Dr Jiaxin Fan1, Mr Glen Charlton1, Dr Long Le1, Dr Yueyang Liu1, Ms Echo Zhou1, Dr Ghulam Murtaza1, Dr Anastasios Papaioannou2
1Intersect Australia, Sydney, Australia, 2University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Biography:
Jiaxin holds a PhD in Computational Materials Science from UNSW Sydney. He is currently working as a Research Data Scientist at Intersect Australia. He has over seven years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, scientific modelling, and digital skills training. He specialises in developing and deploying data solutions across diverse infrastructures, including high-performance computing and cloud platforms.
Abstract:
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integral to research across disciplines, yet many researchers face challenges in acquiring practical AI and machine learning (ML) skills due to time constraints and technical complexity. To address this gap, Intersect Advanced Analytics and AI (3AI) Platform has developed a series of AI Training Bootcamps tailored to researchers seeking to integrate AI methodologies into their work.
Actions
Designed by 3AI’s Research Data Scientists, the Bootcamps independently cover four key AI domains (Generative AI and Large Language Models, Computer Vision, Machine Learning Operations and Reinforcement Learning). Each bootcamp contains five training days, with a flexible schedule distributed over an extended period to enable participants to balance learning with ongoing research commitments. The curriculum combines foundational theory, hands-on exercises, and project-based learning.
Results
The outcome from the initial pilot at Intersect’s partner organisation has been exceptional. Participant engagement was strong, with an average attendance rate exceeding 95%, reflecting sustained interest and commitment throughout the program. The post-bootcamp survey returned a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 60, with many participants praising the pedagogy, the depth, and relevance of the content.
Conclusion
This modular and research-focused bootcamp model presents an effective strategy to AI upskilling, which empowers researchers to incorporate AI methodologies in their respective domains. Future iterations will involve refining and developing new content, and expanding delivery across Intersect’s member organisations. With several bootcamps currently ongoing, we will present a more comprehensive report of the outcome at the conference.