For students, moving from classroom assignments to real-world work can feel like a big jump at times. At DeepSense, that transition is built into the experience.
DeepSense is a Dal-based organization created by the Faculty of Computer Science that connects students with industry partners to develop applied AI (artificial intelligence) solutions. Originally focused on the ocean sector, the organization is now expanding into other areas such as defence and natural resources, while continuing to use paid internships as a pathway from academic study to employment.
Alex Pottier, senior program manager, oversees DeepSense projects from initial scoping through to delivery and works closely with students throughout their internships. The program is designed to mirror real industry work while still providing structured support.
“Students are coming into a project that has been scoped, with milestones and a clear objective,” says Pattier. “They’re supported the whole time, not just technically, but professionally, and they get to see a project through from start to finish.”
They get to see a project through from start to finish.
Unlike more traditional co-ops, DeepSense internships place students directly with industry partners while pairing them with additional mentorship. Each intern works with a technical advisor and participates in weekly progress meetings with both DeepSense staff and company teams.
As DeepSense looks beyond ocean-focused projects to potential work in areas such as agriculture, health, and food production, its internship program continues to serve as a bridge between Dal’s classrooms and the fast-growing demands of the AI workforce, helping students turn applied learning into real careers.
Last fall, the group received Nova Scotia’s Tech for Good Award, recognizing its work using technology to drive positive social, environmental, and economic change by supporting innovation, talent development, and AI adoption across the ocean sector.
Beyond the classroom
For Shail Rajeshbhai Kardani, a Master of Applied Computer Science (MACSC) student graduating this spring and now working in the field, a DeepSense internship provided his first hands-on experience with applied AI. During his placement, he worked on a phytoplankton monitoring and forecasting project in the St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area off the coast of Cape Breton, N.S.
“It was very different from academic work,” Shail says. “You’re not just building something. You’re thinking about how it will actually be used. You take ownership of the project, propose ideas, and work toward real-world results.”
Working alongside marine biologists, project managers, and technical teams helped Shail understand how AI fits into larger decision-making processes. “The experience definitely made the transition into the workforce feel far more manageable,” he says.
You’re not just building something. You’re thinking about how it will actually be used.
Another former intern, Kishan Patel (CS'24) describes a similar shift. His DeepSense placement involved working with an ocean-focused startup on shoreline cleanup efforts in British Columbia. Using drone footage and machine-learning models, he helped identify plastic waste and create maps to guide cleanup teams more efficiently.
“In school, you usually focus on just one part of a project,” Kishan says. “At DeepSense, I saw the entire pipeline from data collection to deployment and how everything connects in a real way.”
The work required him to manually label images, train detection models, and translate outputs into tools that community partners could actually use. That full responsibility helped show how applied AI works beyond the classroom.
“We want students to feel like they belong here,” says Pattier. “If you don’t get an internship the first time, apply again.” He encourages students to work on personal projects to help differentiate themselves and develop their passions.