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JJ Russell joined the ARC NENC for a 12-month dementia research internship, working alongside Dementia Research Fellow, Dr. Tamlyn Watermeyer.

He recently completed the placement, and graduated from his Clinical Psychology Undergraduate Degree at Northumbria university. He is about to start his Master’s in Clinical Neurology at The University of Sheffield. 

In this blog, he shares his reflections on his dementia internship and what he’s gained from it.

My NIHR internship moulded me into a research passionate student with public and community engagements, co-authorships, and an international research network.

Currently, my experience is focused on Dementia care and diagnosis within global majority (ethnic minority) and learning disabilities communities, specifically Down Syndrome. Over previous internships with Dr. Watermeyer and my NIHR internship, I have contributed to a wide range of projects; from cultivating EEG student guides and participant outreach to systematic reviews and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) investigations.

I chose to pursue an MSc instead of taking up PhD offers, as though my current work excites and interests me, I believe having a cohesive understanding of Neurology is critical to a meaningful contribution to research. If not for this internship, I would have not received these offers and certainly would have lacked an understanding of the research world, and the networks within it, to make an informed decision about my career.

Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) – Toronto, Canada

The biggest highlight of my internship was utilising NIHR funding to attend and present at an international conference in Toronto, Canada. AAIC is the world’s leading dementia research conference, bringing together thousands of researchers, clinicians and advocates from across the globe to share the latest findings and ideas within the field.

I had the opportunity to co-author and present two posters with Dr. Watermeyer and our collaborators.

Our work focused on dementia in people with Down Syndrome, an area that is often underrepresented in research, despite its importance. Our first poster dealt with understanding the relative importance of dementia as a priority in care for people with learning disabilities as depicted in policy and healthcare documents (in a nutshell, our findings showed that it’s not a high enough priority). Our second poster presented some promising findings of the adaption of a digital tool to assess earlier signs of Alzheimer’ s disease in adults with Down syndrome – and we think we are on to something that can really help with earlier diagnosis in this community.

Standing by our posters and explaining our studies to all who had questions was rather daunting at first, but with Tam’s mentorship I successfully presented and connected with attendees, an achievement I am particularly proud of.

The experience gave me first-hand insight into how to communicate complex ideas clearly, respond to critical questions and apply our work within a much larger global effort. Presenting at AAIC was a professional milestone that I would not have been able to achieve without this  internship.

Transferable skills

On a recent podcast about my internship, I was asked why I thought few people had engaged with an opportunity like this? My answer was that I think there is a lack of understanding as to how skills learned on a research internship can have a diverse range of applications to range of careers. Not only for research, but even in healthcare and industry careers.

This internship has allowed me to develop skills which I plan on applying to a research career. I gained a unique first had experience into dementia research and how essential collaboration is to produce meaningful work. How bringing in an expert in the area does not undermine your value, but it highlights your dedication to clear understanding, sensible methodology and thorough analysis, with the clear goal of producing high quality and high impact publications that truly contribute to the field.

Additionally, working with NIHR gave me opportunities develop practical skills. Alongside Dr. Watermeyer, I ran brain health awareness and study recruitment events, completed wet lab training, evaluated educational assessment tools and became familiar with a host of cognitive and neuropsychological assessment batteries.

Professional development like this has clear application to a career in research. I’ve become familiar with research skills that set me apart from the average psychology undergraduate and ones that carried me though my thesis and into my masters. However, the value of these skills goes far beyond research.

The ability to analyse complex information, work collaboratively, and communicate findings are strengths that apply in any professional setting. This internship showed me that research training is not just about academia, but about building a toolkit that prepares you to adapt, problem-solve, and make meaningful contributions in a wide range of contexts.

Challenges

What I found most challenging was balancing the time commitment of the internship with my studies. Luckily, I succeeded in this and managed to gain a first-class grade on my Undergraduate thesis alongside the internship commitment. Many students use that time for a part-time job, but I was fortunate that this role allowed me to earn while developing my research skills. The flexible and understanding nature of the internship meant I could balance this with my academic work, and I was never pushed to take on more than I felt able to manage. It was demanding at times, but every hour felt worthwhile as it was an investment in both my degree and my future career.

What’s next?

This internship has been the turning point in my journey from student to researcher. It gave me the confidence to present on an international stage, the skills to contribute meaningfully to research, and the clarity to see where I want to go next.

As I start my MSc, I do so with momentum and ambition, aiming for a PhD and a career that blends research with real-world impact. Thank you to NIHR for making this possible.