Life in DeepMind
Meet Sylvia Christie, our Education Partnerships Manager, who has played a leading role in expanding our scholarship program, which has just celebrated its fifth anniversary.
What was your path to DeepMind?
Before DeepMind, I worked for a social purpose startup that increased access to mental health care. Then I got a job at a university next to academics and students. At that point, I realized I was looking for a “Goldilocks” role that combined what I loved about these different environments – the speed and excitement of a tech startup, impact-focused goals, and the allure of working with brilliant researchers. It seemed impossible to combine all these things. Then enter stage left: DeepMind.
During the interview, I was surprised by how much the interviewers wanted to get to know me and how I connected with the culture that DeepMind was building. People from all different backgrounds, disciplines, and approaches find their way to DeepMind, and having such an open discussion about the environment I would be joining as a new employee made me feel right at home.
What drew you to the training team?
I believe in ensuring that people from all walks of life, and especially those from underrepresented communities and backgrounds, can contribute to the development of AI. I’ve had the opportunity to work on some really special projects at DeepMind, but the fellowship program is – by far – the most rewarding program I’ve ever been a part of. Each academic year, we see the new crop of talented AI scholars become part of an international community of students and advisors. It’s an incredibly special time – and I can’t wait to see what everyone achieves in the future!
Photo: Maximilian Kindersley
How would you describe the scholarship program in one sentence?
The DeepMind Scholarship Program aims to remove barriers for students from underrepresented backgrounds who want to pursue postgraduate studies in artificial intelligence (AI) and related fields.
What is a typical day like for you? And your team?
My days are always a mix. I like to have some focus time each day to push project-based work or planning, but the rest of the time can be filled with meetings, team meetings, or speaking to students and our partners at universities around the world. It is extremely varied and never boring.
We are a relatively new team, so we had the opportunity to build our team culture from scratch. Personally, I find the Co-op team to be thoughtful, respectful, and fun! We’ve grown a lot too. Over the past year, we’ve welcomed team members to help launch six new partnerships and expand our training programs.
What is the biggest challenge your team faces?
Finding the right ways for DeepMind to make a positive impact is the most important challenge. We need to make sure our work leads to real change in the wider community and for AI education in general. It’s a good challenge because it’s also an opportunity.
How did you celebrate five years?
We held a Research Summit. It is a virtual celebration of the program and its amazing mentors, students and alumni. It was a great week with fantastic panel discussions with DeepMinders and industry and academic speakers.
We also started our own AI By You Film Series, where some of our scholars shared their insights and insights on what AI means to them. The series also includes the short film below as a new way to talk to the public about the scholarship program in a creative way. I am so proud of the participating scholars and the amazing work of our team. Watch all six films at deepmind.com/scholarships.
What are your biggest takeaways now that the scholarship program is five years old?
How important collaboration is. The Fellowships program would not be possible without our amazing university partners around the world, as well as contributions from people across DeepMind – including those who started the program in 2017 and the mentors who volunteer each year. And of course the hard work of the scholars themselves.
To date, we have had over 335 scholars take part in our program. This academic year, we will welcome up to 115 new scholars across 26 academic institutions in 13 countries, so it’s really exciting to see the program grow each year.
Any advice for students interested in applying for a DeepMind scholarship? Or a role at DeepMind?
Future scholars – keep checking back our website! The scholarship application process and deadlines vary from university to university, so our website is the best place to stay informed.
For those looking for a role at DeepMind – don’t count yourself out. I often hear from people who say it feels scary. Impostor syndrome is real, and it still is for me, to this day. But if you are interested in the mission and passionate about your work, go for it!