Pictured is Katrina Shonka at a sky deck while in Singapore.
For my first cooperative education experience through Northeastern University, I had the privilege of completing a four-month internship at Cambridge CARES in Singapore. This opportunity was made even more meaningful through the generous support of the Presidential Global Scholarship, which provided additional funding. During the internship, I contributed to the development of an Android app for The World Avatar project that will leverage sensor data to investigate the impact of environmental and health factors on individual well-being. This internship allowed me to immerse myself in a project that aligned my technical skills with my interest in research-driven solutions.
My work centered on enhancing the app’s design and functionality. I focused on optimizing its sensor recording services, ensuring efficient data collection and storage. I also developed features to classify user activities—such as walking, cycling, and driving—to later be integrated with advanced map-matching techniques for accurate trajectory visualization. Along the way, I collaborated with my team to update the underlying knowledge graph ontology, enabling the app to manage the new types of trajectory data efficiently.
This experience challenged me to tackle complex technical issues and expand my understanding of mobile app development. I learned to implement robust background services, refine state management for sensor toggling, and adapt the app’s architecture to align with evolving server-side requirements.
I am very grateful to everyone I met and worked with at CARES. Their support and guidance greatly enriched my learning experience. I enjoyed trying new food places around the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus and the different office cultural events and activities made my time in Singapore even more fun. A special thanks to Sandra Deng, whom I worked under during my time at CARES, for her guidance and help in navigating the complexities of the project.
This internship allowed me to further my technical knowledge and develop skills as a young professional. It deepened my appreciation for the intersection of technology and research. The skills and experiences I gained during this time have prepared me to tackle interdisciplinary challenges and reinforced my commitment to pursuing impactful, innovation-driven work in the future.
Katrina Shonka, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Sociology at Northeastern University.
CARES occasionally hosts internships for The World Avatar project. Please visit our internship page to check for any current opportunities.
