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our Mentors
Welcome to the heart of the DDSA Mentoring Programme – our dedicated mentors. As we prepare for the third edition of our programme, we invite you to meet the inspiring individuals guiding our mentees on their data science journeys. Our mentors come from diverse backgrounds, including students, data scientists, professors, and professionals, all united by their passion for fostering growth within Denmark’s data science community.
To make the most of our mentor profiles, use the search field to find specific skills such as ‘NLP’, ‘life science’, ‘teamwork’, and more. This feature allows you to connect with mentors who have the expertise you’re interested in, making it easier to navigate through our rich spectrum of knowledge and experience. Explore, learn, and connect with the future leaders of data science through the DDSA Mentoring Programme.
Abdelhakim Amer
Background
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at Aarhus University’s Artificial Intelligence in Robotics Lab (AiRLab). I obtained my PhD in Robotics and AI from Aarhus University. My work focuses on data-driven control of aerial vehicles, with broader expertise in optimal control, path planning, machine learning, trajectory tracking, and autonomous robotic systems.
Motivation
I would like to join the Mentoring Programme to support students and early-career researchers interested in robotics, AI, control, and research careers. Having benefited from mentors during my own academic journey, I want to share practical guidance on research development, publishing, collaboration with industry, and building confidence in an international academic environment.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data modelling
- Complex systems
- Machine learning
Abdelhakim Amer
PostDoc
Background I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at Aarhus University’s Artificial...
Agita Solzemniece
Background
Over the past years, I have developed expertise in machine learning and AI, combining industry experience with academic research. I began my career in data analytics and gradually transitioned into machine learning-focused roles, while working in startup teams as well as contributing to a variety of projects during my time in consulting. My professional interest has mainly been focused on healthcare-related projects, which ultimately led me to pursue my PhD. Now, in my current research project, I focus on applying recent technologies to improve healthcare resource planning and optimization.
Motivation
Having been a mentee in a previous DDSA mentoring program myself, I know how valuable the right support can be – my mentor was a great help in navigating my career transition at the time. Now, I simply want to give back to the community and hopefully be that person for someone going through something similar. I believe I have valuable experience to share with others facing a new professional challenge – whether that’s starting a career in Denmark, finding the right team, or shifting toward academia. I would be happy to share any tips and support for those who seek it!
Skills, expertise and interests
- Artificial Intelligence
- Statistics and mathematics
- Machine learning
Agita Solzemniece
PhD Candidate
Background Over the past years, I have developed expertise in...
Ajuna Azad
Background
After a decade in research spanning a PhD, postdoc, and bioinformatics roles in health and medical science data, I moved into data strategy at DTU Bioengineering, where I now lead data architecture, FAIR data implementation, storage and compute infrastructure, and GDPR governance. Alongside this, I serve as Programme Lead for Data Science Resources at DDSA, working across Danish universities on data infrastructure, compute access, and conditions that make good data science possible. I also teach data management, research communication, intro courses in data analysis, cloud computing and AI.
Motivation
The move from research to data strategy was one I navigated largely on my own, and it stays with me because I know how much it helps to have someone in your corner who has been through something similar. I have built experience across bioinformatics, data analysis, data organisation, governance, AI, and cloud computing, and I want to bring that into conversations with people trying to do data science more effectively building better practices, understanding governance, and creating the foundations that make data work. That is what draws me to mentoring, and why I genuinely look forward to it.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Good Coding Practices
- Cloud computing
Ajuna Azad
Senior Data Strategy Officer
Background After a decade in research spanning a PhD, postdoc,...
Alexandra Diehl
Background
I am an Associate Professor at SDU with over 15 years of experience in data science with focus on data visualization, visual analytics, machine learning, and interdisciplinary data‑driven research. My work spans uncertainty visualization, geospatial analytics, weather forecasting, and AI‑supported behavioral analysis.
Motivation
As someone new to Denmark, I see this as a meaningful way to connect with the Danish scientific community. I enjoy mentoring early‑career researchers and have co‑supervised PhD students and numerous master’s projects across Europe. I also organized in the past several meet‑ups at IEEE VIS with a focus on diversity and career paths and currently run the Dive Coding Café at SDU with a focus on diversity and inclusivity.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Data management
- Data modelling
- Machine learning
Alexandra Diehl
Associate Professor
Background I am an Associate Professor at SDU with over...
Almut Bohnhoff
Background
I am currently an ML Engineer at DFDS, and have worked in various roles within Data Science and MLOps in the Transportation and Logistics Industry and Consulting. By education, I have a bachelor in Statistics and Economics, and later have completed a masters in Business and Data Science at CBS. My expertise lies currently within building Data Science- or AI-enabled products in a corporate environment, including how can we build and scale those products in a safe and automated manner (MLOps, AI Security, and AI Governance).
