion for a particular area of research. They have the motivation and the determination to want to do it – and that is Lily. The moment she came to my door and told me about it [the research project], her strong motivation and personal experiences of living with a little brother with autism and wanting to learn more. It’s a goal to make those students flourish and see them grow.
The BPS award we have received is a very important one. Firstly, it recognises the importance of the research that is being done. Secondly, it recognises the potential that the student has. In this case, they have seen the potential that Lily has as she had to write a statement to convince the BPS panel that she was worthy of getting a studentship. It’s a prestigious award and what they say it does, is that it marks out a student as a future leader as a researcher and an academic. It’s a really big thing to shout out about.
Lily, how does it feel to be considered a future leader as a researcher and an academic?
Lily: I am very proud of it. Again though, I wouldn’t have known about it [The BPS award] without Idalmis and her research team. It helps your confidence – not just now, but when I leave university. Not many people can say that and I can see how much I’ve grown through it.
What makes the Department of Psychology a great place to take part in an internship?
Lily: From a student perspective, everyone I have spoken to – even if I just have a question about a lecture – everyone will take time out of their day. I didn’t know about Idalmis as I hadn’t had lectures with her, but I spoke to a few different researchers and lecturers. They were all so helpful. They gave me advice – even if they couldn’t help me, there was probably someone who could. They’ve always got time to help and you can see that they care about the students. They genuinely care about what they’re doing, but they also want you to do well, which I really like.
Dr Santiesteban: One of the main benefits that students get from studying their Psychology degree at the University of Liverpool is the exposure to a wide range of expertise – especially research expertise within the department. All together they offer a big range from health, to appetite, to cognitive to life span. All kinds of different areas that the students get the benefit of learning about first hand.
Also, opportunities like this internship provide valuable experience for the students and its good for them to have on their CV. The range of skills they learn are transferable and there’s lots of advice on employability, starting from the first year. Students get lectures and sessions on the skills that they need for employability. There is a lot of support for students in the department.
What advice would you give to students who want to take part in a summer internship?
Lily: You learn about yourself a lot more. I know for a fact that this is the research that I want to go into. I know that I will enjoy next year, as the research and the topic that I’m doing, I’m interested in. It’s my passion. I’m getting to know different people and it has helped with research participants.
The skills that you get from it. Communication skills, data analysis, all those type of skills, I wouldn’t have had going into my third year. I feel in a way that I’m ahead, as I’ve got those skills that I would have got in third year, in advance.
Not a lot of people can say that they have done this and it’s work experience that employers are looking for. They’re looking for what you have on your CV. It’s all about getting to know different people too, which I think is so important.