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Isolt Reardon, Behaviour Change MSc
Who did you find inspiring at UCL and why?
During my degree I loved the lectures given by Professor Susan Michie. She's one of the leading experts in Behaviour Change in the UK and an extremely engaging speaker so I found the opportunities to hear from her very inspiring. Looking back at the year now though I would say I find Danielle D'Lima extremely impressive. She's the teaching lead for the MSc and rather unusually at third level is extremely focused on quality teaching (alongside her research). Often at third level you come across inspiring lecturers but I think it is quite rare to get the opportunity to be taught in small groups on a weekly basis by someone so experienced in their field and upon reflection was quite a unique aspect of this MSc. She's a brilliant teacher and clearly prioritises this aspect of her role which is of huge benefit to Behaviour Change students.
What is your fondest memory of your time here?
I think the intervention development module in term two as we met two mornings a week as a whole class with Danielle or one of the other teachers and it was quite a hands-on class. I think it's the bread and butter of the course and was a really nice opportunity for the whole class to come together, there were some good discussions in these classes.
Tell us a bit about the work you're doing now...
I've recently started a new position as a Senior Research Assistant at the Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI) having completed six months as an RA at UCL (department of Primary Care and Population Health) post-graduation. In my RA role at UCL I was involved in the engagement and fidelity analysis for a Process Evaluation of a Parkinson's self-management trial. In my new role with the CEI I will be working on a range of projects spanning healthcare, education, and childcare. CEI is a social purpose organisation that focuses on bridging the gap between research and practice/policy which is an area of interest for me and one that the MSc focuses on through the inclusion of implementation science.
How did your UCL degree help you get to where you are now?
I hadn't even heard of a Process Evaluation let alone the term "fidelity" prior to completing the master's so I can safely say it was instrumental in getting my RA role with UCL. What I learned from my master's program was incredibly valuable for my new job. It set me up for a smooth transition into the role, allowing me to put into practice the knowledge and skills I acquired during the MSc. The master's focus on implementation science, using frameworks effectively, and creating impact through evidence-based research no doubt opened the door for me at CEI. While I have yet to get fully started in this role I already know I will be working on a systematic review of parenting interventions, a research skill I developed during the MSc as my thesis was a systematic review of barriers and enablers of Pulmonary rehabilitation referral/participation. I know that the colleagues who interviewed me at CEI were impressed by the relevance of my master's for their work and i'm confident I wouldn't be in this role without having completed the MSc.
What have been your career highlights?
Probably the news that I got my current role, I had a huge interest in the work of the CEI since learning about them during my time studying at UCL. I'm extremely excited to be working in social research with an organisation focused on equity and true impact.
What would be your advice for current students?
Attend all the classes, especially core modules, and ask loads of questions. Your time studying will be over so quickly and as is always the way you don't realise what an incredible resource you have while you're there so try to make the most of it. Just try and engage in classes and with discussions, ask plenty of questions, and ask for feedback on work where possible that's how you learn and improve.