Meet Emilia
– AI Intern at Qamcom Gothenburg
Name: Emilia Österlund
Age: 23
Role: Summer intern
Education: Biomedical Engineering, Lund University
Family: Mom, dad and younger brother
Lives in: Lund
Interests: Skiing, running and most outdoor activities
Exploring AI, creating real impact.
For this summer’s Women of Qamcom spotlight, we meet Emilia, summer intern at Qamcom’s Gothenburg office, student of biomedical engineering, and outdoor enthusiast. With a keen interest in AI and signal processing, Emilia joined the team to dive into real-world applications of technology. What she found was a workplace full of expertise, curiosity, and collaboration.
Emilia studies biomedical engineering at Lund University, and while her background leans medical, she’s drawn to the broader possibilities of technology – especially when it solves real human problems. For her, that means looking for intersections between data, AI and health.
“I love being given a problem and figuring out how to solve it with the right tech”, she says. “That’s something I’d love to keep doing.”
Growing up in Borås and now based in Lund, Emilia describes herself as outdoorsy. In winter she’s on skis, both downhill and cross-country. In summer, she’s running, biking or hiking – preferably somewhere quiet, green and hilly.
Discovering Qamcom.
“I was curious about consulting and wanted to understand how a company like Qamcom works across so many areas, not just MedTech. I liked the idea of applying my skills in a new context and seeing how things work in practice.”
Understanding both technology and organization.
At Qamcom, Emilia joined a project team working on an AI interviewer based on large language models (LLMs), a tool designed to help the organization collect better and more consistent data through automated conversations. Her task? Adapting the tool for internal audits.
“The project is a mix of understanding the organization and the technology, and figuring out how to make the tool useful in a specific context”, she explains. “That combination has been a lot of fun, and it’s the kind of challenge I really enjoy.”
She worked closely with Matthew Walker, the developer of the LLM interviewer, and Bengt Arne Nyman, who focuses on internal audits. The collaboration gave her insight into both the technical foundations and the practical use cases of the tool.
Hands-on technology, real impact.
“At first, I wasn’t sure how my background in biomedical engineering would fit in”, she admits. “But I quickly realized that a lot of the technology overlaps, and that my way of thinking brought something valuable. That was a big confidence boost.”
Being in an environment where expertise runs deep was equally motivating.
“Just being at the office and hearing what people are working on has been inspiring. Everyone’s so skilled, and still so open and helpful. I’ve learned a lot just by listening.”
Three takeaways from a summer at Qamcom.
Looking back, Emilia highlights three things that made her internship meaningful:
- Working on a real project and applying her knowledge outside the classroom
- Meeting passionate people who openly share their expertise
- Getting a clearer view of where she wants to go next
She also leaves with something less tangible, a renewed sense of direction.
“I’ve always wanted to work with tech that helps people, probably in healthcare, but now I see more possibilities. This experience has made me more curious, and more confident.”
The power and responsibility of AI.
Like many, Emilia sees AI as one of the most powerful forces shaping the future – but she’s careful to highlight the need for thoughtful use.
“If we use AI responsibly, with a good understanding of both the tech and its impact, it can do a lot of good. In healthcare, for example, it can make care safer and more efficient. But we also have to be aware of the risks and not forget the human side. AI should support people, not replace what makes us human.”
She sees this balance – between innovation and responsibility – as key to the kind of work she wants to do in the future.
Advice to girls who are curious about tech.
When asked what she would say to other young women considering a career in engineering or tech, Emilia doesn’t hesitate.
“You don’t have to be the best before you start. You just have to be curious and willing to try.”
She remembers thinking that only boys who had been coding since they were kids would succeed in tech.
“For a long time, I have believed that you have to be the best at something before you could ever dare to try it. Before I started university, I thought that only guys who had been programming since they were kids could succeed as engineers and get all the good jobs, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Everyone is a beginner at some point, and it’s impossible to be good at something before you have even tried it.”
Emilia’s biggest piece of advice?
“Dare to try! Curiosity can take you a long way.”
“Before I gave it a chance, I thought working with technology was hard and not something for me. But when I got the chance to try out engineering through Tekniksprånget, it completely changed my perspective. I discovered that working with technology was creative, social, and a lot of fun.”
Emilia also mentions that there are plenty of ways to explore what it’s like to study or work as an engineer. Initiatives like Tekniksprånget offer the chance to try out engineering roles over a few months, while programs such as IGEday open the doors to engineering for a day – specifically aimed at encouraging girls to discover the field.
“Many universities also run events and projects designed to make engineering more accessible and hands-on for young people.”
What’s next?
Because, as she’s already learned, you don’t have to have all the answers – you just have to be curious enough to start.