Course: BSc in Computer Systems
Supervisor: Dr. Nikola Nikolov
Name of Research Project/Activity: Building Irish-Language Text Processing, Sentiment Analysis and Generative Models: An investigation into the required methods and processes.
Q) Can you tell me a bit about yourself, your background, and why you decided to study the course you are taking at UL?
At my core I am a charismatic Gaeilgeoir that simply loves to build apps and experiences that have an impact on the world around me. I run my own business SUPERSTREAM that creates services for tens of thousands of social media content creators. I credit both my never-ending curiosity and my focus on business for my decision to study LM121 Computer Science/LM051 Computer Systems. I always loved computers and video games, so naturally I felt that the course would provide me with ample technical skills to bring my visions and ideas to life. Little did I know that it would do so much more than that by igniting my love for research.
Q) What motivated you to apply for the Summer Bursary Programme?
I credit my newfound love for research that blossomed throughout my final year project as my reason for applying for the Summer Bursary Programme. I had seen adverts for the programme in previous years, although it was a common conception that Computer Systems only introduced scientific research methods to us during our final year. Therefore, when I began to get such positive feedback about my machine learning-powered research project ‘How Cancellable Is Your Twitter?’, I realised that I wanted to pursue more academic work. I consequently applied for the Summer Bursary Programme as I felt that it was a prime opportunity to strengthen my research background and to assess if I would suit a career in academia.
Q) What are you doing as part of your research here at UL?
My current research relates to investigating the methods and processes that would be involved with building Irish language text models. As an ardent Gaeilgeoir, I believe that there is a lack of machine learning-based research and overall services for the language. This is due to Gaeilge being a ‘low resource language’. This means that there is limited data for building models as complex as those used by ChatGPT. As part of my research, I am searching for Gaeilge datasets. Furthermore, I have been researching the technical methods involved with building generative models as my previous experience relates to sentiment analysis models. Research into this area could have a wide and global reach as finding an optimal approach for building Gaeilge models could enhance the research efforts for other ‘low resource languages’. The overall goal of this project is to determine the steps involved with building these Irish language-based models.
Q) What skills have you developed over the summer?
I credit the Summer Bursary Programme for enhancing a variety of my skills. I believe that engaging in another machine learning research project has boosted my technical skills and knowledge. My research into numerous machine learning approaches for building generative models will stand to me for future projects. Between getting to know my research peers at the beginning of the programme and presenting my work to my supervisor, I would also highlight that this research opportunity has improved my ability to present my research.
Q) What has this experience taught you and what would you recommend it to others?
I personally found that this experience has showcased the joys of engaging in a career in academia. Through my discussions with other academics and faculty in the CSIS department throughout the programme, I have gained invaluable insights into the life of an academic. It has certainly revealed that I have the personality and skills for a career in research. I would definitely recommend the programme to anyone that finds the research element of their course enjoyable. I also feel like it could be a great programme for students that are worried and unsure about what they want to do after college.
Q) What are your future career plans, would you consider a career in research?
I would certainly consider a career in research; in fact, my current plans are centred around a career in research. During my final year research project, my supervisor recommended that I apply for a PhD programme. I have since applied for the SFI Centre for Research Training in Artificial Intelligence programme. I also have a passion for teaching that flourished over three years of teaching with the ICT Learning Centre. Therefore, I currently believe that doing a PhD would propel me towards the career of my dreams in academia and lecturing.