Languages and language technology led a student to CSC
Mitja Sainio, a master’s student in language technology at the University of Helsinki, found his field of study after a few twists and turns. Having started as a summer trainee at CSC in 2024, Mitja has continued working at the company alongside his studies. What he particularly appreciate at CSC is the ability to influence the direction and content of his work.
Mitja first experimented with programming in middle school, but at the time, he didn’t have practical applications for what he was learning. In high school, his interest shifted toward languages, leading him to apply for linguistics studies. At university, he heard about language technology from his tutors and decided to take an introductory course. That’s when things started to fall into place – his interest in languages and programming merged into a single academic path. His enthusiasm grew as he realized how much could be achieved through programming.
A fascination with technical tools and the supercomputers used in a machine translation course inspired him to apply for a summer job at CSC.
“I especially enjoyed learning to use the Puhti supercomputer, which gave me the extra push to apply to CSC,” Mitja recalls.
A summer internship led to a thesis and a job
In the spring of 2024, Mitja joined CSC as a fixed-term summer intern in the Science Support team, which assists researchers in utilizing supercomputers. Over the summer, he worked on updating user documentation and helping to organize training sessions.
The internship not only led to continued employment but also provided an opportunity to write a thesis in collaboration with CSC. Now, Mitja is working on his thesis alongside his job, enjoying the flexibility to manage his own tasks and schedule.
During the summer, Mitja also participated in CSC’s Summer Xperience program for trainees.
“The program was diverse and a great way to get to know other trainees. Without it, my professional network would be much smaller,” he says.
Working at CSC has further strengthened Mitja’s interest in developing tools and methodologies, particularly in projects related to neural networks and machine learning.
“I’ve had the opportunity to develop my skills and learn more about high-performance computing. The opportunities for this type of work are unique at CSC.”
I’ve had the opportunity to develop my skills and learn more about high-performance computing. The opportunities for this type of work are unique at CSC.
Mitja Sainio, CSC
The societal impact of work matters
What Mitja finds particularly appealing about CSC is its societal impact.
“As a non-profit company, CSC works on projects that genuinely benefit science and society,” he summarizes.
Additionally, the supportive work community and the way the organization operates in a “CSC-like” manner have left a lasting impression.
Mitja sees CSC as a workplace where employees can influence the direction and content of their work.
“At CSC, I can program, write, and train – all in the same week. Here, you can achieve your goals in the way you see best.”