Motivation
My main motivation for joining this program as a mentor is that I have been a mentee in this program, but also in other programs and I have always valued the time and interest other people took to guide me through these challenging times when I was trying to find my feet in the world. I owe my journey to my mentors and colleagues, and want to pass this forward as best as I can. Moreover, I enjoy the exchange with people from different backgrounds and with different experiences, which helps me to keep evolving.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- MLOps
- Data management
- Good Coding Practices
- Natural Language Processing
- Statistics and mathematics
- Cloud computing
- Data modelling
- Deep learning
- Machine learning
Almut Bohnhoff
ML Engineer
Background I am currently an ML Engineer at DFDS, and...
Andreas Ellegaard Andersen
Background
I am a master’s student in Digital Business Management at Aarhus BSS with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. I have worked as a tutor at Djøf, teaching Excel, VBA, and GenAI for productivity. I also work at Arla Foods within Enterprise Architecture, Strategy, and Solution Architecture for LLM-based solutions, including LangChain, UI/UX, business requirements, and demos. My academic interests include AI adoption, AI solution development, digital transformation, organisational capabilities, innovation, and strategy. My favourite thing is learning something new.
Motivation
I know how important it can be to have a guiding star, since I have found it very helpful in my own career, personal development, and friendships. I want to give back by supporting students and early-career data science profiles in reflecting on direction, priorities, networking, and the bridge between technical interests and organisational impact. I love discussing both old and new ideas.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Digitalisation
- Artificial Intelligence
Andreas Ellegaard Andersen
Master student
Background I am a master’s student in Digital Business Management...
Andreas Lau Hansen
Background
Academically, I come from DTU where I have completed a BSc in AI & Data and a MSc in Human centered AI. In university, I was mainly interested in computer vision applications (and still am). I have a broad set of interests within ML, from representation learning, to NLP etc. I have done research and attended conferences through DTU. I have worked in a startup on eCommerce and currently work in a larger mobility company working with data and intelligence. I am a member of many networking groups related to data science, and frequent events. I was a mentee some years ago.
Motivation
My main motivation for joining the mentoring program is to give back advice on some of the experience that i have obtained when transitioning from being a student. I remember having a lot of doubts and uncertainties that anyone might have about the transition from uni to working life. I bring a unique perspective because I recently went through that process. I would like to discuss topics like: whether to choose academia vs. corporate, what kind of courses to focus on while in uni that will be the most helpful later on, what are the things that I have benefitted the most from, etc.
Skills, expertise and interests
- MLOps
- High-performance computing
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Andreas Lau Hansen
Data engineer & Business intelligence developer
Background Academically, I come from DTU where I have completed...
Andreas Trier Poulsen
Background
Andreas has 15+ years experience researching and working with AI & data in academia, as a specialist in the biomedical industry and as a consultant. Andreas has a MSc in biomedical engineering and holds a PhD in machine learning and cognitive neuroscience. Currently, Andreas works in Novo Nordisk R&D with clinical trial development.
Motivation
I’ve been fortunate to have been given some great advice and support from competent people in my career within AI and data. I see the DDSA mentorship program as a good opportunity for me to pay some of it forward. Working with AI & data is a fast-changing field that is both transforming the society around us, but also the potential career paths. I hope to help navigating the questions, challenges and opportunities that arise in this space.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Good Coding Practices
- Statistics and mathematics
- Data modelling
- Image analysis
- Machine learning
Andreas Trier Poulsen
Lead Data Scientist
Background Andreas has 15+ years experience researching and working with...
Anthony Ebert
Background
I am an assistant professor in statistics at the National Center of Excellence for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (PREDICT), Aalborg University, Copenhagen. I completed my PhD in statistics at the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS) at the Queensland University of Technology. I am Australian and I live here with my Danish wife and my son.
Motivation
I would like to give back to the community of statisticians and data scientists who helped me through mentoring when I was at an earlier stage of my career. Furthermore, I enjoy working through problems together and I will inevitably learn new things myself. I also think talking through big decisions and career progression together is a good idea, and we should all do it more. There’s a lot I don’t know but I enjoy talking through a tricky question.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Good Coding Practices
- Statistics and mathematics
- Data modelling
Anthony Ebert
Assistant professor
Background I am an assistant professor in statistics at the...
Bence Bejczy
Background
I am an assistant professor in statistics at the National Center of Excellence for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (PREDICT), Aalborg University, Copenhagen. I completed my PhD in statistics at the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS) at the Queensland University of Technology. I am Australian and I live here with my Danish wife and my son.
Motivation
I would like to give back to the community of statisticians and data scientists who helped me through mentoring when I was at an earlier stage of my career. Furthermore, I enjoy working through problems together and I will inevitably learn new things myself. I also think talking through big decisions and career progression together is a good idea, and we should all do it more. There’s a lot I don’t know but I enjoy talking through a tricky question.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Good Coding Practices
- Image analysis
- Deep learning
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Bence Bejczy
Data Science Partner
Background I am an assistant professor in statistics at the...
Chen Li
Background
Chen Li primarily concentrates his research efforts on Data Analysis, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing. With extensive experience in Large Language Models, Time Series Analysis, and Multimodal, he possesses a profound understanding of cutting-edge neural network models, including Transformers such as GPT. Chen Li’s expertise in Deep Learning spans across various domains, encompassing both business and manufacturing applications, specifically in vision and language-assisted human-robot interaction, anomaly detection in production process, and multimodal sensor fusion.
