Meet our summer interns!

We want to present this year’s summer interns! We had the privilege of welcoming Trym Kyvåg, Syver Haraldsen, and Guro Bakke Johnsen to our offices in Oslo. During their weeks at Tunable, they have contributed with unique perspectives and innovative problem-solving skills. In the following interviews, we delve into their experiences and get an insight into the life of a Tunable summer intern. We hope you enjoy!

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Trym Kyvåg, Computer Science & Mathematics

Trym studies at Merrimack College in Massachusetts where he currently pursues a Bachelor of Science in computer science, as well as a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. He is starting his third year of both bachelor’s degrees this fall. He is also a student athlete and plays for Merrimack’s soccer team.

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What have you been working on at Tunable this summer?

I have been engaged in a variety of tasks at Tunable this summer. These tasks have consisted of areas such as writing automated code tests for continuous integration, addressing bug fixes, and visualizing data generated by machine learning models to identify and mitigate potential biases.

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What has been the most exciting about the projects you have worked on?

The most exciting part was setting up an easy-to-use notebook for plotting various tests and visualizations without the need to know a ton of Python or SQL for the user. But also allowing people that are more advanced in these fields to be able to make even more diverse plots. It was exciting because it forced me to make the code and plots versatile enough to handle a wide range of inputs for different comparisons.

What does a typical day as a summer intern at Tunable look like?

A typical day as a summer intern at Tunable starts around 7:30 am. After grabbing my coffee, I dive into the project I am currently working on. Then at 11:30 we have been fortunate to enjoy our lunches outdoors for the past month. The day concludes around 3:30 pm, allowing me to wrap up any pending tasks before heading out for football practice.

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Why did you want to work at Tunable this summer?

After experiencing the fast-paced environment and working with incredibly smart and nice people at Tunable last year, I knew I had to do whatever it took to come back. From the fascinating technology they're developing to the great work atmosphere, it was impossible for me to resist.

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What have you learned during your summer at Tunable?

This summer, I have gained plenty of knowledge! One of the most crucial skills I have developed is the ability to write scalable and efficient code while maintaining cleanliness. Additionally, I have gained valuable insights into the collaborative nature of different departments within a company like Tunable.

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What did you enjoy the most about your internship at Tunable? And what was the least enjoyable?

The best part for me was having the trust and freedom to create and modify code that's used every day. It made me feel accomplished and like I was really contributing. Before this internship, I wasn't sure about my career direction, but this experience confirmed I'm on the right track, and I've loved every single day of it. As for the least enjoyable part, well, I can only think of missing out on the nice weather while working inside.

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Would you recommend other students to apply for a summer internship?

Absolutely! I would 100% recommend other students to apply for a summer internship at Tunable. It's a fantastic opportunity for learning and making meaningful contributions and connections with amazing people.

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Syver Haraldsen, Electronic Systems Design

Syver has just completed a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering and is excited to start his master’s degree in electronic systems design this fall at NTNU in Trondheim. In addition to his academic pursuits, he keeps himself busy working for NTNU, as well as developing small-scale electronic projects. 

What have you been working on at Tunable this summer?

This summer, my job has been focused on an ongoing project to produce a soldering-jig for our sensors. My job has been programming RTOS-software with C, producing a prototype circuit board, and designing an enclosure for the electronics.

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What has been the most exciting about the projects you have worked on?

One of the most exciting parts has been the variety of tasks. I have learnt a lot about both software and hardware.

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Why did you want to work at Tunable this summer?

Tunable held a lecture in one of my classes at school last semester. They explained how some of their sensors work and gave a demonstration on how their system operates. I found this impressive and wanted to be a part of their team.

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What have you learned during your summer at Tunable?

I have learnt a lot this summer. The introduction of RTOS has been a game-changer for me. I have also learnt a lot about work that is not traditionally something you learn as an electrical engineer, like 3D-modelling with software like Fusion360.

What did you enjoy the most about your internship at Tunable? And what was the least enjoyable?

There were a lot of enjoyable moments at my internship with Tunable. The entire office has such a great atmosphere. I enjoyed the responsibility and trust there is in being allowed to work directly on a piece of hardware that is supposed to be used in production. The least enjoyable part is that I must leave so many great co-workers.

Would you recommend other students to apply for a summer internship?

I would advise everyone to apply for a summer internship with Tunable. It is a great workplace with challenging tasks and an amazing atmosphere.

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Guro Bakke Johnsen, Industrial Economics and Technology Management

Guro has completed four years of her Master of Science in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU in Trondheim and is excited to start her final year this fall. She will write her thesis on Strategy and International Business Development. During her free time, she enjoys running competitively for Strindheim IL, a local athletics club.

What have you been working on at Tunable this summer?

I have mostly been working with the sales and marketing team where I have conducted an analysis of a market that could potentially be of interest to Tunable, created marketing material and worked on the layout of the new website. I have been developing a sustainability strategy for the company and been working with the CFO on EU taxonomy reporting.

What has been the most exciting about the projects you have worked on?

It has been very exciting to create marketing material for a technology that has the potential to disrupt several industries. Because the products Tunable make enables innovative and novel solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time, you really feel like you are part of something bigger, creating real change.

Why did you want to work at Tunable this summer?

I have actually worked at Tunable during the summers after my first and second years of university as well! After choosing Strategy and International Business Development as the specialization for my Masters, I was very grateful to get the opportunity to come work at Tunable again and apply the theory I have learnt in practice. For each additional year at university, I have developed new skills that I have been able to apply and develop further during my summers at Tunable, which makes it so enjoyable to come back.

What have you learned during your summer at Tunable?

Strategy and marketing can sometimes feel a bit abstract and wishy-washy when you only read about it in school. When solving cases in university assignments, you are often only creating an outline for how you would approach the problem or a proposed framework to use. Whilst working at Tunable I have experienced how these plans are actually put into action and learned a lot about the practicalities and uncertainties that one must take into account when trying to develop a prosperous strategy. It can be harder than you think! When you are working for a smaller company, you are given a lot of responsibility from the very beginning and I have for example learnt about how to carry out an EU taxonomy assessment, something that we have not been taught about in any of the university courses I have attended. It has been very interesting to learn about the topic and I am convinced that these skills will come in handy later.

Is there anything you have been surprised by when working here? Positively and negatively?

When you think about companies operating in the B2B market, and in the field of gas analysis, you would probably picture a pretty bland firm that does not really look that cool to work for, but this is not the case for Tunable at all. When talking to the head of marketing about their vision for their products and their brand, I was surprised by how much effort they put into the design of their products. When making a box for the gas analyser, I just assumed that you would make one that fits the stuff that has to go inside and that is it. But there is so much more thought that goes into the process. I think it is very cool to see a company that operates within an industry like shipping making such a big effort to stand out amongst competitors by offering great design that is both functional and innovative.

Would you recommend other students to apply for a summer internship?

Yes, definitely! I have gained a lot of practical experience during my years working as an intern at Tunable and have learned a lot of skills that is hard to gain only through academic courses, so if you are looking for an internship where you are challenged and given a lot of responsibility I would definitely not hesitate to apply!

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