HEI: University of Aberdeen
Host organisation: British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS)
Duration of the internship: 12 weeks full-time
My PhD research is titled ‘Dyslexia, the Bible, and Community’. In it, I use qualitative research, including Participatory Action Research, to construct a theology of dyslexia and enable dyslexic Christians to propose theologically grounded strategies for inclusion, support and thriving. In 2024 I undertook an internship with BFBS titled ‘The Impact of Dyslexia Friendly Scripture Products’.
Why did you decide to undertake an internship?
I wanted to make the most of the opportunity provided by SGSAH and experience working with an organisation outside of academia. BFBS were of interest to me as they have produced dyslexia friendly Scripture products so their work is relevant to my research on dyslexia and engaging with the Bible. They also have a research and impact team, so I was interested to learn what it looks like for an organsiation to measure the impact of their work and the role of researchers in that.
What was your internship and what did you do?
I worked with the Research and Impact department, primarily undertaking a project assessing the impact of dyslexia-friendly scripture products produced by BFBS. I interviewed users of the product to find out about the impact they have had on their engagement with the Bible and wider lives. The results indicated the impact that dyslexia-friendly products have had, while also highlighting potential barriers among dyslexic people to using these products and engaging with the Bible more widely.
As well as this project, the internship involved working closely with the Research and Impact department to gather, analyse, and present impact data from projects, such as a couple of podcasts.
What aspects of the internship did you find most rewarding?
Researching for and writing reports that had a direct impact on practice was particularly rewarding. I really enjoyed getting to know the team and spending time at the office. It was also so beneficial for me to take a short break from my thesis and work on something different.
Has the internship influenced your future plans at all?
Before doing the internship, I was very set on getting an academic job after my PhD. The internship showed me that there are so many other career paths where my research skills and expertise can be used. I left the internship feeling more open to careers outside of academia.
What are some of the skills you have picked up or improved through the internship?
I was able to gain experience in using quantitative research methods e.g. surveys which isn’t something I had done before as a qualitative researcher. I also learned a lot about working in a bigger organisation and communicating with people across different teams.
Since the internship I have kept in touch with BFBS and they have put me in contact with other relevant organisations.
Do you have any tips for researchers looking to do an internship?
If possible, try not to do the internship remote or at least plan to work on site regularly. I did the internship remote and went to the BFBS office once a month. This worked fine for me as most of the team were hybrid and due to personal commitments, I was unable to relocate for the 12 weeks. However, I do think my experience would have been somewhat enhanced if I had been on site for the full internship as I could have engaged more with other teams in the organisation. If, like me, remote working is the best option, make the most of your time on site and don’t be afraid to set up calls with people outside of your own team.
Where can people find out more?
British and Foreign Bible Society: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research
CONNECT WITH ZOE (she/her)
Email: Zoe Strong
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