All about my time as a BiPedal Project intern
Written by Natasha McCarthy. Edited by Áine Ní Choisdealbha.
Have you ever wondered how babies learn about the world around them?
As an intern at the UCD Baby Lab, I had the chance to dive into the fascinating world of research on infant development. My name is Natasha McCarthy and I had the incredible opportunity to intern at UCD’s School of Psychology Baby Lab. I worked under Dr. Áine Ní Choisdealbha and with master’s student Florencia Gomez on the BiPedal Project which is researching how infants develop a sense of their own bodies and use that sense to learn about other people. Through my internship, I gained familiarity with many facets of research. This includes using special software for analyzing videos of babies' behaviour, infant EEG practices, and reading academic literature. I was also able to participate in weekly meetings with the Baby Lab team and learn about other projects going on within the lab.
Something that surprised me about psychology research is how much behind the scenes technical work there is. From coding videos to proof reading articles, there’s lots to be done! As an intern, helping out with these tasks made me feel very useful and like I was really a part of the project. One of my favorite experiences was observing infant testing sessions. Watching the babies interact with the experiment was both adorable and eye-opening. It was amazing to see firsthand how they responded to the videos we showed and how that translated into EEG data which ultimately contributes to our understanding of cognitive development. Something that surprised me about psychology research is how much technical work there is behind-the-scenes. From coding videos to proof reading articles, there’s lots to be done! As an intern, helping out with these tasks made me feel very useful and like I was really a part of the project. One of my favorite experiences was observing infant testing sessions. Watching the babies interact with the experiment was both adorable and eye-opening. It was amazing to see firsthand how they responded to the videos we showed and how that translated into EEG data, which ultimately contributes to our understanding of cognitive development.
One tip I have on becoming an intern is to make sure you begin the Garda Vetting process as soon as you can. Since we work with young children, a background check is necessary, and it can be a lengthy process. Be aware that you might need to go in person, so read any vetting emails thoroughly!
Overall, my internship at UCD’s Baby Lab and working with Dr. Áine Ní Choisdealbha and Florencia Gomez was a transformative experience that deepened my understanding of infant cognition and research. In just one semester, I was able to have fun, learn a ton, and make new connections. It also makes a great addition to my CV! If you’re considering an internship in psychology, I wholeheartedly encourage you to think about working in an infant lab. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions about my experiences or what I’ve learned—I'm happy to help
- Natasha McCarthy (nmcc@bu.edu)