As we conclude our blog series on the 2024 cohort of Summer Interns at Population Data Science, Swansea University, we are excited to introduce the final 4 of our 16 incredible interns.
Over the past three days, we’ve shared the projects and goals of the first 12 interns, and today, we highlight the last group, celebrating their achievements and the innovative research they are pursuing.
Ranjith Keshetty
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I completed my master’s in Health Data Science at Swansea University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
The internship intrigued me, and it gave me an opportunity to work alongside leading researchers and data scientists and gain hands-on experience in real-world population/routinely collected data in health data science and research.
Could you tell us a little about the project you are working on?
I am currently working on a project on threshold distance for children actively commuting to school. I am anonymously linking data from the Student Health and Wellbeing Survey (SHWS) to educational and distance to school data in the SAIL Databank. My work involves cleaning, pre-processing, performing descriptive analyses, and then analysing the data to gain insights related to the research question.
What skills do you hope to develop, and what outcomes are you aiming to achieve over the summer?
During my time as an intern, I aim to develop my skills in framing research questions, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and handling research data in highly secure environments by adhering to standard procedures. I am looking to enhance my knowledge in statistics and data science techniques, enabling me to analyse large population routinely-collected data effectively and also to develop skills to communicate complex findings to a general audience through clear data visualisations, reports, and presentations.
Do you have a career in mind at the moment, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I aspire to be a Health Data Scientist. Through my internship, I want to enhance my knowledge of statistics and data science techniques on population/routinely collected data, which are essential skills for excelling as a Health Data Scientist.
Line Manager: Samantha Turner. Mentor: Theodora Pouliou.
Samina Josefsberg
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I was studying Architecture at Loughborough University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I had completed a web development course before this internship and really enjoyed seeing how the problem-solving aspect of code translates into design. This exposure definitely sparked my interest in exploring options outside of Architecture while still utilising my skills in the Adobe Creative Suite.
Please tell us a little about the project you are working on.
I am currently building a website for the MAGENTA project on WordPress. Right from the start I have been given a lot of creative freedom on the look and feel of the site, which is amazing. I have already learned heaps in the first three weeks, and I look forward to designing more websites for other social and environmental research projects throughout the summer.
What skills do you hope to develop, and what outcomes are you aiming to achieve over the summer?
I am eager to learn as much as possible, become proficient in creating impactful WordPress sites and develop my CSS, HTML and JavaScript skills.
Do you have a career in mind at the moment, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I am passionate about using my design skills for social impact in some capacity, particularly through community development and women’s empowerment. I really enjoy learning new tools and techniques, and I am looking forward to continuing to explore and learn ways in which multimedia design and graphic design can achieve this. I am very grateful for this internship and the opportunity provided by Mike, my line manager, to explore an alternative career path.
Line Manager: Michael Bale. Mentor: Matt John.
Thomas Fricker
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I recently completed the second year of my BSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
I am unsure what branch of the industry I want to work in. However, the Data Science / AI branch has been the most favourable, so I wanted to gain industry experience working within a data science operation. Moreover, I was a big fan of the number of opportunities offered to students by Population Data Science; it was clear that they value students, and from my experience over the last couple of weeks, I can confirm they really do care about their staff.
Could you tell us a little about the project you are working on?
I am currently working on a project called Loading Bay. Its purpose is to provide DBAs (DataBase Administrators) with an easy-to-use interface to load big data into Trusted Research Environments. It’s a conglomeration of previous projects to create one system that is sleek, smart and efficient. This does mean as an intern, I’ve spent a lot of time understanding past projects and how to work with parts of them, but I see the time spent as invaluable; I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity: immersing myself in how professionals structure their systems, why they make certain decisions due to feasibility, how to deal with compromises because of extensive data and other ideas I wouldn’t have considered has been enriching.
What skills do you hope to develop, and what outcomes are you aiming to achieve over the summer?
I aim to develop my teamwork and adaptability skills, as every workplace has different ways of doing similar jobs. To make the most out of this opportunity, I plan on learning all I can from the people around me. I’ve learned that the best skills to improve in a workplace like the Secure e-Research Platform (SeRP) are listening and understanding. We do regular knowledge shares, and you need to be sharp to keep up with the sheer volume of information you’re given. I am proud of how much I have learned from the internship already, and I only plan to broaden my knowledge further.
Do you have a career in mind at the moment, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I am still deciding where I would like to work; however with the recent boom within the Artificial Intelligence / Data Science field, I am more inclined than ever to pursue a career as a Software Developer within the industry. I believe this work placement will be invaluable for me as a 3rd Year Student at Swansea University as it has already given me such a great insight into how the industry works with such large data, how the operations are managed and how as an individual, I can put my best foot forward in such a competitive industry.
Line Manager: Justin Biddle. Mentor: Hazel Lockhart-Jones
Toochukwu Ogbonna
What were you studying before you started your internship?
I am currently doing my Masters in Health Data Science at Swansea University.
What made you want to apply for an internship with Population Data Science?
One of my motivations for studying for a master’s in Health Data Science was to utilise data to improve health outcomes, and the project closely aligned with that. It was also an opportunity to utilise the skills I had gotten and get work experience as a data scientist in a team. The opportunity to work with the SAIL Databank made it all the more attractive.
Could you tell us a little about the project you are working on?
I am working on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) and its effect on health outcomes. So far, I have looked at the trend of people moving in and around Wales. I plan to further this by looking at the potential effect on the incidence of mental health conditions in these areas.
What skills do you hope to develop, and what outcomes are you aiming to achieve over the summer?
I hope to develop and gain further experience in writing SQL queries and upscaling my R programming skills. I also hope to understand and get experience working in a collaborative environment, including better communication skills.
Do you have a career in mind at the moment, and how do you hope the internship will help you towards that goal?
I plan on becoming a data scientist, especially working with health data and utilising data to drive policy changes. This internship provides the perfect opportunity to see what that looks like. Hopefully, the internship will serve as the springboard to a career as a data scientist.
Line Manager: Sean Scully. Mentor: Hywel Evans.
For the latest updates on our Intern Programme, visit https://popdatasci.swan.ac.uk/about-us/summer-internship-programme/