This summer, 16 talented interns joined our Population Data Science team. As their internships draw to a close, we asked them to share their experiences.
In this blog series, our interns will look back on their time with us, highlighting the valuable lessons and skills they’ve acquired, their achievements, and their aspirations for the future.
Name: Lauren Hill
Line Manager & Mentor: Dr Ian Thomas & Dr Peter Mackie (supported by Cathrine Richards)
Project title: There’s No Place Like Home: Analysing Youth Homelessness Susceptibility In Wales.
Looking back on your time with us, what are the key lessons and/or skills you have learned?
I have learnt to become more confident in my abilities. It gave me the opportunity to spend time researching and applying new programming and data analysis techniques and helped me improve my project management skills. I now feel comfortable pursuing different job prospects because I’ve been exposed to so many different situations.
Is there a specific accomplishment/moment from your internship you are especially proud of?
I am very proud of the presentation that I gave at the Intern Showcase. It demonstrated to me that I need to continue to put myself out there if I want to improve my skill set, particularly when I need to work under pressure.
How has your understanding of Population Data Science changed during your internship?
I did not understand how many differences there were between Population Data Science and the data analysis I had conducted as part of my Computer Science degree. This deeper understanding has given me more confidence in programming and sparked my interest in exploring new fields.
In what ways, if any, has this internship influenced your career plans?
I have quite bad imposter syndrome, so this internship gave me a big confidence boost as I applied for jobs. It re-opened my mind to the idea of pursuing a post-graduate degree, but I want to take some time to think about degree specialisms before making any applications. It also made me aware of the different skills that I possess. E.g. Using my written communication skills to write different documents.
What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the internship programme?
DO IT! You never know what you could learn from an experience or if you’re qualified if you don’t apply.
Name: Leighton Katus
Line Manager & Mentor: Hazel Lockhart-Jones & Justin Biddle
Project title: Mailing lists and data collection tools
Looking back on your time with us, what are the key lessons and/or skills you have learned?
During my time at the internship, I developed a deeper understanding of the technical skills for the development aspects of projects. I learned how to communicate issues and findings in a professional environment, and built on my skills of using tools to aid development. The latter is especially useful because I have continued to use these tools in my new career.
Is there a specific accomplishment/moment from your internship you are especially proud of?
I am particularly proud of being able to develop an API that was able to communicate with other services/databases, which was a huge step in my programming portfolio. The skills about integration and programming frames I was taught allowed me to do that, and knowing that my work will be deployed brings me a great sense of achievement.
How has your understanding of Population Data Science changed during your internship?
It taught me a lot about the development and technical side of population data science, how they develop tools to aid in collecting data, and the importance of programming in this field.
In what ways, if any, has this internship influenced your career plans?
It has influenced me to pursue more data-orientated career roles, as I enjoyed learning about this new area of development and solving these complex problems.
What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the internship programme?
I would highly recommend applying for the internship programme, as it was incredibly beneficial and teaches you a lot of professional skills. While it may seem a little daunting, as it was for me because this was my first experience in the workplace, the team is very friendly and always there to support you in all aspects. I was never afraid to ask for help.
Name: Mohammed Nayim Ali Salam
Line Manager & Mentor: Roshan Toby & Artur Zinnurov
Project title: Blog Application Development
Looking back on your time with us, what are the key lessons and/or skills you have learned?
The key skills I’ve gained include working within a cross-functional team and learning how to plan and manage projects effectively. I’ve also learned how to integrate with an existing codebase, extended my Python and testing skills, and developed UI interface skills while working on the blog prototype.
Is there a specific accomplishment/moment from your internship you are especially proud of?
While I wasn’t able to fully develop and launch the blog application, I’m proud of the research, planning, and initial development I contributed to the Concept Library website. This work laid a solid foundation, giving the development team a clear direction to complete the blog.
How has your understanding of Population Data Science changed during your internship?
My understanding has grown significantly. I now see how population data can be used to tackle real-world challenges, from healthcare planning to policymaking, and how crucial ethical data handling is.
In what ways, if any, has this internship influenced your career plans?
This internship provided me with crucial software development experience, and I now feel more motivated and confident to pursue a career in full-stack development.
What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the internship programme?
Be proactive in learning, and don’t hesitate to take on challenges. The internship is a great opportunity to gain real-world experience, work on impactful projects, and improve both your technical and teamwork skills.
Name: Muslima Karimova
Line Manager & Mentor: Justin Biddle & Hazel Lockhart-Jones
Project title: Development of Cohort Selection Tool for DPUK.
Looking back on your time with us, what are the key lessons and/or skills you have learned?
I’ve gained a deeper understanding of advanced web development, particularly in ASP .Net and React. My teamwork and self-learning abilities have also grown significantly as I’ve learned to adapt quickly to new challenges and collaborate effectively with others.
Is there a specific accomplishment/moment from your internship you are especially proud of?
I’m particularly proud of successfully transitioning the project management website to a more modern and interactive framework, enhancing user experience. This accomplishment demonstrated my ability to apply my technical skills in a real-world setting.
How has your understanding of Population Data Science changed during your internship?
My understanding of Population Data Science has evolved from viewing it as a data-focused field to recognising its broader impact on public health and policy. I’ve learned how data science can drive significant societal benefits through informed decision-making.
In what ways, if any, has this internship influenced your career plans?
This internship has solidified my desire to pursue a career in data science. The hands-on experience and exposure to real-world projects have shown me the immense potential of data science in solving complex problems and making a tangible impact.
What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the internship programme?
I would encourage others to embrace the learning opportunities and challenges this internship offers. It’s a fantastic chance to develop practical skills, gain industry insights, and contribute to meaningful projects. Be proactive, and don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek guidance.
For more information on our Summer Intern Programme, visit https://popdatasci.swan.ac.uk/about-us/summer-internship-programme/