Population Data Science at Swansea University is excited to welcome this year’s cohort of Summer Interns. We asked this year’s interns to tell us a little about the projects they are working on and what they hope to achieve by the end of the internship
Iwan White
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I am a first-year student studying Mathematics at the University of Warwick.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I applied to the internship as it was an exciting opportunity to develop and practise the skills I learnt in my first year of university while gaining invaluable work experience in a career sector that has intrigued me since I first learnt about it. In my first year of university, I was introduced to mathematical biology and the R software package through 2 of my favourite modules. Hence the chance to use R to investigate “Biomarkers as diagnostic tests in Alzheimer’s disease dementia” was a perfect progression for me.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
I have loved the experience so far! In the first 4 weeks, I researched the numerous diagnostic tests for dementia – starting to make conclusions on the available tests. I used this to aid my analysis of the different cohorts on Dementia Platform UK (DPUK) to highlight the optimal cohorts for the research project. I am about to start analysing data to assess the utility of combining diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s Dementia.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
I have already started to develop my skills and experience, and I am looking forward to the challenge of applying these to real data and writing up a review of the findings.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
The internship will help me to understand the opportunities of a career in Data Science and potentially enable me to tailor my module selection at university to reflect my career aspirations, which at this point is to become a Data Scientist at the end of my studies.
Line Manager: Dr Helen Daniels Mentor: Associate Professor Rhiannon Owen
Kellie Robinson
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I am studying Software Engineering at Swansea University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I wanted to get real-world experience in software to boost my CV, challenge myself, and push myself out of my comfort zone.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
My internship involves investigating new database opportunities as part of the various Swansea University infrastructures to look for new and innovative options to migrate to in the future. I will be using Trino running on Kubernetes to develop a method of collecting performance metrics and exporting the Trino logs to the log aggregation service we use.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
Generally, I want to feel comfortable working outside my comfort zone. Being faced with services, products, etc., that you are not familiar with is the cornerstone of software engineering, and it is an experience which is very difficult to replicate through university alone.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I want to work in Computation Linguistics. Whilst my intern project is different – learning new languages, learning how to work with integrating software, and general problem solving are ubiquitous to any job in Software Engineering. Data collection is also an important part of Computation Linguistics, so working with data-focused software and services allows me to work with similar data and workflows, which I may use in the future.
Line Manager: Alex Lee Mentor: Joss Whittle
Sambhav Dave
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2019, back in India, and following this worked as Software Engineer in Test for 3 years in two different IT companies. After this professional experience, I started my MSc in Advanced Computer Science in the UK in January 2023. I am currently on my degree term break while completing this internship.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
The position solely deals with software development in the medical healthcare space, which sparked my interest in the first place. Secondly, I will be working in a relatively small team which will help me become an individual contributor. Lastly, this internship will also give me exposure to the Data Science field in Computer Science, in which I did not have hands-on experience until now. I was also very excited to establish connections with the prestigious research community at Swansea University.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
I am a software developer intern in the SAIL Analytical team, working to develop a Python API client for Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) phenotype library. This will help other developers/researchers/data scientists efficiently complete their research tasks concerning the HDRUK phenotype and SAIL concept library using Python. I will also be helping the team in resolving production bugs, developing new features and improving the use of the concept library website.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
I will further develop my Python, Django, and R programming skills, and this internship will further enhance these competencies allowing me to show my experience for future roles as a Software Developer/ Software Engineer in Test after completing my master’s degree.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
This internship will give me the apt technical and soft skills required for my future career, with guidance from my mentors/teammates being helpful in my future career opportunities.
Line Manager: Artur Zinnurov Mentor: Ting Wang
Trafford Bage
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I am studying an MSC in Computer Science at Swansea University and will enter my fourth and final year of university next year.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I applied for the opportunity to gain experience within a team and contribute to something meaningful that others will use.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
Currently, we are working on altering a front-end (user-facing) application to allow for more freedom when modifying or viewing data. After this initial work, in collaboration with my team, I will be involved in identifying further opportunities to update and improve the existing software the team has developed.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
I plan to improve team skills and learn more about how the C# programming language is used in practice.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I’m open to many careers related to computer science as long as I get to work on software/websites. This internship is similar to the position I’d be searching for when I graduate, and it will prepare me for when I am seeking those roles. It’s also introducing me to new software – which will be great for future job opportunities.
Line Manager: Hazel May Lockhart-Jones Mentor: Richard Hier
Celyn Williams
What were you studying before you started your internship?
