From biotechnology to business technology:

For Master of Biotechnology student Shanaiah Fernando, a SCOUT internship with NTT DATA Australia provided an opportunity to gain industry experience and apply her academic knowledge to real-world business and technology challenges. As part of a multidisciplinary team, Shanaiah worked on a project in simulated healthcare environment helping develop solutions to modernise rural healthcare infrastructure through network upgrades, crisis communication planning and cybersecurity deployments.

"I was drawn to the SCOUT program because of the opportunity to bridge academic science and technical systems with real-world business challenges," Shanaiah said. "It provided a unique platform to step out of pure theory and apply multidisciplinary problem-solving to critical digital infrastructure."

One of the most valuable lessons Shanaiah took from the experience was learning to embrace uncertainty and trust her ability to learn.

"It was gaining an understanding that you are always continuing to learn in industry; that you don't need to feel like you know everything about a role to perform well," she said. "You just need to have an open mind and be ready to learn and apply new things as you go. And there's always support around you!"

The internship also highlighted the value of working in a diverse team environment.

"The diversity of perspectives within the team was invaluable," Shanaiah said. "Because we came from varied academic backgrounds, we were able to approach complex problems from multiple angles to combine data, systems, and strategic thinking into real solutions."

Reflecting on the project, she said collaboration was key to success.

"That teamwork really does make the dream work," she said. "I learned that successful project delivery relies on transparent communication, clear delegation, and shared alignment."

The experience has already influenced Shanaiah's next career step. Following her studies, she will commence a graduate role as a Sales Strategy and Operations Graduate at NTT DATA.

"This internship heavily influenced that direction by giving me an appreciation for the business of technology, consulting, and how strategic operations tie technical solutions together," she said.

Looking back, Shanaiah strongly encourages other students to take part in the SCOUT program.

"Do it!" she said. "I had no cyber security or network engineering background and felt like a complete fish out of water walking into the first day. But it was an incredible bridge into industry. Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone, lean into the teamwork, and make the most of the support available because the practical experience you gain is unmatched."