Motivation
I would like to help mentees develop a solid foundation in data science by sharing practical insights from my experience across various domains and technologies. My goal is to guide them in navigating their career paths by offering advice on both technical skills and the problem-solving mindset essential for success in this rapidly evolving field.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Artificial Intelligence
- Natural Language Processing
- Deep learning
- Machine learning
Chen Li
Associate Professor
Background Chen Li primarily concentrates his research efforts on Data...
Daniel Michelsanti
Background
I have a PhD in electrical and electronic engineering, obtained at Aalborg University, where I worked within the Centre for Acoustic Signal Processing Research (CASPR). My dissertation focused on deep-learning-based audio-visual speech enhancement and it was the basis of my postdoctoral research, which I carried on at Oticon and Aalborg University. Currently, I am using my skills and expertise within the field of medical image analysis at Novo Nordisk, aiming at helping people with chronic diseases.
Motivation
I firmly believe in the power of mentorship and the transformative impact it can have. I am excited to contribute my knowledge, skills, and expertise to support and guide aspiring data scientists on their journey towards success. One of the key reasons why I am passionate about mentoring is the opportunity to make a positive difference in someone’s life. Mentoring provides a unique platform for me to give back to the community and help others overcome challenges, discover their strengths, and achieve their goals.
Skills, expertise and interests
-
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Audio processing
- Data modelling
- Image analysis
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Daniel Michelsanti
Senior Data Scientist
Background I have a PhD in electrical and electronic engineering,...
Daniele Dell’Aglio
Background
I am an Associate Professor in data management and data science at Aalborg University, with experience across academia, research, and digital innovation. My research focuses on graph data management, knowledge graphs, data privacy and privacy-preserving data science. I currently lead semantic integration activities in the Horizon Europe HEREDITARY project, and previously worked as a consultant and researcher at CEFRIEL. I hold a PhD from Politecnico di Milano.
Motivation
Mentoring has played an important role in my own career, and I would like to give back by supporting aspiring data scientists in Denmark. I find mentoring especially rewarding when working with PhD students and early-career researchers on questions about PhD life, research direction, career planning, and academia-industry transitions. At the same time, I enjoy supporting mentees from diverse backgrounds and career stages. Having mentored in the DDSA programme for several years, I would be glad to contribute again.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Data mining
- Data modelling
Daniele Dell’Aglio
Associate professor
Background I am an Associate Professor in data management and...
Davide Mottin
Background
I am an Associate Professor with interests spanning databases and systems to machine learning. I specialize in networks and graph analysis and enjoy the rich complexity of network data as a mean to represent relationships. Originally from Italy, I have moved to Germany, and then Denmark. I enjoy collaborative work, challenging problems, and puzzles. In my research I focus on all aspects of information from the management of data on storage, to extracting new insights. I am passionate about eduction and training students and I enjoy discussions with them.
Motivation
I love working with students and passing along whatever wisdom I’ve picked up along the way. For me, data science is incredibly exciting because it connects solid math with practical, real-world problem-solving. As a mentor, I look forward to learning just as much as I teach, diving into meaningful conversations about both career and life challenges. I truly believe that while education drives society forward, it only works when we also prioritize personal growth and well-being.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Data mining
Davide Mottin
Associate Professor
Background I am an Associate Professor with interests spanning databases...
Emil Thyge Winther Kjær
Background
I am a Sr. ML Engineer at Gubra with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. My background spans TechBio, pharma, and tech, having worked at Gubra, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Intel. I specialize in applying ML to solve complex scientific challenges. My expertise includes using geometric deep learning to predict cancer survival from single-cell data, generative AI for molecular design, and computer vision for semiconductor defect detection. My main focus is developing new models and scaling research into robust, production-ready pipelines.
Motivation
I am very grateful for the mentors who helped me understand that a good career is about much more than just being good at your work. I am passionate about helping aspiring data scientists navigate the industry. Having directed internships and mentored researchers at Bristol Myers Squibb, I deeply value guiding others through complex career landscapes. I want to share my insights on bridging research with scalable engineering, while also expanding my network and learning from my mentees’ fresh perspectives.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Good Coding Practices
- High-performance computing
- Cloud computing
- Data modelling
- Image analysis
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Emil Thyge Winther Kjær
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
Background I am a Sr. ML Engineer at Gubra with...
Francisco Jose Perez Dominguez
Background
I have an MSc in Transport and Logistics from DTU and a background in civil engineering. Professionally, I have worked as a data and business analyst in transport, mobility, and maritime optimisation. My experience includes Power BI, SQL, Python, KPI reporting, data modelling, stakeholder collaboration, and translating business needs into practical analytical solutions
Motivation
I would like to support students and recent graduates, especially international talents, in their transition from studies to working life in Denmark. I know how challenging it can be to understand the job market, present your profile clearly, and build confidence. I would like to share practical guidance from my own experience in data and analytics roles
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Data modelling
Francisco Jose Perez Dominguez
Data Analyst
Background I have an MSc in Transport and Logistics from...
