Master’s students get a taste of research
She is still a student, but has already been involved in the ongoing research for a whole year. Shahd Metwally was first hired as a research assistant for a project where AI is being used to develop software testing, and is now doing her degree project within the same initiative.
“Software development has always been one of my passions, along with AI,” says Shahd.
WHEN WE MEET at the department’s Lindholmen premises, Shahd is in the final stages of her master’s programme. She has chosen to study both the bachelor’s and master’s programmes in Software Engineering and Management, and will soon be able to sum up five years of studies. During this time she also did internships at Volvo Cars and Ericsson, and when she saw the announcement for the position of research assistant, she applied without hesitation.
“It’s been extremely stimulating, and I’ve learnt a lot. I’ve also had a lot of support from my supervisor. The biggest challenge has been finding enough time, and I’ve sometimes had to prioritise studies over spending time with my friends. But it’s been worth it!”
HER SUPERVISOR is senior lecturer Gregory Gay, who is also the programme director for the Master’s Programme in Software Engineering and for a programme at Chalmers University of Technology. He believes that the University has much to gain from involving students in research, both for the students themselves and for the research carried out. With the right guidance, they can contribute a lot to a research team, and they can take research knowledge with them when they graduate to work in industry.
“While some of the courses incorporate research, most are more about how things are done now, in the present day. By being exposed to research, they also learn about how things could be done in the future. After their degree, most of our students will become working practitioners, and they carry that knowledge with them. They might try out some of these ideas, transitioning them from research to practice.”
GREGORY IS ALSO convinced that the students benefit from having been involved in research during their education, regardless of where they end up in the future – they learn to formulate problems, design experiments and analyse data.
For Shahd, working in the research team has given her a taste for more. After graduating, she is considering applying for a doctoral programme. This would ideally be in Gothenburg, because she likes it here so much, but she is also looking at other options.
“I think it sounds interesting to work in industry as well, but I would rather be a researcher. I want to do something that has an impact and creates change, and I feel that this is easier to achieve within research.”
Text: Camilla Persson