Ready for research? Four stories from undergraduate interns

Are you keen to help build knowledge that will make a positive difference to people’s health? Want to get paid while you do it?

Find out what clinical research is all about from four third year MBChB students currently interning at the Liggins Institute. This seminar is your chance to hear what they’ve discovered, find out what an internship involves, and get the details on how to apply.

Interns are paid for casual work during the semester and full-time work during the summer breaks.

About the speakers

Chloe Bell (above left) has been working on three projects, all contributing towards the Aotearoa Preterm Nutrition Guidelines. She is working as first author on two Systematic Reviews, one on Individualised versus Standardised Expressed Breastmilk Fortification, and the other on Access to Lactation Consultant Services versus No Access, and the effects of these on preterm and breastmilk expression outcomes. She is also working as second author on a Scoping Review which is looking at the Impact of Staff Interventions on breastmilk outcomes. Due to being born prematurely, Chloe is on the Guideline Development Group Panel as a consumer and is therefore assisting in decision-making and voting.

“This internship has allowed me to realise the integral role that research has within the world of clinical medicine. It has given me the immense privilege of working alongside a range of inspirational researchers and clinicians. The internship has taught me so many valuable skills so far, not only within research, but also within working with and learning from others.”

Sylvia McDougall (above, 2nd from left) has been working on followup data from the first randomised trial of antenatal corticosteroids in the world: the Auckland Steroid Trial, conducted by Liggins and Howie between 1969 and 1974. Sylvia is using data from the 30- and 50-year followup studies to investigate individual health trajectories, and the impacts of preterm birth on cardiometabolic health outcomes. After reviewing the appropriate literature to present her research proposal, Sylvia is continuing to code in R to statistically analyse the relevant data and trajectories.

Sylvia has also been involved in data cleaning and entry for MoPED, a study investigating the effects of early brain development changes in preterm babies on later development.

“This internship has helped me realise medicine is where I want to be. I am so grateful to work alongside and learn so much from the interdisciplinary team of experts dedicated to helping others.”

Henri Heaphy (Ngāi Tahu) (above, 2nd from right)has also been working on followup data from the Auckland Steroid Trial. He is currently looking at the contact data from these long-term follow-up studies in an effort to find out what contact methods work. He has been involved with various aspects of the study process such as data extraction, cleaning and analysis. He hopes that his study will provide valuable information to those who are conducting similar studies. Additionally, he has been involved with data entry of another study that is looking at cognitive outcomes of children who had open-heart surgery.

“Coming straight from first year biomed I had very little research experience and I didn’t really know what research involved. This internship has allowed me to build my research skills in a supportive environment. I hope that I can keep using these skills later on to do more research after the internship. It has been great to see the collaborative process research is and I am proud to be a part of the Liggins team. The internship also allows you opportunities for early clinical exposure which is something few pre-clinical medical students get to experience. Overall, I am so thankful to be a Liggins intern and I hope to continue conducting research as I progress in my medical career.”

Aakash Prasad (above right) has finished leading a narrative review where he investigated how dietary interventions affect the symptoms and disease progression of Parkinson’s disease. He also led the clinical aspects of a study involving gastric mapping of people with Parkinson’s, where the team aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of body surface gastric mapping on this patient group. He is currently writing this manuscript as first author.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the diverse opportunities I’ve had as a clinical intern. It’s been fascinating to see how research and clinical practice intersect, particularly through the work of clinical academics. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for evidence-based care. I’m excited to continue working in the Parkinson’s space”

This seminar is hosted by Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding.

Eager to apply for an Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship now? Find all the details here.