Jessica Hjaltelin
Background
I am Associate Professor and group leader of the Hjaltelin Lab at the University of Copenhagen, where I lead interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, health data science, and precision medicine. My research focuses on large-scale longitudinal healthcare data, disease trajectories, and early disease detection. I have extensive experience supervising PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scientists, and I am actively engaged in teaching, international collaborations, and career development activities within academia.
Motivation
I would like to contribute as mentor since I have benefited greatly from mentorship throughout my own academic career, particularly during career transitions and the establishment of my independent research group. I enjoy supporting early-career researchers in navigating academic challenges, exchanging research ideas, building collaborations, and balancing scientific ambitions with career development. Through my experience in interdisciplinary research, grant writing, supervision, and leadership, I hope to help create a supportive environment and network for young researchers.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data modelling
- Deep learning
- Machine learning
Jessica Hjaltelin
Associate Professor
Background I am Associate Professor and group leader of the...
John Shorter
Background
I’m an Associate Professor of Biomedical Data Science at Roskilde University. My research applies statistical genetics and register-based epidemiology to psychiatric and pharmacogenetic questions, using the Danish national health registers, the UK Biobank, and DBDS. I work mainly in R on HPC, running genome-wide association studies and building polygenic risk scores.
Motivation
I came to university as a history major with no sense of what graduate school, a PhD, or a research career involved. A hands-on bachelor project changed that. My supervisor took the time to show me how research works and where it could lead, and her guidance is the reason I became a scientist at all. Now I want to be that mentor for students who can’t yet see where a science degree might take them.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Statistics and mathematics
- Data modelling
John Shorter
Associate Professor
Background I’m an Associate Professor of Biomedical Data Science at...
Juan Rodriguez
Background
I am Juan Manuel Rodriguez, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Aalborg University, Denmark. I hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, and I have over 15 years of experience in teaching and research. My academic work sits at the intersection of applied machine learning, deep learning, and data engineering. My research spans several active areas, including recommender systems, misinformation detection in social media, multi-modal models, and other applications of ML.
Motivation
My motivation for applying to the DDSA mentorship program stems from a genuine passion for supporting the growth of early-career researchers and data scientists. Over the past year, I have had the rewarding experience of supervising a mentee through the program, a journey that is now coming to a successful close, and which has reinforced how meaningful and impactful a well-structured mentoring relationship can be. It is also an opportunity for future networking as knowing new people can bring opportunities in the future.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Natural Language Processing
- Text analysis
- Deep learning
- Machine learning
Juan Rodriguez
Assistant professor
Background I am Juan Manuel Rodriguez, an Assistant Professor of...
Kübra Altinel
Background
I hold a PhD and postdoc in computational biology and probabilistic ML from the University of Copenhagen, where I developed a Bayesian deep learning model now tied to a pending EU patent. I currently work as an ML engineer at Archon Tech, building production AI in finance. My expertise spans probabilistic modelling, LLM evaluation, and compliance-aligned AI under EU AI Act and GDPR. I mentor at High5Girls and the Danish Data Science Academy, and was recently recognized as one of Denmark’s 100 Women in AI and recipient of the IDA Agnes & Betzy Award for DEI in STEM.
Motivation
I want to join the DDSA Mentoring Programme again, because the path into a technical career is rarely as clear as it looks from the outside. My own route across computational biology, machine learning, and industry taught me how much difference honest conversations with experienced people can make. Having worked across nine countries and four continents, I have learned to listen across different cultural contexts and tailor my support to where someone actually is. I was previously a mentor at DDSA and I want to bring that commitment back into the community.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Data modelling
- Deep learning
- DevOps
- Machine learning
Kübra Altinel
Machine Learning Engineer
Background I hold a PhD and postdoc in computational biology...
Malte Petry
Background
I am currently working as an ML Engineer in Danske Bank’s AI & Data Science Center of Excellence. Prior to that I worked as a Data Scientist at Novo Nordisk and completed their Data Science Graduate Programme. My academic background is a bit mixed: I started out with Business Administration majoring in Finance for my bachelor’s but then transitioned into Data Science for my master’s degree.
Motivation
I have had – and still have – great mentors who have helped me throughout my career. I would now like to offer guidance to students or young professionals as well since I know the field can be hard to navigate. Being an international in Denmark also comes with a unique set of challenges that I can help with.
Skills, expertise and interests
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Good Coding Practices
- DevOps
- Machine learning
Malte Petry
ML Engineer
Background I am currently working as an ML Engineer in...
Maria Kalimantzali
Background
I hold an MSc in Business Analytics and Data Science from Technical University of Denmark and have 5+ years of experience in data science, analytics, and business intelligence. My expertise spans predictive modeling, machine learning, ETL development, KPI reporting, and data visualization. I have worked across pharmaceutical, environmental, and commercial finance domains, leading analytics initiatives, forecasting models, customer segmentation projects, and cloud-based planning solutions to support data-driven strategic decision-making.
