University of Leeds

Creating a Historical Sentiment Lexicon Using Johnson’s Dictionary and HPC

I study Classical Civilisations with English at the University of Leeds, both subjects immensely interesting to me. Over my time studying, I've especially loved eco-critical literature, early Roman epic poetry and exploring sensory perceptions in ancient society.
From hours spent reading, to accessing large-scale classical art databases, I became interested in Digital Research to help streamline my studies and understanding, and hopefully share that with other students on the same lines.
Outside my degree I write and edit for a few music magazines, play football locally, and love to get outside!

Why did you apply for this internship?

I'm excited to learn more about what capabilities Digital Research has for my learning and academic development has moving forwards, as well as opening up future opportunities.

What do you hope to gain in completing this project?

Population-Scale Biomechanics: Modelling of a Spinal Unit using HPC

I chose BSc Neuroscience purely out of curiosity. The nervous system is highly ambiguous and there is still so much we don't know. I always had so many questions, and I wanted to be involved in the search for answers. My degree allowed me to explore all aspects of research, from directly being involved in the collection of samples to using computational neural networks to explore the structural biology of tau proteins involved in Alzheimer's, which was my final year project.

After completing my final year project, I realised that I enjoy computational neuroscience, a relatively recent field that utilised computational and digital research tools to explore parts of biology that cannot be researched using traditional experimental methods.

Outside my interest in the nervous system and computational neuroscience, I enjoy reading. I believe it is an under appreciated form of media, and in the current climate, reading and interpreting literature is an essential skill. When I am not reading, I am attending art workshops or travelling.

Interpreting Readability Evaluation with Explainable AI

I have a strong interest in how computational methods can be used to solve real-world problems. I chose this degree because I enjoy problem-solving, logical thinking and understanding how software systems are built and applied in different contexts.

Over the course of my studies, I have become particularly interested in areas such as data analysis, machine learning and research computing. I enjoy exploring how tools and techniques can be used to extract meaning from data and support decision-making, especially in contexts where technology intersects with research.

After graduating, I hope to pursue a career in data science, artificial intelligence or research software engineering, where I can continue developing my technical skills while contributing to impactful projects.

Why did you apply for this internship?

The opportunity to work with high-performance computing systems and research software is especially appealing, as it offers a chance to understand how large-scale data and computational problems are handled in practice. I am also interested in developing my skills in areas such as reproducible research, data workflows and software engineering within a research context.

Overall, I see this internship as a valuable opportunity to build on my technical foundation, develop practical experience in a research environment and gain a clearer insight into potential future career paths in digital research, data science and AI.

What do you hope to gain in completing this project?

I hope to gain practical experience working within a research computing environment, particularly in relation to high-performance computing and data-driven workflows. I am keen to develop my technical skills beyond the classroom, especially in areas such as working with large datasets, using research software tools, and understanding how computational pipelines are designed and applied in real research contexts.

I also hope to improve my ability to work with more advanced programming and analysis tools, while gaining a better understanding of best practices such as reproducibility, documentation and structured research workflows.

In addition, I would like to gain insight into how research software engineers and digital research teams collaborate to solve complex problems, as this is an area I am considering for my future career. Overall, I see this project as an opportunity to strengthen both my technical ability and my understanding of applied computational research.

Where did the English novel come from? Experimenting with computational approaches to investigate language in seventeenth-century prose fiction

I chose to study English Language and Literature because I am fascinated by language whether that be through the mundane everyday exchange of words or the way human experience is captured in Literature. During my studies I have been introduced to digital research technologies such as distant reading or corpus linguistics and am eager to deepen my understanding of how the humanities and technology can work in tandem to create insightful research beyond the capabilities of traditional approaches. Studying a module on Digital Discourse has inspired the idea of doing my final year dissertation on the current interconnectedness of politics and computer-mediated-communication, particularly social media. I wish to carry these skills into my future with the hope of researching language in various fields such as media or forensics.

Why did you apply for this internship?

What do you hope to gain in completing this project?