From Vector Institute Internship to Dream Job: A Success Story in Machine Learning

As Justin Yang was completing his master’s program he realized he was missing one thing: practical experience. To fill this gap, he turned to Vector’s Applied AI Internship Program to gain the experience he needed to land a full-time job.

As competition for AI talent heats up, landing the right internship can be the difference-maker in a career, offering candidates a chance to apply their studies in the real world. Vector’s applied internship in particular bridges the gap between academia and application, and is a proven launchpad for aspiring data scientists and machine learning professionals. “You do research development,” he says. “But also you do a lot of deployable things.”

A Solid Foundation for a Machine Learning Career

Yang came to Canada from China to study statistics and computer science at the University of British Columbia. But it wasn’t until he was digging into privacy and responsible AI under the co-supervision of Vector Faculty Member Xiaoxiao Li, that he first became aware of the cutting-edge research happening at Vector.

Along with the encouragement of a former lab mate Sana Ayromlou, who had successfully transitioned from a Vector internship to a full-time role as an Associate ML Specialist, inspired Yang to apply for the internship program. “When she learned that I was doing federated learning, she was like, ‘Well, that’s what I’m doing at Vector and I made it into a full-time job. Maybe that’s something you want to consider for your internship, too.’”

After being accepted to the program, Yang opted to work on differential privacy within the FL4Health project, which was focused on applying federated learning — a way for models to be collaboratively trained while keeping data private in local sites — in healthcare settings. The overall goal is to make healthcare models more safe, reliable, and deployable. “It’s essentially trying to make sure that the data  transaction between the hospitals and the server is very secure, while not really losing a lot of the utility.”

This hands-on experience with real-world AI applications proved invaluable for Yang’s professional development and future job prospects.

Networking and Professional Development Opportunities

One of the key benefits of the Vector internship is the vast network of industry connections it provides. Yang joined Vector’s I.M.P.A.C.T. Mentorship Program, which matches interns with an AI expert from one of Vector’s sponsor organizations. He was paired with Aisha Greene, Sales Director, Generative AI at Deloitte, and he also attended Vector’s Machine Learning Security and Privacy Workshop where he met many like-minded individuals keen to discuss how to apply privacy to their research. These opportunities not only enhanced Yang’s technical skills but also helped him develop crucial soft skills and industry connections. “Even though I was an intern, I still felt like my voice was heard and that my suggestions were valued.”

Landing a Dream Job at TELUS

As his internship neared its end, he began to consider his next steps. Initially, he hoped to secure a full-time position at Vector. “My plan was always to work at Vector,” he admits. “There was such a harmonious synergy between pure research and deployment.” However, when a full-time position wasn’t immediately available, Yang turned to Vector’s Digital Talent Hub, which connects AI talent, like Vector interns, with employers.

Through the Talent Hub, Yang applied for a responsible AI development role in Vancouver with a Vector Gold sponsor TELUS. The role aligned perfectly with his interests and experience.

“When they said we’re going to want you to plan and do our architectural design on this AI system with responsible AI in mind, I think that’s where it really started drawing me in.”

Justin Yang

Applied ML Intern, Summer 24

The interview process highlighted how valuable his Vector internship experience was. As a sponsor, TELUS were not just aware of who Vector was, they were familiar with many of Vector’s projects and personally knew many of Yang’s colleagues. “A lot of the interviewers themselves had just spoken with members of the Vector AI engineering team,” he says. That connection helped him stand out as a candidate and ultimately land the job.

Advice for Future Vector Institute Interns

A standout part of the Vector internship for Yang is the fact that it offers more than just technical experience. It provides a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic research and industry application, setting interns up for success in their machine learning careers.

Conclusion: A Launchpad for Your AI Career

Yang’s journey from Vector Institute intern to a role as a technology architect – responsible AI at TELUS showcases the power of a well-structured internship program in AI and machine learning. By providing hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and access to industry partners, Vector sets its interns up for success in the competitive world of AI. As Yang’s story demonstrates, it’s not just an internship – it’s a gateway to a world of opportunities in AI and data science.

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