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Recent Comments
Week 6:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15UpWR1YE2xhS_dku_z0IhaabmJvZYOmbgD_i4QCP9H4/edit
Hi Noah! Your textbook project sounds awesome; I can't wait to check out the completed version!
Week 6
For your final post, upload a video presentation or create a written or photographic narrative in which you discuss your project: why did you become interested in this project, what was the goal of the project, what was its significance or impact (real or potential). How did the project evolve or change over the course of these six weeks? Finally, please consider how your understanding of leadership (curiosity, empathy, teamwork, resilience, etc.) has informed your work or been deepened by your work.
I am attaching a link to my video below!
https://laidlawscholars.network/videos/99f7363a-5c91-4420-8e5d-7dedb6edf5fd
Week Five:
What new skills and/or knowledge have you gained from your summer experience? Have you met anyone who has been instrumental in shaping/helping you conduct your project? Briefly, how has this person impacted you? What have you learned about leadership from this individual, and how might it influence your actions, work, and self in the future?
During my time here in Mexico City I've been mainly focusing on improving my skills as a researcher by connecting theory to fieldwork; Dr. Castillo, my project adviser, has been immensely helpful in helping me distinguish which discipline my future endeavors might take and how to integrate my own personal experiences with my research. As I have had the opportunity to engage with his work, my own perspective and definition of collective memory has solidified into something I now see myself engaging with almost every day; it reminds me a lot of my work last summer working with nontraditional archives, archives that exist because of a deep love for a certain topic. This is definitely something I see my future work focusing on; how our own personal archives function as a preservation of culture and memory in ways that formal archives can sometimes lose.
Hi! That sounds like an amazing opportunity, learning how to fuse your personal experience with academic research to not only provide a source of motivation for the research but reach an even deeper understanding of the subject matter itself. I can somewhat relate - in STEM research, personal experience isn't a critical aspect of the research process, but after engaging with direct patient populations through global health research this summer, I am realizing the importance of using this personal experience to direct both future wet-lab and global health research I might engage with!
Week 5
What new skills and/or knowledge have you gained from your summer experience? Have you met anyone who has been instrumental in shaping/helping you conduct your project? Briefly, how has this person impacted you? What have you learned about leadership from this individual, and how might it influence your actions, work, and self in the future?
In terms of practical skills, my summer experience has allowed me to engage with a lot of resources that are generally employed in clinical research, which I will be able to not only take beyond undergrad but directly apply to my job during the year. For example, this has included gaining an increased familiarity with REDCap software as well as the ethical concerns that are naturally more prominent when working with individuals in the research process rather than cancer cells. In terms of perspective, this experience has also shifted my view on public health research. I was definitely a bit uneasy leaving behind the lab this summer, but spending time with the PHEALED team and the patients of the hypertension clinic has shown me the very impactful nature of this form of research and has encouraged me to apply for other opportunities to get more involved with global health initiatives.
One of the most impactful people so far has been the program manager of the PHEALED site: Mr. Emmanuel Baguma. Aside from helping me organize even the most trivial details of my project, he has modeled a form of leadership that has allowed me to better understand the characteristics of a successful NGO. While his leadership style certainly incorporates a variety of different elements, what has been most notable to me is his ability to foster collaboration. He has demonstrated that to be a successful leader, one must really get to know their team and create an environment that not only encourages productivity but also centers on ensuring a positive employee experience. As I seek out leadership opportunities in the future, I will thus focus on the development of my communication and collaboration skills so that I too might be able to engage with various teams in this manner.
Week Four:
What challenges and/or difficulties have you encountered and how did you go about resolving them? Speak to a specific challenge you have encountered and some of the ways that you tackled the problem.
One challenge that I have encountered a bit is the cultural difference. While Ireland isn't incredibly different from the States, at times the cultural differences can be a little jarring. This is especially noticeable when I am working on collecting literature for background information for the literature review I am working on because it is specific to Ireland and Irish history regarding mental health. It is also quite noticeable socially as well. For example, if I go to a more rural part of Ireland, their accents are usually pretty thick and some even speak Irish Gaelic, so it can be a bit difficult to understand.
I've found the most helpful approach in these situations is to be patient with myself and be willing to ask questions. I will often speak with my Research Advisor about specifics of Ireland's mental health history or Irish culture. She has also been incredibly helpful in explaining certain Irish colloquialisms that confused me at first and has given me a lot of recommendations for places to go or fun events in the area that have helped me become more familiar with Ireland and Irish culture.
