I had the opportunity to embark on a research stay abroad as part of my PhD in health psychology, supported by an Erasmus scholarship. The traineeship took place at the Evolution and Social Cognition Team within the esteemed Institut Jean Nicod, which is affiliated with both the Ecole Normale Supérieure (PSL) and the CNRS. Reflecting on my time there, I can confidently say that it was an incredibly enriching and transformative experience.

Working with the ESC team proved to be a highly valuable experience as they are pioneers in the field of evolutionary social cognition. Through engaging discussions and their expert guidance, I gained profound insights into the discipline. Coming from a primarily quantitative background, the opportunity to exchange ideas with researchers well-versed in qualitative sociological methods was particularly invaluable. Their expertise broadened my horizons and enabled me to develop a qualitative sociological project that was integral to my PhD.

One aspect I truly appreciated was the weekly 1.5-hour lab meeting where I had the opportunity to delve deeper into the ongoing projects of team members and receive constructive feedback from my peers. Additionally, we had the privilege of hosting external speakers who delivered insightful talks, further enriching our understanding of the field. I was delighted to have my PhD supervisor join me during this time, fostering fruitful exchanges between my various co-authors.

As a team, we attended three significant conferences that were directly relevant to my research. These conferences not only featured exceptional speakers but also provided excellent networking opportunities. The constructive feedback I received from fellow researchers was invaluable, especially considering the challenges I faced in finding researchers in my specific discipline within my home institute in Berlin.

Given my limited prior experience in qualitative research and the fact that most relevant courses in Berlin were conducted in German, I eagerly seized the opportunity to attend a course on methods in qualitative sociological research. This allowed me to deepen my knowledge and gain practical insights from experts in the field. Additionally, I received recommendations for highly relevant readings, further enhancing my understanding of qualitative research methods.

However, it is important to acknowledge the logistical challenges I encountered during the recruitment of participants for my project. This process necessitated extensive coordination and unfortunately resulted in a delay in the recruitment, which has now been rescheduled for the upcoming year.

In conclusion, my research stay at the Evolution and Social Cognition Team at the Institut Jean Nicod was an extraordinary experience. I am immensely grateful for the vibrant atmosphere, the invaluable knowledge shared by the researchers, and the numerous networking opportunities. I am confident that future students seeking similar research opportunities will find the ESC team and the Institut Jean Nicod to be a stimulating and supportive environment for their academic growth.