91Ö±²¥

When I first arrived in 91Ö±²¥ to start my undergraduate degree three years ago, I was aching to begin my journey as a psychologist - but with no direction in mind. Social cognition seemed as equally exciting as computational neuroscience. It wasn’t until the end of my second year that I found my calling in developmental psychology.

Over the summer break, I volunteered as a research assistant for a PhD student running a study on early child cognition. I helped with coding 10 minute videos of parent-child interactions, meticulously breaking them down and analysing their speech and actions.

Though challenging and tedious, I was invigorated by the work. For the first time, I felt like I was practicing psychology, rather than simply reading about it in a textbook.

Looking back, I’m glad I made the most of the opportunities that were offered. The work experience I gained in exactly the research setting I aspire to, not to mention my personal tutor who was a true ally throughout, made my time here incredible

Helen Grimshaw

BSc Psychology

I went on to work as a research assistant for another PhD student in my spare time, this time visiting nurseries to test children and collect data. Again, what a thrilling feeling it was to be going forth into the field, interacting with real, distractible, adorable 3-year-olds on the front line.

Both of these experiences prepared me well for my third year project, in which I tested a new measure of cognitive flexibility on 3- and 4-year-olds. What initially seemed like a straightforward study quickly revealed its true form: a complex mission, in which every detail needed to be thoroughly thought about and justified.

This was followed by my time working on an OnCampus Placement in the 91Ö±²¥ Cognitive Development Lab, helping to run a study on early cognition and parental influence. Alongside my supervisor, I recruit families and work directly with parents and their young children in the lab.

It’s such a joy to look back and see how far I have come in just three short years. I began as a clueless first year, covering broad topics that I vaguely remembered from A-Level; now I feel like a psychologist. I’ve designed studies, worked in a lab testing participants, coded data and gone through the rewarding (and thoroughly taxing) process of statistical analyses.

Looking back, I’m glad I made the most of the opportunities that were offered. The work experience I gained in exactly the research setting I aspire to, not to mention my personal tutor who was a true ally throughout, made my time here incredible.

With my Masters and PhD to quickly follow, I feel totally equipped and prepared to take the next academic step. My path to becoming a developmental researcher could not have had a better beginning.