Motivation
I am motivated to join the Mentoring Programme as a mentor because I value knowledge sharing and helping others navigate their professional development. Throughout my career in data science, business intelligence, and project leadership, I have benefited from guidance and collaboration, and I would like to give back by supporting mentees in achieving their goals. I look forward to sharing practical insights, fostering confidence, and contributing to the growth of future professionals while also learning from their perspectives and experiences.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Data mining
- Data modelling
- Machine learning
Maria Kalimantzali
Lead Data Scientist
Background I hold an MSc in Business Analytics and Data...
Marjan Mansourvar
Background
I am a data scientist and educator with a PhD in Computer Science and over ten years of experience in academia and interdisciplinary research. My expertise spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and biotechnology. I have supervised students at BSc, MSc, and PhD levels, led research projects, and collaborated across academia and industry. I am passionate about supporting career development, research excellence, and helping others navigate opportunities in data science.
Motivation
I am motivated to join the Mentoring Programme because I enjoy supporting the development of students and early-career data scientists. Through my experience in academia, research, and industry collaboration, I have gained insights into different career paths and the challenges that come with them. I hope to share my experiences, provide guidance, and help mentees build confidence, develop their skills, and make informed decisions about their future careers.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Natural Language Processing
- Data mining
- Image analysis
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Marjan Mansourvar
Lecturer
Background I am a data scientist and educator with a...
Maximilian von Zastrow
Background
I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and Deputy Head of Programme for the Bachelor’s and Master’s in Software Engineering at SDU Sønderborg. I teach ‘Advanced Object-Oriented Programming’ and ‘Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics’. My research focuses on foundational unsupervised learning and applied machine learning, specifically using NLP for password forensics. A more recent interest is exploring the capabilities and potential problems of agentic AI.
Motivation
As I am originally from Germany and only started working in Denmark in 2024, I am keen to expand my network here and meet fellow data scientists. Teaching and supervising scientific work has always been my passion, so I am happy to share my experience with other data scientists, or with those who aspire to become one.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Natural Language Processing
- Data mining
- Image analysis
- Text analysis
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Maximilian von Zastrow
Assistant Professor
Background I am an Assistant Professor at the University of...
Nicholas Clark
Background
am a Chartered Financial Analyst based in Copenhagen with extensive experience in data science, quantitative analysis, and leading machine learning and analytics teams. I hold master’s degrees in Economics and Bioinformatics. Grounded in intellectual humility and a commitment to ongoing education, I focus on asking the right questions to find optimal solutions. I can help you with goal setting, problem-solving, and navigating your career path, and I am happy to share my network.
Motivation
I have contributed as a mentor in three different forums both in Denmark and in the UK. Helping others is a very meaningful activity, for which reason I am looking to return to this forum. I have also benefitted from having a senior mentor in my most recent role, which has helped me tremendously. I have been active in the DDSA mentoring program since spring 2023.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data modelling
- Deep learning
- Machine learning
Nicholas Clark
Fraud Data Scientist
Background am a Chartered Financial Analyst based in Copenhagen with...
Nicolai Spicher
Background
I am a computer scientist by training with a PhD in biomedical engineering and working in the field of Digital Medicine. My research focuses development of methods for high-frequency medical time series, e.g. electrocardiograms, with the goal of improving their translation into clinical practice. I am interested in improving trustworthiness in this field; e.g. by working on aspects such as interpretability, uncertainty, and robustness. Moreover, my research is not purely theoretical and I bring a lot of interdisciplinary experience, e.g. I was a PI of a clinical study in a German hospital.
Motivation
I believe that mentoring the next generation of scientists is one of the key tasks of an academic. I myself profited a lot from mentors guidance during my career and I would like to give something back. In addition, research is also becoming more and more complex, e.g. with the rise of anti-scientific tendencies in society, and the availability of novel tools such as LLM’s that transform research and education. I would be glad to offer guidance in navigating these developments. Moreover, I am new to Denmark and mentoring would allow me to gain a better overview of the research landscape.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- High-performance computing
- Statistics and mathematics
- Machine learning
Nicolai Spicher
Associate Professor
Background I am a computer scientist by training with a...
Oldouz Majidi
Background
I am Chief Data & AI Officer and an enterprise AI strategist with a background spanning AI leadership, applied research, and higher education. I lead AI strategy, governance, and transformation initiatives across the Nordics, translating data into measurable business value. My expertise covers machine learning, deep learning, NLP, computer vision, generative AI, and multi-agent systems. I have also supervised and taught AI/ML at DTU and mentored ~6,000 students.
Motivation
I want to join the DDSA Mentoring Programme to help strengthen Denmark’s data science community by supporting emerging talent at key career transitions. Having worked across academia, research, and executive AI leadership, I can offer mentees guidance on career development, research-to-industry transitions, leadership growth, and responsible AI in practice. I see mentoring as a meaningful way to give back, share perspective, and help others build confidence, direction, and ambition in data science.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Digitalisation
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Good Coding Practices
- Natural Language Processing
- Audio processing
- Data mining
- High-performance computing
- Statistics and mathematics
- Cloud computing
- Data modelling
- Image analysis
- Text analysis
- Complex systems
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- DevOps
- Machine learning
Oldouz Majidi
Chief Data & AI Officer
Background I am Chief Data & AI Officer and an...
