Name: Noor Werndlij
Class Year: 2026
Major: Psychology
Minor: Data Science
Internship Organization: Sigmund Freud University (SFU)
Internship Title: Research Intern at the Institute for Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma Research
Location: Vienna, Austria
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I am currently working as a research intern at the Trauma Institute located in the Psychotherapy science faculty at SFU in Vienna. So far, my internship has involved attending interesting conferences, such as The Nightmare of the Biomedical Approach to Mental Health in Slovenia, helping with literature research and reviews, and assisting with interesting projects. I was trained in an interviewing method to support ongoing research at the institute. Additionally, I have been able to visit and tour the SFU outpatient clinics, and I will be helping at and attending the upcoming World Congress of Psychotherapy hosted at SFU.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I was always very interested in applying for a psychology-related internship. When I found out about the opportunity to intern in Vienna, I was immediately sold. Not only would it be really cool to be able to do an internship in a different country and explore the differences in psychology and therapy between the U.S. and Austria, but, since I am from the Netherlands, it was also a chance for me to be closer to home and family. Additionally, the opportunity to work at the trauma institute in the psychotherapy department aligns well with my interests and academic goals.
Working in Vienna has been an incredible experience! However, this was also my first time doing an internship. At first, the flexibility of my internship felt a bit intimidating, but over time, I have appreciated the autonomy that it has offered. Communication with my supervisors and fellow interns has been very smooth from the start, which has made the adjustment much easier.
What has that experience been like for you?
Working in Vienna has been an incredible experience! However, this was also my first time doing an internship. At first, the flexibility of my internship felt a bit intimidating, but over time, I have appreciated the autonomy that it has offered. Communication with my supervisors and fellow interns has been very smooth from the start, which has made the adjustment much easier.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
Yes and no. It has been incredible to experience how real research is conducted and how journal articles are written, and to not only observe it but also contribute to it, which matched my expectations going into the internship. However, I was surprised by the flexibility my internship offered. I have had the freedom to shape the internship around my own interests as much as possible, which has been an amazing opportunity. It has also allowed me to practice and improve my skills in conducting research and doing literature reviews, while becoming more efficient in the process.
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