College of DuPage student to tackle artificial intelligence, network interaction at Dept. of Energy internship

College of DuPage student Blerim Abdullai will gain crucial practical experience thanks to a U.S. Department of Energy internship at the prestigious Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington.

For 10 weeks this summer, Abdullai will work with artificial intelligence and develop a machine learning algorithm to give insight to the interactions of 4G and 5G networks.

Abdullai said the internship, which he will serve remotely due to the pandemic, will provide practical application for his knowledge and offer a look into potential career paths.

"I'm really interested in doing something with machine learning as a career," he said. "The internship also is going to be particularly valuable in applying the knowledge I've gained at COD in a professional setting."

A resident of Hinsdale, Abdullai is enrolled in COD's Engineering Pathways program, which provides guaranteed admission to the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Set to graduate COD this spring, he will attend UIUC in the fall, where he plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering.

COD Physics Professor Tom Carter, who encouraged Abdullai to apply for the internships, said practical experiences in professional settings provide students far-reaching benefits.

"Internships like this one provide vital hands-on experiences to students and enable them to put into practice what they've learned," he said. "The knowledge and skills students gain give them an upper hand as they continue their education and provide useful insight when it comes time to choose a career or an industry to work in."

Abdullai said that while he has always had an interest in electronics, it was his experiences at COD, especially those with the Engineering and Technology Club and the COD Robotics Team, which ignited his passion for engineering.

"Being part of the club and robotics team required a lot of research and learning new things," he said. "That was when my passion for engineering really took off. At a bigger university, there are dozens of juniors or seniors who are going to get their turn before younger students. At COD, I was able to pick projects that interested me and the club helped locate resources to make it happen. The experiences I gained talking and networking with professors, teachers and area professionals also helped to prepare me for the application process and interviewing for the internship."

Abdullai added that COD has put him in exactly the position he wants to be as he continues his education.

"I've gained a lot of practical and technical experience at COD and I'm ready to apply those skills," he said. "Along with the knowledge I've gained in my classes, I feel really well-prepared to enter UIUC."

Learn more about the Engineering program at College of DuPage at www.cod.edu/academics/programs/.