Paraskevas Pegios
Background
Paraskevas is a Postdoctoral Researcher at DTU Electro, working on Physical AI. He holds a PhD in AI from DTU, funded by the Pioneer Centre for AI, where he specialized in Generative and Explainable AI. His research spans machine learning, computer vision, and multimodal models. During his PhD, he published multiple papers contributing to both methodological and applied AI research, with results featured at leading conferences and journals. His experience in medical imaging research as well as remote sensing, aerospace, and the pharma industry shapes his work on real-world AI applications.
Motivation
Paraskevas is eager to support early-career data scientists and young AI researchers. Having relocated to Denmark and worked in both academia and industry, he understands the challenges of adapting to a new culture and navigating career decisions. As a mentor, he hopes to share practical advice on AI research, career development, and settling into life in Denmark — especially for international students. Above all, he aims to help students build confidence, set ambitious goals, and thrive in the field of AI and data science.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data mining
- Image analysis
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Paraskevas Pegios
Postdoctoral Researcher
Background Paraskevas is a Postdoctoral Researcher at DTU Electro, working...
Riccardo Terrenzi
Background
I am an Italian PhD researcher in AI and Information Retrieval at the University of Southern Denmark, originally from Pescara. My path combines humanities, engineering, and computer science: from Liceo Classico to Computer and Automation Engineering at UNIVPM, then MSc studies at Politecnico di Milano. I worked as a Software and DevOps Engineer at Blue Reply and gained international experience through Erasmus in Germany and Denmark. I now teach AI, supervise projects, and bring leadership experience from years as a basketball captain.
Motivation
I am applying to become a DDSA mentor because I enjoy teaching and supporting students, and I see mentoring as an important step toward my goal of becoming a university professor. During my own studies, I often felt disoriented and missed having someone who could help me understand my options. Now that I have found my path in research and AI, I would like to use my experience to help others navigate uncertainty, reflect on their interests, and discover their own direction.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Good Coding Practices
- Natural Language Processing
- Data mining
- Deep learning
- Machine learning
Riccardo Terrenzi
PhD student
Background I am an Italian PhD researcher in AI and...
Roland Nagy
Background
I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in engineering, and just finished a PhD in data science (application of data science methods in the world of physical sensors, data processing, and measurement data). Currently, I am working as a data scientist at an international company, developing conventional predictive and customer segmentation models. I have experience in R&D projects and also in the private sector, mainly with end-to-end development tasks, data analysis, and machine learning projects.
Motivation
I participated in the DDSA programs both as a mentee and a mentor before, where I personally gained a lot and was a huge help in my career progress. Helping others was a great experience, providing a learning opportunity on how to communicate information more effectively. It was also motivating to help other professionals and learn about their field. So I would like to give back from this knowledge, and I would be happy to share my real-world experience with aspiring data scientists.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Data mining
- Data modelling
- Machine learning
Roland Nagy
Data Scientist
Background I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in...
Sadok Ben Yahia
Background
Professor Sadok Ben Yahia is a Full Professor at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and a former Full Professor at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). His expertise spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, ontology engineering, big data analytics, and smart city applications. He has authored more than 300 scientific publications and has led interdisciplinary research on urban mobility, recommender systems, information retrieval, knowledge discovery, and human-centric AI, with a strong focus on translating advanced AI methods into real-world solutions.
Motivation
I am motivated to join the DDSA Mentoring Programme because I strongly believe in knowledge sharing, professional development, and community building within data science. As a professor and researcher in AI, machine learning, and data science, I have mentored many students and early-career researchers. I look forward to supporting the next generation of data scientists, sharing insights from academia and industry collaborations, learning from mentees’ perspectives, and contributing to the growth of Denmark’s data science community.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Artificial Intelligence
Sadok Ben Yahia
Full professor
Background Professor Sadok Ben Yahia is a Full Professor at...
Sara Behnamian
Background
I am a mathematician and computational scientist with a PhD in Mathematics, currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen. My work combines mathematical modelling, machine learning, bioinformatics and data analysis, with applications in ancient DNA, genomics and interdisciplinary computational research.
Motivation
I would like to contribute to the Danish data science community by supporting early-career researchers and students. I know the challenges of building a research career across disciplines and cultures, and I hope to share practical experience from mathematics, machine learning and computational biology. I also value mentoring as a two-way dialogue that encourages confidence, curiosity and clearer career choices.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Natural Language Processing
- Statistics and mathematics
- Text analysis
- Deep learning
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Sara Behnamian
Postdoctoral researcher
Background I am a mathematician and computational scientist with a...