I'm glad you have been able to rely on your Research Advisor for help navigating the cultural differences! I can definitely relate - every meeting I attend seems to be conducted in parliamentary procedure, which has been a bit strange especially given that I'm used to a super direct style of communication; I am also learning to be patient with myself/others as I figure out the proper procedure.
Week 4
What challenges and/or difficulties have you encountered and how did you go about resolving them? Speak to a specific challenge you have encountered and some of the ways that you tackled the problem.
One of the most notable challenges I’ve had so far centers around communication. Given that I have a limited internet connection and am 7 hours ahead of EDT, it is difficult to be in constant communication with the US-based side of the research team. Thus, I have definitely been switching between email, WhatsApp, and Zoom to relate the essential information. However, not being able to check-in about every little detail has also given me the opportunity to learn to trust myself and my decision-making process. Furthermore, this has provided me with the chance to rely on the Uganda-based team, which has been incredibly supportive.
For example, in redesigning a patient database, I first interviewed the clinical staff based in Bugoye and then reviewed their current paper and electronic systems. From this, I created an outline that I have been (slowly) updating to record patient history from 2019-2023. In order to make sure I have enough time to complete the project, I have had to have a bit of faith in the efficacy of my design skills and my ability to resolve any inconsistencies that naturally arise from relying on handwritten paper charts. This has definitely been a bit terrifying as I normally like to check in with my PI over smaller issues/questions, but in this sense, has thus been a great opportunity to gain confidence that I hope to apply to the research I complete in the US.
Week Three: What does a typical day look like this summer?
I am living with a lovely host from Santiago and a housemate from Bolivia working here. Both present different perspectives and histories of the land (which are also quite different from that of my coworkers), and it is lovely to spend time with them. I always start with a healthy breakfast, which in Chile, always includes manjar (Chilean dulce de leche). I walk about five minutes from my host’s home to my office. I work in the World Trade Center South (a name based on NY, which I suppose has not aged well), which is in the business district of Santiago, located right across the street from the largest mall and tallest building in all of South America. During the day, I work on connecting with tourism companies through Chile to speak about their sustainability initiatives, usually through Google Meets, as well as writing a guide for my organization in relation to sustainability. Everything is in Spanish, évéñ my kéybóárd! Today, I am connecting with Transforma Turismo, a governmental group seeking to innovate Chilean tourism. I usually take lunch from a café nearby, which there are many. I can also walk around the parks nearby along the Mapocho River and/or spend time at the mall. Restaurant and grocery prices are quite comparable to New York, as the country has a (quite impressive) program of keeping food local. They portmanteau this neighborhood Sanhattan for a reason. I work 9-5ish Monday to Friday, with the option of working from home if I want to for two days a week, though I usually enjoy spending time at the office. In the evenings, I might head to a museum (although I have to be more situationally aware in this section of the city), spend time with my host, taking las once, an evening tea time, head to a restaurant or event with my housemate, or have a nice dinner out with a fellow Columbia friend. My pace feels more relaxed in Chile, which allows me to work productively and feel rested for the upcoming academic year.
Here is a photo from my walk during lunch in the monument park: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zV84rer2RocV3mSm6
Hi Harrison! This sounds like such a good experience! Have you found a favorite restaurant/cafe yet? How do you feel working primarily in Spanish?
Week 3
During the week, I primarily work from the Bugoye Health Center campus. Typically, everyone starts their day around sunrise at 7am, so I’m definitely having to learn to be a morning person. Depending on my tasks for the day, I’ll usually work on my patient database design from the NGO office next door. Everyone is super friendly, so during this time, I’ll also have the chance to learn about how other studies are going on topics such as severe malaria, bednet distribution, etc. In the early afternoon, I’ll usually return home and work until 5 or 6pm. Then, I’ll then have 1 or 2 meetings before I’m done for the day!
On Thursday, however, I’ll head over to the clinic on campus, meet with the patients, and record notes during their visit with the clinician. The clinic lasts however long there is a line of patients outside, and I am always impressed by the stamina of the staff.
On weekends, I typically do some sort of fun, touristy activity with my roommate. So far, we’ve completed a hike in the Rwenzori Mountains and are planning to head to Queen Elizabeth National Park next weekend. Otherwise, I do a LOT of reading!
Here’s a picture of the health center and of the hike we did in the Rwenzoris:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DtxsAzJeNwStXVxc0aHSuTMk6idcdXqz/view?usp=drive_link