Discover new data talent to benefit your business

Inject some data science expertise into your organisation through our range of well-respected student placement programmes.

We can link you with Scotland’s brightest data students through our well-respected placements. They provide an invaluable opportunity for your businesses to benefit from the most up-to-date thinking, technical skills and enthusiasm from highly motivated students.

Discover what is possible with an injection of data-science expertise!

Contact a member of our team to learn more.

Who can apply?

Our student placement programme is open to any Scottish organisation looking to add state-of-the-art data-driven knowledge into their organisations. Our dedicated Placement Team will work with you to find a suitable student based on your business needs.

Join the likes of Capita, Think Analytics, NatureScot, The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, NatWest and other who have benefited first-hand from our placement students. Check out the video below to hear their story.

What types of student placements are available?

We offer two key placement types; our Data Lab Academy programme which matches you with an Integrated Masters or MSc Student for 8-12 weeks, and our PhD programme, which matches you with a PhD student or Early-Stage Researcher for 10 days to inform decisions, enhance your projects and develop their skills.

Not sure which placement type is right for you? Contact us to discuss your needs and we’ll find you the perfect match.

The Data Lab Academy Placements

You’ll be amazed at what our data-science students can achieve for you within an 8–12-week period.

At any one time, we have over 100 students in Scotland studying a range of MSc courses in AI, data science, data analytics, data engineering and more from top university and colleges. Our students are keen for work experience to use their technical skills in the real world.

From energy market price forecasting and connecting electric vehicle drivers with nature-based tourism to machine learning for glucose prediction and reinforcement learning for herd mentality in investments; our students have had an impact across every industry.

Our team will help you shape your project and will match you with a suitable student and skill set. There is no up-front cost to participate, employers are only responsible for the 8–12-week salary of the placement student.

The Data Lab PhD Placements

Our PhD placement programme draws on PhD students and Early-Stage Researchers from across Scotland who are studying in data and AI-related fields.  Access the best in up-and-coming data professionals including data analysts, data scientists, AI professionals and more.   

We offer 10 day paid placements funded by The Data Lab. This programme is open to employers across any industry and of any size in Scotland. 

Whilst we endeavour to successfully match as many students and organisations who apply to the programme as possible, the success will depend on the relevance between project requirements and the skillsets of available students. The programme runs until 2024 (subject to available funding) and it is an open call for applications.

Ready to apply? Contact us now to discuss next steps.

Examples of previous placement projects

• AI in automated human vaccination
• Blockchain-driven sustainable chemical marketplace
• Connecting electric vehicle drivers with nature-based tourism
• Energy market price forecasting
• Enhancing computer vision interpretation of vegetation photography
• Machine learning for glucose prediction in diabetes
• Reinforcement learning for herd mentality in investments

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Hear first-hand from our delighted employers…

“The student has helped to develop this product from an early stage proof of concept to a product that is now commercially viable and scalable.”

Net AI

“Kyle’s skill set was a perfect match for our business and the project grew to the wealth of his technical expertise. The placement led to a massive improvement in our product.”

BioLiberty

“Monse’s current PhD is greatly aligned with our product and has delivered an exceptional report at the end of her placement with us. I would be keen to keep the relationship going with her and the rest of her group at UoE.”

Origami Energy

“Spyros worked on a commercial piece of work and the income for this will pay for the placement. An excellent outcome.”

Laura Anderson
Director, Sea Spyder

“We are delighted with both our placements who have delivered significant cutting edge data science solutions for us.”

Duncan Hart
Deepminer

“Ionannis went beyond what was expected by producing a new AI image classification system.”

Stephen Gerrard
NatureScot