Sebastian Basterrech
Background
I completed my PhD at INRIA Rennes (France), working on Markov modeling, neural networks, and quasi-Newton algorithms. I was a postdoc and scientific member at a technical university in Czechia, and later a postdoc at DTU Compute, Denmark. Since August 2025, I have been a postdoc at DTU Construct. My research focuses on recurrent systems, continual learning, spatio-temporal modeling, physics-informed ML, and digital twins. I have extensive experience supervising BSc and MSc students in Czechia and Denmark, and in Spring 2025 I taught the Master’s course of DoE at DTU.
Motivation
The main motivation for joining this programme is to engage with students from universities beyond DTU, as well as researchers in data science and AI. I aim to build connections with Danish institutions, startups, and companies through interaction with mentors and mentees, and to support PhD students and early-career researchers. These experiences and networking opportunities will also help me develop my own research team. Overall, I aim to foster collaboration between research and industry while expanding my network and strengthening my integration in the Danish data science ecosystem.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Statistics and mathematics
- Data modelling
- Complex systems
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Machine learning
Sebastian Basterrech
Postdoc
Background I completed my PhD at INRIA Rennes (France), working...
Silja Heilmann
Background
I hold a PhD in Biophysics and have more than 10 years of experience working at the intersection of data science, machine learning, quantitative modelling, and biomedical imaging. My background spans academia (University of Copenhagen and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York) and biotech entrepreneurship as Co-founder and Chief AI Officer at Metsystem. I have supervised MSc and BSc students, taught image analysis and data science, and enjoy mentoring researchers navigating interdisciplinary careers spanning data science, life science, and innovation.
Motivation
I would like to join the Mentoring Programme because I genuinely enjoy helping students and early-career researchers navigate their professional development. One of my former students recently encouraged me to apply, which made me reflect on how much I value mentoring. My own career has been very interdisciplinary, spanning biophysics, machine learning, data science, cancer biology, academia, and biotech entrepreneurship. I hope to help mentees identify their strengths, communicate the value, and navigate careers that do not fit neatly within traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cloud computing
- Image analysis
- Complex systems
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
Silja Heilmann
Chief AI Officer
Background I hold a PhD in Biophysics and have more...
Stella Grasshof
Background
Today, I am Associate Prof at the IT University of Copenhagen (ITU). I have come a long way from an interdisciplinary study program (BSc and MSc) in Computational Life Science, and then a 7y PhD in Germany (Dr.-Ing.). I got a postdoc at ITU, and the rest is history. I am proud to having prevailed in this male-dominated environment, and try to not only be a role model, but also change the system, now that I have tenure. My background is in math and computer science, and my research focusses on machine learning in the visual domain. Research for the people!
Motivation
As the oldest of 6 children, I was brought into the role of ‘leading by example’ and care-taking early. I had to figure things out a lot myself, and did not have any role model in my life to guide me to towards and in University. I strive to be the mentor I never had. During my PhD I was a mentor for ‘Arbeiterkind.de’ an initiative, which promotes equal access to higher education. Since 2020, my mentoring activities have included: SPS (supporting students with challenges such as neurodiversity), Women in Machine Learning, and being mentor internally at ITU.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Statistics and mathematics
- Image analysis
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Stella Grasshof
Associate Professor
Background Today, I am Associate Prof at the IT University...
Suman Sourav
Background
I am an Assistant Professor at Aalborg University, Denmark (Copenhagen Campus). I earned my Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore, where I also received the Research Achievement Award. My research focuses on (1) improving global connectivity through novel routing and scheduling frameworks for satellite network constellations and edge-cloud systems. (2) proactive attack detection in cyber-physical systems through data-driven techniques. (3) Bridging theory to practice through deployable, lightweight solutions validated on real data and infrastructure.
Motivation
I strongly believe in the value of mentorship, both as someone who’s benefited from it, and as someone who wants to give back. Throughout my own journey, I’ve had mentors who helped me navigate uncertainty, encouraged me when I doubted myself, and provided immense support when I needed it. I’d like to offer that same kind of support to young and aspiring scientists who are finding their own paths. At the same time, I see mentorship as a learning experience for the mentor, too. I am looking forward to being part of a network where we can all learn, share, and help one another move forward.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Data analytics
- Cloud computing
- Machine learning
Suman Sourav
Assistant Professor
Background I am an Assistant Professor at Aalborg University, Denmark...
Sylvain Estebe
Background
I recently completed an M.Sc. in Cognitive Science at Aarhus University with a thesis applying Bayesian cognitive modeling to customer churn in collaboration with Norlys. I now work as a Research Assistant at the Center for Humanities Computing, developing agent-based models and LLM-based annotation pipelines for computational social science. My expertise spans probabilistic modeling (PyMC, JAX), NLP at scale, and causal inference, combined with applied data science experience in industry.
Motivation
Throughout my studies, mentors were decisive in helping me navigate research directions and build technical confidence, especially as someone moving into data science from a non-traditional background. I want to give back by supporting students facing similar transitions. The programme is also an opportunity to sharpen my own communication, broaden my network within the Danish data science community, and learn from fellow mentors working across academia and industry.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Good Coding Practices
- Natural Language Processing
- Data mining
- Statistics and mathematics
- Data modelling
- Text analysis
- Deep learning
- DevOps
- Machine learning
Sylvain Estebe
Research Assistant
Background I recently completed an M.Sc. in Cognitive Science at...
