Where curiosity meets responsible AI research

When Akif Emre Sula joined the RC Trust Internship Program, he was driven by a strong interest in trustworthy AI and a desire to deepen his research skills in a real-world, interdisciplinary setting. As a final-year Bachelor’s student in Computer Engineering at Sakarya University in Turkey, he saw the program as an opportunity to explore how theoretical AI concepts translate into applied, socially relevant research.

During his stay, Akif worked on Large Language Models (LLMs), focusing in particular on Chain-of-Thought prompting, bias, reasoning consistency, and transparency in model outputs. His research combined technical depth with a clear application context, especially in sustainability- and education-related AI surveys. By analyzing and visualizing large-scale model outputs, he gained hands-on experience in systematically evaluating how different AI systems reason and respond.

What stood out to Akif was the collaborative research culture at RC Trust. Embedded in an international team, he took part in academic discussions with professors, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students, contributing his own perspectives while learning from others. The interdisciplinary environment encouraged him to think beyond disciplinary boundaries and to approach AI research with both technical rigor and societal responsibility in mind.

“The internship exceeded my expectations,” Akif reflects. “I was able to actively contribute to research, sharpen my analytical skills, and develop a much clearer academic perspective on prompt engineering and trustworthy AI.”

Beyond the academic experience, the internship played an important role in shaping his future direction. Today, alongside his studies, Akif works as a part-time .NET Developer at Ford Otosan, contributing to sustainability-focused digital solutions such as ESG reporting and carbon footprint tracking. The combination of academic research and applied industry work has further strengthened his interest in data-driven and responsible AI systems - an interest that continues to guide his academic and professional path.

Looking back, Akif describes his time at RC Trust as both intellectually demanding and personally motivating. The supportive supervision, structured yet open research environment, and international exchange left a lasting impression. He hopes to return in the future to continue building on the research foundations laid during his internship.

For students considering the RC Trust Internship Program, Akif’s experience highlights what the program offers: the chance to grow as a researcher, to work on meaningful AI questions, and to develop within a welcoming, high-level academic environment.

Interested in the RC Trust Internship Program?
Learn more and apply on here!