Before starting the internship with Population Data Science, I was studying Journalism, Media & Sociology at Cardiff University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I applied for an internship with Population Data Science as it presented an opportunity for me to acquire valuable experience in the field of marketing and communications. Moreover, I felt it would provide me with a comprehensive insight into the impact and engagement aspects of data science, specifically in the context of SAIL Databank.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
Through my time at Population Data Science, I will work to enhance engagement and amplify impact for SAIL Databank outputs through a multi-channel and multi-media approach. During this project, my main objective will be to assess the existing level of engagement with the SAIL Databank and explore additional methods to highlight the crucial, cutting-edge research being conducted within Population Data Science.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
Throughout my internship, my primary aim is to enhance my overall marketing and communications skills. Specifically, I intend to acquire a multifaceted comprehension of strategies to enhance engagement and impact for the SAIL Databank. Additionally, I aim to improve my abilities in social media management, analysis, market research, and delivering effective presentations.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
At the moment, I don’t have a specific career plan in mind. However, I am eager to explore the marketing and communications field and better understand where my interests and skills align. I believe this internship will provide me with a valuable opportunity to delve into the practical aspects of the field and gain first-hand experience.
This internship will contribute to my goal in several ways. Firstly, it will give me valuable insights and experience in the marketing and communications industry in a research-oriented setting. I believe the internship will facilitate the development of essential skills while offering the opportunity to interact with professionals from various career fields. These interactions can offer guidance and insights as I navigate my career path. Overall, this internship is an invaluable opportunity to acquire practical exposure, explore diverse aspects of marketing and communications, and better understand my career goals.
Line Manager: Chris Roberts Mentor: Sarah Toomey
Rowan Dash
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I am studying Software engineering here at Swansea University and will be entering my third and final year in September.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I applied for this internship as I was interested in seeing what happened within data science DevOps and getting the chance to work on something meaningful.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
My project involves modernising the deployment of core infrastructure within the Secure e Research Platform (SeRP) developed and hosted at Swansea University.
I’m helping to remake some internal processing scripts that must be updated to work with the new tools.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
I hope to develop my software development skills and gain experience in tools used in the industry.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I’m not sure where I want to end up, but somewhere in software development/DevOps, this internship is an excellent experience for both.
Line Manager: Joss Whittle Mentor: Alex Lee
Samuel Marshall
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I have just finished my third year of studying Computer Science at Swansea University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
Data science is a fascinating field, so I was excited at the possibility of applying my programming skills to such an impactful domain.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
I am currently working to develop web applications in C# that allow data to be viewed and edited in a way that is easy for users to understand.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
I hope to develop a range of skills in software development, as well as skills in making data more accessible and impactful for users.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
While I do not have a clear picture of where I want to end up, the skills I take away from this internship will be extremely valuable in pursuing future careers.
Line Manager: Justin Biddle Mentor: Richard Hier
Mohammed Shamsudeen
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I am a doctoral student studying Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I applied for the internship because it aligns with my interest in population health research and my aspiration for a career in population data science.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
My internship project is focused on how the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) is used in routine data research. The WIMD is an area-based composite measure of relative deprivation that ranks each Lower-layer Super Output Area (LSOA) in Wales based on eight domains of deprivation. Researchers use the WIMD in studies to include a measure of area-based deprivation. However, this can be done in many ways, and it is not always obvious how different methods of assigning WIMD may impact study results. My project will examine how various approaches to allocating WIMD can influence study outcomes. Additionally, I will explore different techniques for effectively working with the index and the underlying indicator data.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
I hope to gain experience using large-scale electronic health records and routine data for health research and develop my skills in SQL and R. In addition, I aim to deepen my understanding of research methodologies and gain collaborative experience working as part of the multidisciplinary team at Population Data Science. In terms of outputs, I will work towards a comprehensive analysis of the impact of different WIMD allocation methods on study results. I also aim to contribute towards developing guidelines and recommendations for using WIMD appropriately in routine data research.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I hope to develop my skills for a successful career in population data science through the tasks I will undertake during the internship. In addition, I look forward to gaining valuable work experience working with electronic health records and routine data from the SAIL Databank.
