This summer I was given the opportunity to take part in a summer research internship called Online Dublin Computer Science Summer School (ODCSSS or Odysseus). It is a joint programme by the Dublin City University (DCU) and University College of Dublin (UCD) and funded by the Science Foundation Ireland. During ten weeks of work in DCU I gained first-hand experience in research.

Energy measurements on a Nexus One using an Arduino

My project involved measuring the energy consumption of a Nexus One phone and breaking it down into individual components. The analysis will then help to implement an algorithm for video streaming that will assure that a video stream can be played before battery depletion and to maximize the ratio of quality to energy consumption.

I suppose many students will face the decision of whether to go into industry or pursue research. Industry appears to promise better and more stable incomes but research seems to be more interesting in that your research projects can be diverse and in an area of your interest. You enjoy a greater freedom over both your work schedule as well as the content of your work. This of course comes with responsibilities to make progress and deliver results.

Me during poster presentations

The greatest challenge I faced in my internship was the fact that rather than looking for an answer to a predefined question, the question itself was not always clear. This left me at times confused over what is the next step as the path of project was not laid out for me but I had to discover it for myself. Another challenge is presenting and defending your project in front of an audience. I left the internship in good spirits, being awarded a certificate for giving one of the five best final presentations and a prize for the best overall project.

Best Overall Project

Overall, I gained a good impression of research that, I am sure, will assist me in my decision for the route I take after my graduation. I can definitely recommend such an internship to anyone who is seriously considering going into research. For the next summer I am aiming for an industry internship so that I can be sure to make the right choice.

I would like to thank Gabriel Muntean for organizing this internship and Martin Kennedy, my supervisor, for his great guidance.