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.

About the speakers

Libby Lord (centre right) has been working on a systematic review looking at the impact of skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth on neonatal hypoglycaemia. She has also been working on a paper looking at the impact of attrition in the 2-year follow-up of a neonatal trial.

“I would strongly recommend a clinical internship to other students interested in research. It has given me great insight into the research process, solidifying my plans to continue my involvement in research in the future.”

Te Tohu Wilson (right) has started her own project with Liggins, which is an extension of the DIAMOND trial. The DIAMOND trial found that when mothers intend to exclusively breast feed their preterm babies, 70% – 80% of Asian, Caucasian, and Pasifika infants were sent home breastmilk feeding, but only 52% of Māori infants were sent home breastmilk feeding. Te Tohu’s project aims to investigate the factors that influence successful breastmilk feeding of moderate-late preterm infants in NZ neonatal care units.

Osita Isichei (centre left) has been involved in a study investigating why babies of different ethnicities born with serious heart conditions have different outcomes in New Zealand, and particularly why Māori and Pasifika in New Zealand face poorer outcomes. He is now in the beginning stages of his own study looking at fetal and infant growth in babies with critical congenital heart disease.

“I would strongly recommend a clinical internship; it gives you a great opportunity to learn about the massive world of clinical research at a world-leading centre for research in fetal and child health.”

Makayla Wadsworth (left) has been involved in several projects, including reviewing health records of preterm babies to see if delayed cord clamping helped reduce rates of anaemia. She is currently looking at the rates of spontaneous preterm birth in women who have previously had a C-section at full dilatation to see if there is an association between cervical damage and preterm birth.

“Before the internship I had zero experience in research, and no idea how research even works in a clinical setting. Not only has my knowledge on perinatal medicine increased, but so has my passion for it thanks to the people I have been able to collaborate with, most of whom are clinicians.”

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.