Tianyi Hu
Background
Tianyi (Tenney) Hu is a PhD student in Computer Science at Aarhus University’s CLAN Lab and the Danish Pioneer Centre for AI. He holds an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Copenhagen, was a visiting student at National Taiwan University, and previously worked as a Researcher at Baidu Search. His expertise lies in human-centered and trustworthy NLP, including information retrieval, RAG, memory, reasoning, agents, and inclusive NLP for underrepresented communities.
Motivation
As a mentor, I am motivated to join the Mentoring Programme to support early-career researchers in developing confidence, clarifying their academic goals, and navigating research and career challenges. I hope to share my experience in NLP, AI, and academia while fostering an open, supportive mentoring relationship.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Natural Language Processing
- Data mining
- Text analysis
- Deep learning
- Machine learning
Tianyi Hu
PhD fellow
Background Tianyi (Tenney) Hu is a PhD student in Computer...
Varun Sampath Kumar
Background
I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Data Science, where my project thesis revolved around Federated Learning and Distributed Clustering Algorithms. I have 1.5 years of industry experience at KLA, where I developed large-scale analytics systems using Spark, DuckDB, Kafka, and Ray, and contributed to self-supervised foundation models for semiconductor wafer images. Currently, I am a Ph.D. student researching machine unlearning, AI safety, and mechanistic interpretability in large language and vision-language models.
Motivation
I am motivated to join the DDSA Mentoring Programme as a mentor because I enjoy helping others grow academically and professionally. My experience spans both industry and academia, including large-scale data and AI systems development and Ph.D. research in machine unlearning, AI safety, and mechanistic interpretability. I hope to share practical and research insights, support students and early-career professionals in navigating career decisions, and contribute to a stronger, more connected data science community in Denmark while learning from diverse perspectives.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Good Coding Practices
- Natural Language Processing
- High-performance computing
- Image analysis
- Text analysis
- Complex systems
- Deep learning
- Image processing
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
Varun Sampath Kumar
Ph.D. Student
Background I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Data...
Wutong Xia
Background
I work in data governance and AI literacy at MB Shipbrokers in Denmark, embedded day-to-day with data scientists, and my academic background includes machine learning and AI coursework. Alongside my professional path, I’m trained in coaching and strengths-based development (CliftonStrengths), focused on human-centered career growth. I’m not a hands-on engineer, but I understand the data/AI world my mentees work in, and my real expertise is helping people find direction, clarify their strengths, and grow into confident professionals.
Motivation
My motivation is to help the next generation of data talent grow: not only technically, but as whole professionals who know their strengths and where they’re heading. I’ve designed peer workshops for mentees making the student-to-first-job leap, and I’ve seen how much a steady, honest sounding board matters at that stage. I want to bring that into a structured setting: helping people position themselves with confidence, clarify their direction, and feel empowered to own their career growth.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- Data management
- Data modelling
- Machine learning
Wutong Xia
Data Governance Lead
Background I work in data governance and AI literacy at...
Xikun Jiang
Background
I am an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at Aalborg University Copenhagen, with a PhD from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and postdoctoral experience at the University of Copenhagen. My research develops trustworthy AI pipelines, from privacy-aware data markets to privacy-preserving and verifiable ML. I have led healthcare-related AI projects with clinical and academic partners and supervise BSc/MSc students in AI, security, and data science.
Motivation
I would like to join the DDSA Mentoring Programme to contribute to the Danish data science community and support early-career researchers and students navigating research, academia, and career choices. Having moved from China to Denmark and from PhD to postdoc to assistant professor, I can share practical experience on publishing, interdisciplinary collaboration, grant development, supervision, and building an independent research profile in trustworthy AI.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Data analytics
- MLOps
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data management
- Good Coding Practices
- Data mining
- Data modelling
- Machine learning
Xikun Jiang
Assistant Professor
Background I am an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at...
Xinyu Ge
Background
I am a postdoctoral researcher in computer science at Aalborg University, working at the intersection of formal methods, mathematical modelling, and trustworthy AI. I obtained my PhD in Computer Science from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (China), with a joint research experience at Newcastle University (UK). I also hold a BSc in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. My background combines computer science and applied mathematics, together with experience in teaching, supervision, academic writing, academic competitions, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Motivation
Since I started my journey in academia, I have received valuable supervision, guidance, and care from many people. I am therefore happy to see a community like this, where early-career researchers and data science professionals can reflect on their goals, challenges, and future directions. I believe mentoring can help mentees gain confidence, broaden their perspectives, and make more informed career decisions. I would be glad to contribute by offering a reflective and encouraging space for discussion, while also learning from the experiences and aspirations of mentees.
Skills, expertise and interests
- Academic writing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Statistics and mathematics
- Complex systems
- Machine learning
Xinyu Ge
Postdoc
Background I am a postdoctoral researcher in computer science at...