In summer 2025, we welcomed our largest-ever cohort of 20 interns to our multidisciplinary teams across Population Data Science. After successfully completing their internships, we caught up with the interns and invited them to reflect on their experiences.
In this blog series, our interns share their key skills and learnings, their accomplishments, and their plans for the future.
Christopher Dadson
Project: Enhancing Health and Administration Data Research Impact Through PPIE.
Looking back on your time with us, what are the key lessons and/or skills you have learned?
I’ve developed a much deeper understanding of how structured Professional Public & Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) can strengthen population data science, alongside practical skills in synthesising complex guidance into accessible tools. I also improved project management, stakeholder communication, and iterative drafting, especially working with detailed feedback. Overall, the internship sharpened my ability to translate theory and policy into usable resources for researchers and public contributors.
Is there a specific accomplishment/moment from your internship you are especially proud of?
I’m particularly proud of developing the multi‑stage PPIE toolkit and seeing it evolve from an initial idea into a coherent, web‑ready resource. A standout moment was presenting the toolkit at the internship showcase and realising that experienced researchers genuinely saw it as something they could use in practice to strengthen their PPIE and grant applications.
How has your understanding of Population Data Science changed during/following your internship?
Before the internship, I viewed population data science mainly as large‑scale analysis of routine data. Now I better understand the governance, ethics, and public trust dimensions, especially how crucial transparency and involvement are when using people’s data. I also see how PPIE can shape research priorities, methods, and communication to make population‑level findings more relevant, acceptable, and impactful.
In what ways, if any, has this internship influenced your career plans?
The internship confirmed my interest in working at the intersection of research, public involvement, and policy. It highlighted that I enjoy roles where I translate complex evidence into practical guidance and support engagement. I am now more inclined to pursue a career in population health research or research infrastructure, with a focus on PPIE, data governance, and inclusive methodology.
What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the internship programme?
Treat it as a chance to both learn and contribute. Come in curious, ready to read widely and ask questions, and be proactive in seeking feedback. The projects are genuinely impactful, so take ownership and document your learning as you go. Finally, engage with staff and other interns early; those relationships make the experience richer and open unexpected opportunities.
Ella Missenden
Project: The critical role of 20mph in Wales and its potential impact on traffic injuries for children
Looking back on your time with us, what are the key lessons and/or skills you have learned?
Over the summer, I developed my skills in data analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I have learnt to be more confident in myself and my abilities. I also gained valuable research skills; seeing how research is conducted in a real-world environment really opened my eyes to what a career in this field truly involves.
Is there a specific accomplishment/moment from your internship you are especially proud of?
I am very proud of my presentation at the Intern showcase event. As someone who has always been nervous about public speaking, being able to present all my hard work over the summer felt highly rewarding. I am also proud to have completed work that others will use in their future research.
How has your understanding of Population Data Science changed during/following your internship?
My understanding has grown massively, learning the impacts this research has, how large a field it actually is, and how much more it is than just data analysis.
In what ways, if any, has this internship influenced your career plans?
It has influenced me to take a master’s course in Environmental modelling and data analysis next year. Before my internship, I felt very unsure about which field I wanted to pursue, but I have now decided I would like to pursue a career in research or data science.
What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the internship programme?
Even if you think you don’t have all the correct skills, still apply! It’s an amazing opportunity to develop your skills. Everyone you meet along the internship is willing to help you in any aspect.
Emma Briggs
Project: Exploring Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Cancer Screening Uptake and treatments.
Looking back on your time with us, what are the key lessons and/or skills you have learned?
Lots! Technically, I gained experience linking spatial data to healthcare data to produce meaningful map representations. I also learned better approaches to clear and informative data visualisations and to thorough disclosure control practices. Alongside this, I gained inspiration from key role models, including my supervisors, and came to understand that there’s a place for people like me in data science. I witnessed the positive energy that comes from a connected team that values communication and openness.
Is there a specific accomplishment/moment from your internship you are especially proud of?
I am especially proud to have received the award for ‘Best Presentation’ at the showcase event. As someone who has had to build a lot of confidence in public speaking, this was a huge achievement for me. I hope to continue honing my presentation and communication skills to facilitate transparency, trust, and effective knowledge sharing in Population Data Science.
How has your understanding of Population Data Science changed during/following your internship?
I’ve really learned first-hand the power of effective collaborative working in Population Data Science and the strengths of building upon previous projects. It’s helpful to view any project as a key ‘building block’ which both strengthens the foundation laid before and supports future work, rather than attempting to achieve everything at once! I also think more effort is required to ensure UK Population Data Science reflects the country’s full demographic and geographic diversity.
In what ways, if any, has this internship influenced your career plans?
It has definitely made me think more broadly about the wider roles in population data science, after hearing about the diverse array of projects at the Showcase Event and gaining deeper insight into the many roles that go into a successful Population Data Science project at Swansea University. This has encouraged me to try out different roles and project domains and see what works for me!
What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the internship programme?
Just go for it, and apply to as many projects as you’re interested in! Make sure you tailor your applications to each project, conduct background research in your project area, and look for recently published journal articles by your project supervisors. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to reach out to the team beforehand! It is also possible to join this internship if you’re based in other parts of the UK.
If you’re interested in applying for this year’s summer internship programme, visit: https://popdatasci.swan.ac.uk/about-us/summer-internship-programme/