{"id":19030,"date":"2019-11-12T16:38:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T15:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/discoverstudyabroad.org\/?p=19030"},"modified":"2022-04-06T09:40:08","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T07:40:08","slug":"an-inside-look-at-research-abroad-qa-with-kayla-saint-olaf-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discoverstudyabroad.org\/an-inside-look-at-research-abroad-qa-with-kayla-saint-olaf-college\/","title":{"rendered":"An Inside Look at Research Abroad: Q&A with Kayla, Saint Olaf College"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kayla is currently a Research Assistant for the Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Organ Removal<\/a> project. She works alongside her mentor and DIS Faculty Member, Polina Smiragina<\/a>. Polina is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney and a Visiting Scholar at Stockholm University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla and Polina examine organ donation policies and\nthe demand for illegal organ transplants in Denmark and Sweden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Kayla\u2019s 3-credit Research Assistantship, she collects data through interviews, observations, and documentary research. She will also present her research at the End of Semester Showcase on December 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We checked in with Kayla about why she decided to do research at DIS and how her experience, so far, has impacted her time abroad: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

DIS:<\/strong> Why\ndid you decide to pursue research this semester?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Kayla B: <\/strong>It\u2019s\nrare to find a study abroad program that allows you to do research, so I was\nexcited when I found out about the DIS research opportunities. I enjoy the work\nand it\u2019s a great experience \u2013 working so closely with the professors on\nprojects you might not have had the chance to work on otherwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIS: <\/strong>Could\nyou tell us a little bit about your research project?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

KB: <\/strong>We\nare aiming to look at the impact that Swedish and Danish regulations have on\ntrafficking in human beings for the purpose of organ removal (THBOR). Since\nthere isn\u2019t a lot of information on the topic, we have been trying to step back\nin time and look at the progression of ethics, health discussions, and laws on\nthe topic to try to understand when THBOR started to become problematized and\nrecognized as a crime.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DIS: <\/strong>How\ndoes being abroad play into doing research?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

KB: <\/strong>It\nreally forces you to make your own deadlines and be independent but also work\non effectively communicating with your mentor and other group members since you\nhave limited time per week. I think it has been nice to be able to connect it\nwith other topics I\u2019m studying, for example, I related my research topic to my\nmedical ethics class. I had to do a presentation and it was nice to be an\n\u2018expert\u2019 in the topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DIS: <\/strong>What\nis it like working with Polina?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

KB: <\/strong>Polina\nis great! She has been so supportive and helpful. She makes sure that we get\nthe information we need and makes sure we get the experience of setting up\ninterviews with professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIS: <\/strong>How\ndoes this research compare to research at your home university?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

KB: <\/strong>If I were\nback at my home university, I would probably be doing more research within a\nlab or through one of my classes. It has been nice being involved in more\nsocial science type research because it\u2019s not something I would have been able\nto do \u2013 or even thought to do. It has been pushing me to use my research skills\nin different ways. Sometimes I even work with information that can get uncomfortable\nwhich I think is helping me grow significantly as a student. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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