Psychology Research Careers: A Student’s Perspective from 4 Women Researchers

Through Pineapple Talks at Pineapple Women, high school student Sadhika Kapoor explored psychology research careers by interviewing four women working across behavioral science, neuroscience, and education research.

When I decided to become a psychologist, most people assumed that this would mean a therapist or a mental health professional. What many don’t see is the wide, dynamic world of research, a field once dominated by men, now opening to women at an unprecedented scale.

When I decided to become a psychologist, most people assumed that this would mean a therapist or a mental health professional. What many don’t see is the wide, dynamic world of research, a field once dominated by men, now opening to women at an unprecedented scale.

As a Pineapple Women participant, I had the opportunity to organise Pineapple Talks and hold interviews with some incredible role models last summer. This included:

• Ms Omyama Mohammed, Research Analyst at iMarketResearch 

• Ms Rebecca Barnes, Clinical Research Coordinator 

• Ms Andrea Jaramillo, Research Analyst at UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools

• Ms Radhika Santhanogoplan, PhD student at University of Chicago. 

Whether you are also an aspiring psychologist like me or hoping to pursue research in another field, here are some of my best takeaways:

1. The Research Will Find You

   
   

In my conversation with Ms Omayma, she took me through her journey of stumbling upon Psychology. Her interest was initially sparked when she moved from Egypt to the US; although she struggled with the language, what she did understand were emotions and facial expressions. Learning how to read people around her, she became concerned about a friend experiencing anxiety and decided to learn more through internet rabbit holes.

 Taking AP Psychology later in high school confirmed her love for the subject and when she started volunteering at a local hospital, one of her patients who was a psychiatrist gave her the final push to pursue this career. After graduating from college, she began interning at market research firms, eventually landing her role as a market research analyst, specialising in behavioral science in pharmaceutical communications. 

While she says that market research is not her forever path, the journey through which she was introduced to it makes it an integral stepping stone.

“As long as you keep doing something that hits close to home, it will keep pushing you.”  – Ms Omayma

2. Your Path Can Change

Speaking to Ms Rebecca about psychopathology was not just a deep dive with an expert but also quite a recent expert. Ms Rebecca, who now has a Masters degree in Psychology and serves as a research assistant at a computational neuroscience lab, hadn’t always mapped out her career this way. 

Ms Rebecca actually began with an undergraduate degree in Spanish and pursued a rigorous career in education,  serving as a teacher, staff developer and even principal. She decided to go back to study Psychology during the pandemic and within a few years of pushing through, she found a completely new version of herself!

Since popular media constantly pressurises young professionals to make ‘permanent’ career choices, something about Ms Rebecca’s courage was infectious. She explained that if your life is a road then you can always change direction. Referring to the COVID-19 era, she adds that the pandemic made remote degrees so much more accessible so why not make use of that?

“Imagine your life like a freeway, there are on-ramps and off-ramps. If you are on a road, you can always get off and pursue something else.”  – Ms Rebecca

3. Psychology Research Careers and What Pursuing a PhD Means

My conversation with Ms Radhika got me straight into the practicalities and real-talk of what undertaking a PhD looks like. She confirmed that while pursuing a PhD is not the most well-paying career decision; people that pursue it are motivated by the joy of conducting research instead. 

Once you complete your PhD, it opens up several career paths for you: consulting for business firms, pursuing academia and going into Research & Development. PhD programs can last up to 6 years, during which – aside from regular check-in calls with supervisors – you are responsible for your own work and can design each day to your own liking. 

When I asked Ms Radhika whether that autonomy sometimes feels scary, she grinned and replied that actually this flexibility can be liberating. She acknowledged that completing an academically-rigorous high school programme such as the IB can sometimes ingrain the need for you to be ‘productive’ which later helps you manage work expectations as an adult. 

“As long as you are passionate about it, the regimen will always follow.” – Ms Radhika

4. Research should be socially mobilising 

Speaking with Ms Adriana helped me appreciate a new, thought-provoking perspective on research. Unlike my other interviewees, Ms Adriana’s research is not necessarily focused on Psychology but rather extends to issues of chronic absenteeism, the school to prison pipeline and restorative justice policies. 

Throughout the conversation, something central about Ms Adriana’s attitude towards research intrigued me. She mentioned that despite being overlooked, research is an important field in today’s socially polarising world because despite the challenges of discerning patterns and investigating causations, it remains objective and ultimately supports the truth. 

Her work investigating educational barriers to success and the lack of inclusion of certain cultural groups reminds me that research should serve as a tool for not just academic inquiry but also social change. When asked about research in education, she commented:

“Education today is seen as ‘savourist’ and there is an over-idealisation of role models. Some people are completely without help and one person cannot have all the perspectives and experiences to resolve this disparity. Learning happens both ways and we must rethink such ‘superior’ attitudes.” – Ms Adriana

At Pineapple Women, we believe psychology research careers — and every career path — begin with exposure, conversation, and courage. For many young women, psychology research careers can feel distant or unclear, but direct access to role models makes the path tangible. There is no single path, only the willingness to explore.

– By Sadhika Kapoor (sadhikakapoor18@gmail.com)

Sadhika Kapoor is a Pineapple Women alum and high school student interested in psychology and research. She participated in Pineapple Empower, where she connected with women leaders through Pineapple Talks to explore future career paths.