Image: Yaw Buabeng, a doctoral student in UGA Psychology's Brain and Behavioral Sciences (BBS) program, recently completed an internship at Alcon, the world's largest eye care device company. In the reflections below, he shares his experience, the skills he developed, and the lessons he took away from the internship. Tell us a little about your internship at Alcon. My internship at Alcon has been a highly rewarding experience. I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and build connections with amazing professionals. The experience reinforced my passion for translational vision science and strengthened my goal of pursuing a career where research can be applied to develop solutions that improve patient outcomes and advance eye care. What was your biggest takeaway from the experience? My biggest takeaways seeing how collaboration across research, clinical and business teams drive innovation in eye care. The experience strengthened my technical and professional skills, expanding my understanding of the medical device industry, and gave me greater confidence in contributing to projects with real-world impact on patients’ vision and quality of life. How has your time at UGA Psychology prepared you for this opportunity? Under the mentorship of Dr. Billy Hammond, I developed a strong foundation in research through hands-on experience in designing studies, developing protocol, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating scientific findings. These experiences prepared me to successfully transition into my internship at Alcon, where I applied those skills to practical challenges in clinical research and vision care innovation.
