The Data Lab is helping shape Scotland’s AI talent pipeline by connecting students with industry. Elementz, specialists in subsea integrity software, shared their experience hosting Karol Hetman, a Data Lab Academy student whose placement delivered lasting impact.
Karol Hetman, a Computer Science and Physics graduate from the University of Aberdeen, had already been working as a freelance software developer before deciding to take his skills to the next level. Keen to explore the growing field of Artificial Intelligence, Karol returned to his alma mater to undertake a Master’s degree in AI, supported by The Data Lab Academy.
As part of the The Data Lab Academy Master’s Programme, Karol received a fully funded tuition scholarship, access to employability workshops, technical webinars, and personalised career support. These opportunities enabled Karol to strengthen his professional skills and deepen his technical expertise in line with industry needs. To help him gain real-world experience, The Data Lab arranged a 1:1 placement matching meeting, a dedicated session to explore project opportunities aligned with his skills and interests.
Through this process, Karol was matched with Elementz, a technology company based in Aberdeen and one of The Data Lab’s industry partners. The placement centred on developing an AI-powered chatbot to support subsea asset integrity inspections – a tool with the potential to impact hundreds of inspectors operating globally.
Karol quickly became a key contributor to the team, applying his AI knowledge to solve a real-world industry challenge. His placement project not only demonstrated technical success but also created tangible business value. The chatbot prototype he developed was so effective that Elementz’s Customer Experience team requested full integration into their product, marking the company’s first operational deployment of AI. This is expected to greatly reduce support requests from inspectors and improve overall efficiency.
In recognition of his impact, Elementz offered Karol a full-time role as a Software Engineer before his placement finished. He officially joined the team in August 2025, where he’ll continue advancing AI capabilities within the organisation.
“Karol quickly impressed the team with his AI expertise and development skills. His work on the chatbot project has been so successful that our Customer Experience team has requested full integration into our product, marking Elementz’s first operational use of AI. We’re excited to continue collaborating with The Data Lab and welcoming Karol to our team full-time.”
Ed Shearer, Elementz
The project highlights the strength of collaboration between The Data Lab and industry partners like Elementz. By combining targeted student support with meaningful real-world learning, the programme delivers mutual benefit – helping partners like Elementz access and retain skilled talent whilst equipping students with the experience and skills needed in Scotland’s growing tech ecosystem.