Hi, I’m Ben. I’m a second year PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences, focusing on understanding ground deformation of volcanoes using satellite borne radar imagery.

In April 2024, I worked as an Earth Observation Intern with SatSense, a Leeds-based SME (Small/medium-sized Enterprise) that provides services assessing, monitoring, and alerting for changes in ground deformation for a wide range of clients using satellite-borne radar imagery.

A photo of Ben wearing waterproof outdoor clothing smiling, with hills and a lake in the background.

What I did during the internship

The internship lasted four weeks and was funded by the SME Internship Scheme. At SatSense, I worked alongside their Earth Observation Specialists with a project using this satellite imagery to attempt to detect where and when construction had occurred over a given area and time-period, which may have many applications in monitoring ground deformation relating to infrastructure.

I gained a wide range of technical skills during the internship relating to programming, machine learning and satellite imagery, but also gained an equally important understanding of the operation of the business and the sector as a whole. In addition, through shadowing and conversations with more senior figures in SatSense, I heard about some of the valuable soft skills that are beneficial in similar roles.

3 photos:
1 - A photo of a tower block with a 'University of Leeds' sign in the foreground.
2 - A photo of desks in a workspace with laptops and desktop screens.
3 - A photo of the SatSense office sign on a white wall. — My office whilst interning with SatSense, in the Nexus Building at the University of Leeds.

How I arranged the internship

I began planning the internship a few months before the SME Internship Scheme opened for the given year, as I approached SatSense directly to encourage them to take part in the scheme. Through my own research and chats with my academic adviser and the Careers Service, I had decided that SatSense matched well with my own skills, experience and interests. I then met with them to discuss the types of projects I would most like to get involved with, and what I hoped to get out of an internship with them, which helped me to prepare for the internship.

Once I had started, I found the learning curve was initially quite steep as I had to get used to a lot of new systems, but my supervisors at SatSense were very helpful, approachable and encouraging, and I soon got used to the changes.

My recommendations

Overall, I really enjoyed my time interning with SatSense. I gained a wealth of new skills and experience, and would recommend SatSense and the SME Internship Scheme to anyone considering it. Without the financial support of the SME Internship Scheme, it would have been much more difficult to secure an opportunity like this.

To anyone searching, I would highly recommend finding an SME you are interested in interning with, and if they are not already part of the scheme, float the idea of them applying to the scheme, as SMEs are often very keen to take on interns, especially with additional support such as provided by the scheme.

Want to be an SME Intern?   

Find out more about the SME Internship Scheme on our website. 
Check out our “My SME Internship” blog series to hear more student stories.

If you have any questions about the scheme, writing your application, or anything else relating to careers you can speak to us on live chat, or pop into 5 Tyndall Avenue from Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4.30 pm during term time.  