Welcoming Zac Bhumgara: The Newest Addition to Our AST Team

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) continues to thrive by fostering talent and providing opportunities for budding professionals.

In this past month, we have had the pleasure of welcoming Zac Bhumgara, a Computer Science student from York University to our team. Zac has seamlessly integrated into the AST team working closely with Jonathan Siddle, Software Lead of Emerging Technology, on AST’s lab of the future product ‘Deft’ and observing the progress and development of other surrounding projects.

Zac Bhumgara, Intern at AST (Left) and Jonathan Siddle, Software Lead of Emerging Technology at AST (Right)

Jonathan Siddle expressed his excitement about Zac joining the AST team, "I am excited to work with Zac over the next year. As a talented second-year computer science student, Zac's presence on our team promises mutual benefits. Zac brings a fresh perspective and the latest academic insights to our team, which can invigorate our projects and spark new ideas. In return, Zac gains hands-on experience in the real-world application of his skills, enhancing his practical knowledge and preparing him for a successful career. This partnership exemplifies the value of teamwork in our field, showcasing how each member contributes to collective growth and achievement."

Zac Bhumgara, Intern at AST explains why he decided to focus his degree on Computer Science, “I chose to study Computer Science because I've always been interested in software development from Year 7 onwards when my Information Technologies teacher introduced me to the concept of being able to craft almost anything in a digital landscape, my imagination and skills being the limit. Following that introduction into the art of software programming and coding, I continued in my studies throughout secondary school. During secondary school I went on to become a "Digital Leader" as part of a scheme introduced to encourage technological development and further integration to the school. The first project we worked on was the Bring Your Own Device to school (BYOD) scheme in which we trained teachers and student on how to use portable devices in a school environment, educating teachers on how to use blended learning techniques in the classroom.”

“I later went on to take part in the school HAB project where I assisted in building a casing to house a camera, location tracker and raspberry pi computer; the casing would have to be able to withstand the impact of falling from the lower levels of space whilst keeping technical components contained and unbroken.
After this I continued my studies in Computer Science in both my GCSE's and A-Level's whilst practicing my programming skills at home. During this time, I gained an appreciation for programming and coding and decided that this was the area I loved the most about Computer Science, the software. After my A-Level's I started at the University of York.”

During Zac’s second stage at York University, employers such as ourselves were able to speak with prospective placement students which is where we approached Zac.

During Zac’s placement with us as a Placement Software Engineer, he hopes to achieve further skills in developing software to a high industry standard and gain an improved understanding of how the Technology and Information, Manufacturing and Robotics industries work. He also aims to develop professional connections and gain a basic understanding of day-to-day activities in a robotics, manufacturing and digitalisation company.

"Starting at Applied Integration has been made easy by the supportive team and environment. No matter how many problems I encounter, I know that the team here will always be available to assist in finding the solution.”

We are thrilled to have Zac Bhumgara as part of the Applied Integration and Applied Scientific Technologies family and we’re excited to see his continued growth and contributions to our ‘Deft’ project. His story reminds us of the importance of mentorship, collaboration and embracing fresh perspectives to drive innovation forward.