Students gain valuable work experience in AI, digital and data projects with innovative roles with the Government of Canada
By: Jed Bick
The Government of Canada and the University of Waterloo are working together to enhance the data, digital and artificial intelligence talent pool within the public service.
In September, the University and government partners held a virtual student showcase. The event highlighted the experiences of Waterloo co-op students who worked on various projects over the summer term. Waterloo students work in various roles across departments at the Government of Canada.
Read what their supervisors said about the innovative work co-op students are doing.
Finding purposeful work
Sarina Nathoo (BPH ’23) is a Master of Public Service student working as a junior policy analyst with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Nathoo found purpose in her work term with the Government of Canada. “Working in a role where we are looking to benefit the climate, the economy and create jobs is something I'm passionate about. It's really fulfilling for me to be a part of this team,” said Nathoo.
Nathoo has worked for the Government of Canada in various roles throughout both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Waterloo. The culture brings her back term after term because she feels like she can be herself. “The culture is great. Everyone is super kind and supportive,” said Nathoo.
One thing I like about the government is that a lot of full-time staff here were students at one point. They love students because they were students (too).
Charting a path with the Government of Canada
Waterloo students work in a variety of roles, across departments, at the Government of Canada.
“I'm always amazed at how many different types of work occur in the department and how lucky we are to have students like these individuals coming to work here at ISED,” said Mary Gregory, industry sector associate assistant deputy manager and champion for students at ISED. “Students always contribute a lot to the department and they’re very much responsible for the success we have across ISED.”
Argho Das, student data scientist – data dissemination, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Government of Canada
Argho Das is a graduate student studying for his Masters of Data Science and AI. Das spent his work term on a machine learning project to reduce the workload of patent examiners. He used machine learning to analyze patent data, ensure it was accurate and make it easier to view patent listings. His contributions significantly improved the accuracy of patent similarity analysis and ensured the accuracy of patent data.
“Argho brings experience, talent and an honest personality to the workplace. A joy to work with and an indispensable asset to our core team.” - Khadar Hosh, data scientist, ISED.
Daisy Xiao, junior policy analyst, Telecommunications and internet policy branch, Government of Canada
Daisy Xiao, a third-year Mathematical Economics student, spent her work term developing programs using Python to scrape mobile plan data for various mobile carriers. The programs she created put data into an excel file to be uploaded into a database. Xiao’s work reduced the need for future manual data collection time and minimized errors. The Government branch she works with expects the move from manual collection to this more automated approach will help to lower costs.
“Following changes in telecom pricing is a vital part of forming policy, but the manual task of recording prices has always been cumbersome and boring. Daisy’s invaluable contribution will make it easier for us to focus on data analysis, instead of collection.” - Mallory McGonegal, policy advisor, ISED.
Matthew Stebelsky, data scientist, Innovation and Analytics Directorate, Government of Canada
When his team realized they were spending too much time on interpersonal meetings, Management Engineering student Matthew Stebelsky helped make their idea of a Data Hub into a reality. The Data Hub is a self-serve kiosk to guide users on their data journey including how to create data reporting in dashboards.
“Matthew’s contributions in creating the Data Hub will allow ISED employees to unlock a deeper understanding and new possibilities on their data journey. His contribution is a testament to the power of one individual’s impact on a collective vision.” - Kimlee Santos, data analyst, ISED.
Make a difference
Working in the public service has real meaning and impact on the lives of Canadians. Students who work on innovative projects apply their academic skills in the workplace and bring learnings back into the classroom from their work experiences.
The Government of Canada actively hires Waterloo co-op students on the Full-Cycle Service job board on WaterlooWorks. Explore the diverse roles available in the federal public service as you apply for your next co-op role.
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