Why did you join the HDR UK Health Data Science Black Internship Programme?

My journey into health data science began with a desire to explore how data can revolutionise healthcare. Having recently completed an MSc in Public Health with a specialism in Data Science from the University of Glasgow, I was eager to apply my knowledge to real-world challenges. When I discovered HDR UK’s Black Internship Programme, I was immediately drawn to its comprehensive approach. The opportunity to work with leading organisations in the UK, engage in a technical challenge, and benefit from weekly training sessions seemed like an ideal way to bridge my academic background with practical experience. I saw this programme as the perfect chance to transition from my role as a pharmacist to a data scientist, and I was excited about the potential it held for my career development.

How did you find your internship experience?

During my internship, I had the pleasure of working under the guidance of Dr Rona Strawbridge as my supervisor and Dr Frederick Ho as a mentor at the University of Glasgow. The focus of my internship project was to advance an existing research project led by Dr Strawbridge. This research had identified genetic variations associated with schizophrenia, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases that can be used to classify individuals into distinct groups based on their metabolic profiles. The challenge with the previous method was its reliance on a manual classification step, which was impractical for large-scale applications and clinical use. My objective was to refine this process by applying the t-SNE clustering technique, a method designed for dimensionality reduction and visualisation of high-dimensional data. I developed a pipeline to automate the grouping process, making it scalable and applicable to other datasets.

Working on this project was both challenging and rewarding. I significantly enhanced my skills in R, a programming language I had some experience with but had not extensively used. I became proficient in various R packages, including Plotly for creating 3D visualisations, and applied dimensionality reduction techniques like Principal Component Analysis to our datasets. This hands-on experience with advanced statistical methods and coding was invaluable and deepened my understanding of health data science.

What was the highlight of your internship?

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the internship was the professional relationship I developed with my supervisor, Dr Strawbridge. Her supportive and attentive approach created a positive and productive work environment. She was always available to provide guidance and feedback, which was instrumental in my personal and professional growth.

Another highlight was the continuous learning opportunities provided by the programme. The technical challenges and weekly training sessions exposed me to new concepts and tools such as Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement and the use of Trusted Research Environments/Data Safe Havens, which I eagerly embraced. The process of sourcing information from a variety of resources, such as technical journals, GitHub repositories, and computational biology journals, was particularly gratifying. It not only broadened my knowledge but also fuelled my passion for ongoing learning and discovery in the field.

What are you future career plans?

As I look forward to the next chapter of my career, I am excited to apply the skills and insights gained from this internship in a health data science-related role. My goal is to leverage data science to uncover insights that can improve public and population health. The HDR UK Black Internship Programme has equipped me with a robust skill set, including enhanced technical proficiency, resourcefulness, and a valuable professional network. These assets will be crucial as I seek to make meaningful contributions to the field of health data science.

Do you have any advice for future interns?

For those considering this internship programme, my advice is to fully engage with every aspect of the experience. Embrace the opportunity to work on diverse projects with your host organisation, tackle the technical challenges with enthusiasm, and participate actively in the training sessions and presentations. This comprehensive involvement will maximise the benefits of the internship and ensure you gain the most from this experience.