Chirag Modi named inaugural innovation intern at OpticIQ Lab
Chirag Modi, a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning student at the University of Adelaide, has been appointed as the inaugural innovation intern at OpticIQ Lab, operated by Optic Security Group.
The 140-hour internship, which will take place over the coming months, is part of the University of Adelaide's Professions Internship Program and will see Modi work under the supervision of CCTV specialist Vlado Damjanovski. The position is intended to bridge academic learning with real-world experience in developing capabilities in emerging security technologies.
Nicholas Dynon, Group Brand Strategy & Innovation Director at Optic Security Group, said the new internship underscores the evolving role of the OpticIQ Lab as a centre for testing and developing technologies in the security sector.
"The internship, coordinated under the University of Adelaide's Professions Internship Program, reflects the OpticIQ Lab's evolving status as a centre of excellence in the testing and development of emerging security technologies," said Group Brand Strategy & Innovation Director Nicholas Dynon.
The OpticIQ Lab, based in Adelaide, specialises in the research, development, and deployment of advanced analytic and artificial intelligence-enabled security technologies. The lab functions as a sovereign capability for technology testing and training within the Australasian context.
Chirag Modi, who previously completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the University of Leicester, brings a background in computer vision, deep learning, and generative AI to the internship. His academic and technical foundation supports the lab's activities focused on responsible artificial intelligence and technology risk.
Dynon further commented on the significance of this collaboration between academia and the professional sector.
"As a resource pioneering practitioner-driven innovation in the testing and development of emerging security technologies, the OpticIQ Lab is a unique initiative in the context of Australasia," said Nicholas. "This new internship arrangement brings practitioner and academic perspectives together within the Lab's experimental environment, and we're excited to see where this goes."
The University of Adelaide's Professions Internship Program enables students to complete internships with Australian businesses, not-for-profit organisations, or government departments. The aim is to give students the chance to apply skills from their studies in practical business environments. In Modi's case, this internship provides access to established expertise in security technology, as well as practical exposure to AI-enabled solutions outside the academic setting.
Damjanovski, who will supervise Modi, is recognised for his work in CCTV and security systems, allowing the internship to draw on significant technical experience in the field. OpticIQ, as a division of Optic Security Group, conducts research and advising activities related to advanced security technologies and responsible artificial intelligence, with a view to addressing technology risk.
The arrangement continues efforts by both the University of Adelaide and Optic Security Group to develop talent pipelines suited to new challenges in security and analytics. By blending theory from university curricula and practical skills from the commercial sector, the internship is expected to contribute to the lab's research and training initiatives.
