A Data-Engineering Intern’s Day At Work At Conoship
Our very first AI Intern, Stephanie Radakrishnan, shares her experience as a university student working at Conoship International for her internship.
As the industry continues to grow, so do our collaborations across industries, forming partnerships that are fueled by the same ambitions. As we explore possibilities outside of our industry, we welcomed our first ever AI and Data Engineering intern to join us. Stephanie is a Computer Science student from the University of Groningen who joined our office in Groningen for some months.
As this was our first experience working with an AI intern, we were eager to understand what the role felt like from her perspective. That curiosity led us to ask Stephanie a series of questions, answered with complete honesty, offering a glimpse into what an internship at Conoship International looks like and what her days consisted of.
Introduction — Where are you from and what do you study?
My name is Stephanie, and I’m from Cyprus. I’ve been living in Groningen for the past three years, where I study Computing Science at the University of Groningen.
Why did you choose to study in Groningen?
When I applied to universities, I considered options in the Netherlands, England, the USA, Greece, and Cyprus. I knew I wanted an international study experience, and the Netherlands offered a great balance of high-quality education and accessibility. Groningen quickly became one of my top choices for Computing Science. Once I decided this was the direction I wanted to pursue, finding housing through a lottery set everything into place.
What is your current position/project at Conoship?
At Conoship I’m working as an intern as part of my university program. My project focuses on developing an AI model that predicts the probability of damage stability, essentially, assessing the likelihood of a ship sinking when damage occurs. This project stood out to me because it aligns with both my computing science background and my long-standing interest in engineering. It felt like the perfect opportunity to merge the two fields.
“After reviewing the available internship projects, the one at Conoship immediately caught my attention. The communication with the company was smooth and welcoming, and within two weeks I had already begun my internship. It felt like a natural fit.”
As you’re leaving soon, what are the key lessons you’re taking with you?
This internship has given me the chance to apply the knowledge I’ve gained during my studies in a real-world setting. I have learned how much I enjoy a structured and collaborative work environment, and it has helped me clarify my future plans. I now know I want to pursue a master’s degree and deepen my knowledge further, possibly by exploring more physics-related areas. It has also given me a true sense of what a full-time work routine feels like.
What was your favourite part of working at Conoship?
My favourite part of Conoship has been the atmosphere: the team is welcoming, the environment is positive, and I loved the daily lunch walks and conversations with colleagues. And of course, Jip the dog is a highlight!
From a project perspective, the most rewarding moment was seeing all the pieces come together. After weeks of gathering information from PIAS menus, and trying to make the scripts work, it was incredibly satisfying to see the full system working smoothly.
What have you accomplished during your internship, and how has it influenced your career goals?
During my internship, I managed to collect and structure data from several PIAS menus into a unified database, forming the foundation needed to train the AI model. This experience has reinforced my desire to combine computing science with physics or engineering in my future career. Even though my work focused primarily on software-related tasks, the exposure to the engineering world has strengthened my interest in pursuing a path that combines both.
What advice would you give to students considering a similar path?
Just do it! Internships are a fantastic opportunity for students, they give you a genuine sense of what professional life looks like and allow you to apply your academic knowledge in a meaningful way. A full-time internship provides structure, valuable learning experiences, and confidence as you transition toward the working world. If you are unsure of what you want to do in the future, and have some time an internship is a great choice.
Once again, we are truly grateful to have had Stephanie on board with us. She provided us with so much essential knowledge and we are excited to continue in her steps with AI development. If you have any questions on Stephanie’s experience or about any internships available, please do not hesitate to reach out. Stephanie’s position alone has demonstrated the possibilities that lie outside of the maritime industry and how they can be connected to our sector.
