Nicholas Mancuso is a rising senior at Williams College (Math & Psychology double major), is a NYC native (Washington Heights, represent!). While his academic journey started deep in mathematics, he’s recently discovered a passion for public health and psychology, fueled by a desire to work in mental health counseling.
This summer, Nicholas worked with Dr. Evan Eschliman to conduct research investigating predictors of drug overdose. His main focus was conducting a literature review for a scoping review paper exploring the link between housing status (e.g. housed vs. unhoused) and overdose risk. Nicholas gained invaluable insight into high-level research, seeing how collaboration and adaptability can turn small ideas into published papers. He also got a realistic glimpse into PhD-level work, helping him weigh future paths. Beyond the science, he cherished connecting with his team both professionally and socially, solidifying his ideal of a workplace filled with colleagues you genuinely enjoy.
Though still exploring the path to becoming a mental health counselor, Nicholas plans to keep networking with professionals met through CCGMH’s lunch talks. While a pure research career might not be his final destination, this internship was instrumental in advancing his core goal: making a difference in the mental health field.