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Meet Sylvia Christie, our training partnerships supervisor who’s performed a number one function in increasing our scholarship programme, which has simply celebrated its five-year anniversary.
What was your path to DeepMind?
Earlier than DeepMind, I labored for a social goal startup that elevated entry to psychological healthcare. Then I acquired a job at a college alongside teachers and college students. At that time, I realised I used to be in search of a ‘Goldilocks’ function that introduced collectively all the pieces I beloved about these totally different environments – the velocity and pleasure of a tech startup, impact-focussed objectives, and the fascination of working with sensible researchers. It appeared unattainable to mix all this stuff. Then, enter stage left: DeepMind.
Throughout the interview course of, I used to be shocked by how a lot the interviewers wished to get to know me and the way I associated to the tradition DeepMind was constructing. Folks from all totally different backgrounds, disciplines, and approaches discover their solution to DeepMind, and having such an open dialogue concerning the surroundings I’d be a part of as a brand new worker made me really feel at residence.
What drew you to the training group?
I consider in making certain that folks from all walks of life, and particularly these from underrepresented communities and backgrounds, are capable of contribute to the event of AI. I’ve had the possibility to work on some actually particular tasks at DeepMind, however the scholarships programme is – by far – essentially the most personally rewarding programme I’ve ever been concerned in. Each tutorial 12 months, we get to see the brand new crop of proficient AI students turn into a part of a global neighborhood of scholars and mentors. It’s an extremely particular second – and I can’t wait to see what all of them obtain sooner or later!
How would you describe the scholarship programme in a single sentence?
The DeepMind scholarship programme goals to take away boundaries for college kids from underrepresented backgrounds who wish to pursue postgraduate research in synthetic intelligence (AI) and associated fields.
What’s your typical day like? And your group?
My days are all the time a combination. I wish to have a little bit of focus time day-after-day to advance project-based or planning work, however the remainder of the time will be full of conferences, group catch-ups, or talking to college students and our companions at universities around the globe. It’s tremendous diversified, and by no means boring.
We’re a comparatively new group, so we’ve had the chance to create our group tradition from the beginning. Personally, I discover the training partnerships group to be considerate, respectful, and enjoyable! We’ve grown loads too. Within the final 12 months, we’ve welcomed group members to assist launch six new partnerships and develop our training programmes.
What’s the most important problem your group faces?
Discovering the best methods for DeepMind to make a constructive impression is a very powerful problem. We have to guarantee that our work drives actual change within the wider neighborhood and for AI training extra typically. It’s a superb problem to have as a result of it’s a possibility as properly.
How did you have a good time the five-year anniversary?
We held a Students Summit. It’s a digital celebration of the programme, and the superb mentors, college students, and alumni. It was an important week with implausible panel discussions with DeepMinders and trade and tutorial audio system.
We additionally launched our AI By You movie sequence, the place a few of our students shared their concepts and insights on what AI means to them. The sequence additionally contains the quick cinematic movie under as a brand new method of talking to audiences concerning the scholarship programme in a inventive method. I’m so pleased with the students concerned and the superb work of our group. Watch all six movies at deepmind.com/scholarships.
What’re your greatest learnings now that the scholarship programme is 5 years previous?
How necessary collaboration is. The Scholarships programme wouldn’t be doable with out our superb college companions around the globe, plus contributions from folks throughout DeepMind – together with those that initiated the programme in 2017 and the mentors who volunteer annually. And naturally, the arduous work of the students themselves.
Thus far, we’ve had over 335 students come via our programme. This tutorial 12 months, we’ll be welcoming as much as 115 new students at 26 tutorial establishments in 13 nations, so it’s actually thrilling to see the programme going from power to power annually.
Any recommendation to college students desirous about making use of for a DeepMind Scholarship? Or a task at DeepMind?
Potential students – maintain checking our web site! The scholarship software course of and deadlines differ, college by college, so our web site is one of the best place to remain up to date.
To these in search of a task at DeepMind – don’t rely your self out. I usually hear from individuals who say it feels intimidating. The imposter syndrome is actual, and it’s for me as properly, to this present day. However in the event you care concerning the mission, and are keen about your work, go for it!
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