Meet the Researchers of CONNECTED: Sinéad Cassidy
CONNECTED is an international project enhancing long-term care (LTC) by addressing inequalities through innovative solutions tailored to older adults, caregivers, and staff. Our interdisciplinary team from Brazil, Canada, Switzerland, and the USA is committed to making LTC more inclusive. Though our team is full of talented, and experienced researchers, this effort is powered by our dedicated graduate students, whose roles, backgrounds, and contributions to the project know no bounds.
Welcome back to the newest CONNECTED blog series: Meet the Graduate Team of CONNECTED. Where we interview and profile the talented student researchers involved in the CONNECTED project.
Our sixth spotlight is on Sinéad Cassidy, a Research Assistant and MA Student in Nursing Science at the Department of Public Health, University of Basel.
Sinéad Cassidy: Bridging Nursing and Research
Background and Path to CONNECTED
Sinéad Cassidy's journey to the CONNECTED project is grounded in her extensive experience in nursing and a growing interest in research. Initially registered as a nurse in Switzerland, Sinéad worked for a decade in acute care at the University Hospital Zurich. She explained,
"I worked for 10 years in University Hospital Zurich on the trauma and interdisciplinary medicine board. Now, I work at a different hospital as a nurse expert for surgery."
Sinéad's academic pursuits further fueled her passion for research. She completed a Master's degree in Nursing Science at the University of Basel, where she collaborated with Francisca Katzuniga on her master's thesis, focusing on patient-centered care in nursing homes in Switzerland. This experience led her to the CONNECTED project:
"I wanted to work part-time in research but not enough to do my PhD. So when the position to support the CONNECTED project, which touches on inclusive innovation and person-centered care, for me, it was an interesting topic to hop on to"
Contributions to CONNECTED
Sinéad's specific expertise in quantitative research and project management has been invaluable to the CONNECTED project. Her primary role involves taking over the method section of the Delphi study within Work Package Two. She shared,
"I am mainly in Work Package Two, where the idea was for me to take over the whole method section of the Delphi study. My master’s thesis was a quantitative research paper, and I quite like quantitative research and project management, so it felt natural to take on this role with the support of Francisca and Sandra."
Her contributions extend to setting up surveys and managing various aspects of the project, thereby expanding her research knowledge and skills. Sinéad coordinates with other team members, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration to keep the project on track. This role not only enhances her proficiency in quantitative methodologies but also hones her project management abilities, making her an indispensable asset to the CONNECTED project.
Exciting and Rewarding Aspects of CONNECTED
For Sinéad, the most exciting and rewarding part of working on the CONNECTED project is the opportunity to be involved in a large, international research endeavor. She noted,
"This is the first project I'm working on, and it is very interesting to learn how such a huge international project operates. It's quite interesting to see how the project is planned, how it takes place, and how people interact within different cultures. It’s really interesting to be a part of this project and learn the processes.”
Sinéad values the collaborative nature of the project and the diverse perspectives it brings together. The opportunity to engage with researchers from various cultural backgrounds has enriched her understanding of global research dynamics and has been a highlight of her experience.
Conclusion
Sinéad’s dedication and expertise are vital to the success of the CONNECTED project. Her work not only advances the project’s goals but also aims to bring significant improvements to the long-term care sector through inclusive innovation.
Stay tuned for more inspiring profiles of our exceptional student researchers in upcoming posts. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the CONNECTED project, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to sharing more about our journey.