Lab Member Spotlight: Samantha

How long have you been a part of the lab?

I started as a research assistant while I was a student in the Clinical and Counseling M.A. program at William Paterson University in January 2016. This was also the semester that the lab began collecting data for the first time! Since I joined, I have become a Clinical Psychology Doctoral student at William Paterson and remained a member of the lab for the duration of graduate school (until 2020).

What have you learned while working in the lab?

Working in this lab has taught me so much that I don’t even know how to begin! One of the most useful things that I learned, and still use as a skill in my work, is how to read, digest, and present on research. The lab provided me the opportunity to practice presenting on the research of others (sharing journal articles, etc.), as well as package and present research of my own (practice and feedback for conferences, dissertation, etc.). The development of learning while in this lab was so valuable to my own graduate experiences. It was so helpful to start early on in graduate school as a contributor to the research process to be prepared to head my own research project for my dissertation. From writing research proposals and protocols to data collection, analysis, writing and presentation preparation, I had learned about all of it in a way that gradually built independence in tasks, which prepared me for dissertation.

What do you miss most about William Paterson and working in the lab?

I definitely miss the never-ending supply of candy that was always in the lab. Most of all, I miss my colleagues. My fellow lab-members and student cohort were all super helpful and supportive. Dr. Megan Chesin and the rest of the research team were always open to hear my research ideas and I always enjoyed hearing about theirs. During common hours we enjoyed each other’s company in the lab and could spend some time talking about things outside of research and psychology too, which helped me reset my mind for my next class.

How is internship going?

I am completing my internship at James A. Haley VA in Tampa, Florida. It is going great! I am learning so many new things, and refining many of the skills that I brought into internship with me. The training program is so organized that I feel like I am making the most out of this training year and have been meeting wonderful and dedicated professionals along the way, with whom I am excited to be working alongside when my training is over. Of course, living so close to Florida beaches and wildlife is a bonus that makes my work-life balance easy to find.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I love marine life and have swam with sting rays, nurse sharks, and WHALE SHARKS!!