StFX Students Use $9,250 Research Internships to Study AI, Sports and Medical Machine Learning
Three St. Francis Xavier University Computer Science students have completed summer research projects after each receiving a $9,250 Alley Heaps Undergraduate Research Internship, investigating questions involving AI-generated code, hockey analytics and machine learning in medical research.
Avery Doiron, Neel Gopaul and Keshav Lakhan participated in the programme under the guidance of StFX faculty mentors.
The internships are supported through the Dr. H. Stanley and Doreen Alley Heaps Chair and are intended to give undergraduate Computer Science students direct experience with independent research.
Each Student Received $9,250
| Research Award | Alley Heaps Undergraduate Research Internship |
| Value | $9,250 per student |
| Students Featured | 3 |
| Field | Computer Science |
Why Undergraduate Research Matters
Research gives students a different experience from normal coursework.
In a class, the instructor normally knows the answer.
In research, the student may be working on a question where the outcome is unknown.
One Project Examines AI-Generated Code
One student explored whether experienced programmers can reliably identify code produced by artificial intelligence.
This question has become increasingly relevant as generative AI tools can produce functioning software within seconds.
AI Coding Raises New Questions
Developers and educators need to understand:
- Code quality
- Security
- Maintainability
- Originality
- Human oversight
Knowing Whether Code Is AI-Generated May Matter
Organizations may want to know whether software was:
- Written manually
- AI-assisted
- Generated almost entirely by a model
This can affect review, accountability and education.
Another Project Looks at Hockey Analytics
One student examined whether confidence expressed after hockey games corresponds with how well a team actually played.
This connects language or sentiment analysis with sports performance data.
Sports Analytics Is Growing Rapidly
Modern teams use data to evaluate:
- Performance
- Possession
- Player movement
- Strategy
- Injury risk
Language Can Become Another Data Source
Interviews and post-game commentary can be analyzed computationally.
The challenge is determining whether language contains reliable information or simply reflects emotion and media narratives.
Medical Machine Learning Is Another Research Area
The third project explores machine learning in medical research.
AI can potentially support:
- Pattern detection
- Medical imaging
- Risk prediction
- Research analysis
Health AI Requires Extra Caution
A model used in medicine can affect human health.
Researchers therefore need to consider:
- Bias
- Accuracy
- Data privacy
- Clinical validation
Undergraduates Learn How Research Actually Works
Research rarely follows a perfect plan.
Students need to learn how to:
- Form a question
- Review literature
- Collect data
- Change methods
- Interpret results
Faculty Mentorship Is Central
The internships allow students to conduct independent work while still receiving guidance from experienced researchers.
This can help students develop confidence without working entirely alone.
Paid Research Makes Participation More Accessible
A $9,250 award allows students to devote substantial time to research during the summer.
Without funding, some students may need unrelated employment instead.
Research Internships Can Influence Graduate Study
Students considering master's or doctoral programmes can use undergraduate research to determine whether they enjoy:
- Open-ended problems
- Academic writing
- Experimentation
- Independent work
Research Also Helps Industry Careers
Even students who do not pursue graduate school develop useful skills.
These include:
- Data analysis
- Programming
- Problem solving
- Presentation
- Technical communication
AI Research Is Particularly Relevant in 2026
Generative AI is changing both software development and academic research.
Students entering the technology workforce need to understand not only how to use AI but also how to evaluate it critically.
StFX Offers Multiple Undergraduate Research Awards
The university supports other summer research opportunities in addition to Alley Heaps.
This helps students across disciplines engage in original research.
Final Takeaway
StFX Computer Science students Avery Doiron, Neel Gopaul and Keshav Lakhan each received a $9,250 Alley Heaps Undergraduate Research Internship to investigate AI-generated code, sports analytics and medical machine learning.
The projects show how undergraduate research can move students beyond classroom assignments into open-ended questions with real scientific and industry relevance.
The funding also demonstrates the role paid research programmes can play in making high-level academic experience accessible before graduate school.