What a summer! These (almost) 10 weeks have flown by. I have worked with my research mentor for about two years and have been trusted with more responsibility in project tasks and management. It is empowering to transition from a research assistant that mechanically completes project tasks to one that asks questions and shares feedback.
At the start of this project, I was nervous about whether I could contribute my insights on the research process and if I would be able to take part in discussions. I navigated this challenge by reading the literature shared with me which enabled me to understand and contribute to discussions. Additionally, when I was given a project task, I tried to always be thoughtful about the execution. For example, with the development of a survey, I spent time conditioning questions to create a streamline survey that is easy to use by participants. I believe taking the time to prepare and execute any research task allows you to exhibit your research skills.
I am grateful to have participated in WAGSFP and will use this WAGSFP experience to develop my resume and cover letter, find more research projects in the future, question the research process, present research in an effective manner, and much more!
For future WAGSFP fellows, I advise you to take advantage of the knowledge and connections gained from the fellowship. Knowledge like how to present your research effectively and connections with fellow research fellows are helpful to become a distinguished researcher.
Thank you WAGSFP for this experience!