Fatou Gaye

Why FSU?

I chose the Clinical Psychology program at FSU because of its outstanding record in clinical training and research productivity. Notably, the faculty in the department have a reputation for nurturing generations of thriving scientists. I attended a meet and greet with the faculty and students, and I was intrigued by the collective and supportive culture at the university.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

Pursuing a PhD will aid in my journey toward a career that can have a lasting impact on people’s lives. Graduate school will provide me with the opportunity to receive training from professional psychologists and develop competencies in both research and practice. I ultimately would like to be involved in innovative research and work with therapy clients. Pursuing a graduate degree creates an amazing avenue for me to reach those goals.

Importance and impact of research

The goal of my research is to develop non-medicinal treatments for children and adolescents with ADHD. I am particularly interested in executive function treatment protocols and how they relate to academic achievement outcomes in these clinical populations. Developing effective cognitive training interventions will aid in enhancing the cognitive, social, and academic experiences of individuals with ADHD.

Career aspirations

I aspire to work as a clinical psychologist at a university or in an academic medical setting. This kind of position would allow me to contribute to research in the area of child/ adolescent psychology while working with clients in some capacity. I would especially like to work with clients with neurodevelopmental disorders in order to help improve the quality of their social and academic lives.