Introducing our new System Administration interns and Graduate Apprentices

30 January 2025

At EPCC we are committed to promoting and growing the skills required to develop and operate complex supercomputing and data science systems, and to help people find their way into careers in high performance computing (HPC) systems administration and research infrastructure engineering. 

PCC interns and graduate apprentices alongside the Tier-1 national supercomputer, ARCHER2

Image shows, left to right, EPCC interns and Graduate Apprentices Raul da Costa, Connor Finlay, Richard West and Kunjal Sancheti alongside the Tier-1 national supercomputer, ARCHER2, at EPCC's Advanced Computing Facility.

We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, through which we offer twelve-month Systems Administration placements and two-year Graduate Apprenticeships

Twelve-month placements are typically taken up by undergraduate students between their second and third years of a four-year course, or by students about to start the final two years of a degree after completing relevant vocational training. These are full-time, paid roles for which students can get credit towards their degree. Graduate Apprentices at EPCC work with us in parallel with completing the final two years of their degree, with a day a week reserved for study leave in addition to getting credit towards their degree for project work they complete while working for us. 

We are always looking for new ways to support early careers in our field, and this year we are also introducing a new module of our online MSc in the Fundamentals of HPC System Administration and trialling a Digital Technology Modern Apprenticeship

In this article, our latest cohort of placement students and Graduate Apprentices introduce themselves. Kunjal Sancheti and Richard West started twelve-month placements with EPCC last summer, prior to completing the last two years of their degrees. Raul da Costa started as a Graduate Apprentice at the same time. We were also delighted to welcome back Connor Finlay as a Graduate Apprentice after he completed a twelve-month placement with us the previous year.  

Kunjal Sancheti: Systems Specialist intern

I’m currently in my third year at Edinburgh Napier University, studying BEng(Hons) Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, and I’m excited to be spending my placement year as an HPC Systems Specialist intern at EPCC. Over the past five months this experience has given me the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies and gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, innovative environment. 

 In my role, I primarily provide support for cloud services and provide shift-based support by addressing incoming tickets from users encountering issues with our systems. This has been a valuable learning experience, enabling me to troubleshoot problems independently, while also collaborating with the team when needed, enhancing my problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. 

 I also contribute to ongoing projects that aim to improve user experience and increasing platform efficiency. A key part of this involves developing automations to streamline repetitive tasks, reducing manual effort and improving overall system performance. Working on these projects has provided me with deeper insights into both technical challenges and the importance of user-centric design in system management. Occasionally, I also provide hardware support, expanding my knowledge of physical components and understanding how hardware and software integrate in high-performance systems. 

Additionally, my involvement in Data Centre Support at the Advanced Computing Facility (ACF) has taught me a lot about physical security and its importance in protecting data. This has broadened my perspective on security, highlighting the importance of safeguarding infrastructure both digitally and physically. 

What excites me most about my internship at EPCC is the opportunity to work on innovative projects alongside experts in the field. I’m grateful for the chance to grow my technical skills and contribute to meaningful improvements within the organisation. I look forward to what the rest of my placement year holds. 

Richard West: Systems Specialist intern

My name is Richard West, and I am a third-year Software Engineering student at Edinburgh Napier University. My background includes data science and mathematics. In August 2024, I joined EPCC for a 12-month placement as an HPC systems specialist Intern. 

During my placement at the ACF, I have been involved in hands-on support for the team, performing system administration work for the on-site supercomputers. This experience has provided me with valuable insight into machine maintenance and has allowed me to observe how a team collaborates to address a wide range of challenges. As part of my responsibilities, I will update the site visitor management web application. Additionally, I will be learning about the core role of an HPC Systems Specialist and developing my technical and soft skills in a professional setting. 

I look forward to the rest of my placement and bettering my understanding of the systems by participating in project work. My role has fuelled my passion for high performance computing and its potential applications in scientific research. 

Raul da Costa: Graduate Apprentice

I started my Graduate Apprenticeship as an HPC Systems Specialist at the ACF in August 2024. The team here has been incredibly welcoming, and I've been enjoying my time so far. 

I'm currently in my third year studying Cybersecurity at Edinburgh Napier University, but I've had a passion for computers and hardware for as long as I can remember. I have been working with hardware for numerous years and hold a CompTIA A+ certification from 2021. 

During my time at EPCC, I've been learning all about managing the large, powerful computer clusters that power the facility. It's been fascinating to visualise how these supercomputers work and the important role they play in scientific research. My day-to-day tasks involve system administration, monitoring, and troubleshooting any issues that come up. I'm also getting the chance to work on some other special projects and infrastructure tasks that help me to understand how everything operates. 

Looking ahead, I'm excited about the opportunity to dive even deeper into the world of high performance computing, cluster management and automation. There's always more to learn, and I can't wait to take on new challenges to expand my skills. The team has been so supportive, and I feel lucky to be gaining this hands-on experience as part of my studies. 

Connor Finlay: Graduate Apprentice 

I’m currently pursuing a degree in Cyber Security. My academic interests span penetration testing, networking, programming, and operating systems, as I am deeply passionate about understanding and mitigating vulnerabilities in complex systems. This is an exceptional opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from my course. 

At EPCC I work on the EIDF infrastructure, where my responsibilities include supporting the managed edge that controls access to EIDF services, maintaining hardware for OpenStack, and supporting the GPU service. I also use Ansible extensively for automation and configuration management, which has been an excellent opportunity to strengthen my technical abilities in this area. In addition, I contribute to the Safe Haven Services by taking shifts, helping to ensure the infrastructure supporting sensitive data remains secure and operational. These experiences have allowed me to work with advanced technologies and gain invaluable exposure to real-world systems and processes. 

I am thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to expand my knowledge of Linux, a critical component in cybersecurity and infrastructure management, while also honing my skills with Ansible. Working with cutting-edge technology and innovative applications has been both challenging and rewarding, providing me with the chance to apply my academic knowledge in practical, impactful ways. 

During my time at EPCC, I hope to continue developing my technical expertise, especially in areas like automation and system security, while also building a deeper understanding of the infrastructure that supports high-performance computing. This experience is an incredible step forward in my career ambitions, and I am excited to contribute to meaningful projects and collaborate with experts in the field. 

Image below shows, left to right, Connor Finlay, Kunjal Sancheti, Raul da Costa and Richard West outside EPCC's Advanced Computing Facility.

EPCC interns and Graduate Apprentices outside the Advanced Computing Facility

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