Line Manager: Hywel Turner Evans Mentor: Carys Jones
Joe McLaughlin
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I am studying Graduate Entry Medicine at Swansea University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I am fascinated by the current explosion in data available across several industries, especially healthcare. The availability of big data and the tools to inspect them is unparalleled in history and is already changing how healthcare research is conducted. I wanted to get involved in this research at the beginning of my medical career as this will be an invaluable skill for the future and something I am very interested in.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
I am working on a project about interactions between general practices (GPs) and patients. The primary objective is to investigate the data and try to isolate the type of interaction between the patient and the GP (phone call, in-person consultation, Nurse-led Clinic etc.) and then examine how the pattern and volume changed over the COVID-19 pandemic and now see if interactions are back to pre-pandemic trends or if there have been long-lasting changes as a result of COVID-19.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
I will access data securely within the SAIL Databank using SQL (a programming language used to query databases). This is a language that I have used only a small amount before. I plan to develop my skills and experience in this and other areas over the internship to enable the delivery of my project. My line manager, mentor and host team have been very patient and happy to help me with all of my questions and support me. For the analysis phase of the project, I will be using Python to interrogate the final data and inspect trends and visualise these trends and how interactions have changed before and since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I aspire to use my medical degree in conjunction with the skills I have learnt over the internship. Research plays more of a role than ever in clinical practice. As such, I hope to continue exploring health data after my internship ends and work with many colleagues I will build relationships with over the summer. I aim to find a role as a clinician in the NHS where I can use my research and data scientist skills.
Line Manager: Hoda Abbasizanjani Mentor: Associate Professor Ashley Akbari
Deepak Pant
What were you studying before you started your internship?
Before starting my internship with Population Data Science, I was studying Data Science at Swansea University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
The internship opportunity caught my attention because of its focus on population data science research and the chance to work with leading researchers and data scientists in a fast-paced and agile environment.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
The project I am working on during the internship involves conducting innovative research and collaborating with partners to demonstrate the practical application and strategic expertise of data science. I am excited to contribute to projects that aim to improve services and people’s lives through data-driven approaches. I will be building a focused dynamic user dashboard for data exploration of real-world data from the UK Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Register. The goal is to enhance user experience, improve user retention, and enable the generation of simple reports for ad hoc analysis. I will use visualisation tools like Python Dash Plotly and work with large datasets to link them to the dashboard.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
During this internship, I hope to develop my skills in working with multidisciplinary teams, handling big data, and leveraging new technologies. I also aim to improve my proficiency in Python and gain experience in data visualisation and linking data to visualisation software. By the end of the summer, I aim to deliver a functional user dashboard that enhances data exploration and generates informative reports.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
While passionate about data science, I am still exploring different career paths. This internship will provide valuable hands-on experience, exposure to real-world projects, and the opportunity to work with experts in the field. It will help me gain insights into different areas of data science and clarify my career goals moving forward.
Line Manager: Rod Middleton Mentor: Elaine Craig
Smaranda Popescu Necsesti
What were you studying before you started your internship?
Before starting my internship in Population Data Science, I finished studying Applied Medical Sciences in July 2022.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I decided to take a gap year after finishing my undergraduate degree and before I study Graduate Entry Medicine. In the last year of my undergraduate degree, I had the amazing opportunity to work with the Population Data Science group on my dissertation. Knowing I have a gap year, I became interested in exploring more in this research field.
Tell us a little about the project you are working on.
The research I am working on is a Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of the diagnostic tool’s accuracy in COVID-19 diagnosis. My primary objective in this research is to review the inclusion and exclusion criteria and select the papers most relevant to the paper we aim to present.
What skills are you hoping to develop over the summer?
The skills I plan to develop in my summer internship are better time management and an understanding of the research field and the research career. Another personal goal of the summer internship is to reach the achievement of being published and have a broader idea of the process.
Do you have a career in mind, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
My career goal is to become a doctor, and I will be studying Graduate Entry Medicine at Swansea University this September. This internship experience will broaden my research knowledge, as I want to pursue this field while becoming a doctor. Since starting this internship, my interest and curiosity have blossomed, and I am excited to learn more about the medical field.
Line Manager: Dr Helen Daniels Mentor: Associate Professor Rhiannon Owen
Ashley Akbari, Associate Professor in Population Data Science Research who leads the organisation of the Population Data Science Internship programme, said:“It has been fantastic to welcome all the interns to the Population Data Science internship programme as part of the 2023 cohort. This year’s application process was competitive, with many applications and great candidates applying, with a fantastic cohort of interns selected by the participating research, technical and development groups.
We look forward to the delivery and developments that each of the interns will be completing over the summer while based within our world-leading research, development and technical groups here at Population Data Science, Swansea University, working towards the enablement and integration of these projects into active research, systems and platforms across the institute, and hearing more from them at the end of the summer at our Population Data Science Intern showcase event.”