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The European Hub for Data Science
 

PROFIRA RUSU

Student Software Development @HyperIsland, Stockholm, Sweden

Profira graduated from “Babeș-Bolyai” University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and initially pursued a long career in education. Driven by a passion for technology and design, she transitioned into software development four years ago, focusing primarily on front-end development with Angular. She is currently a student at HyperIsland in Stockholm, specializing in front-end development with React, where she continues to refine her expertise to stay aligned with industry trends and standards.

In addition to her studies and the collaboration with WiDS Zurich, Profira volunteers with the Connect App as a content creator and manual QA tester, contributing her skills to enhance content quality and ensure seamless user experiences. Her dedication to crafting dynamic, efficient, and user-friendly applications has led her to master a range of front-end frameworks, preprocessors, web design, and testing practices.

Profira is particularly interested in graphical design, typography, and the art of organizing and communicating information visually. Her strengths lie in effective communication, problem-solving, adaptability, organization, and attention to detail—skills that define her as a dedicated and forward-thinking front-end developer.

 
 

NAMRATA GURUNG

AI Tech Lead @QualityMinds GmbH

Namrata Gurung is the AI Tech Lead, and Principal Data Scientist at QualityMinds GmbH, an AI and IT company based in Munich. She specializes in data science and AI, especially in the field of LLMs, NLP, AI testing, and autonomous driving. Her past technical experiences include a PostDoc in NLP (Natural Language Processing) at Bern University of Applied Sciences and an NLP intern at Thomson Reuters Labs, Zug. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics from ETH Zurich, a Masters in Physics from the University of Stuttgart and MPI, and a Data-Science Bootcamp graduate from Constructor Academy, Zurich. She strives to bring forth state-of-the-art research into industrial applications. Additionally, she often participates in hackathons related to AI for Social Impact and has been actively involved in social impact activities for over a decade including volunteering for social causes such as quality education in rural and tribal parts of India, promoting women in science and tech, and mentoring youth volunteers.

 
 

AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA

Senior Lecturer and Researcher @HSLU

Aygul Zagidullina worked in the Data Science and Machine Learning domain throughout her career, gaining experience in both industry and academia, as well as at the intersection of the two.

As a Senior AI & ML Lecturer and Researcher at HSLU, she plays an important role in shaping the next generation of professionals and guiding industry partners in the adoption, implementation, scaling, and governance of innovative AI solutions.

Aygul consistently demonstrates a commitment to practical problem-solving across various applications. Her enthusiasm centres around leveraging AI & technology for positive impacts on society.

 

 

 

RASHMI DURAISAMY Ph.D.

Co-Founder @ Alterra Robotics

Rashmi has over a decade of experience in the field of data science solving real-world problems. Currently, she is the Co-Founder of a startup working at the nexus of AI/ML and Robotics. She previously held lead data scientist roles in various Silicon Valley companies. Rashmi graduated with a Ph.D. from Stanford University.

 
 

ALKETA GUXHA 

AI & Data Scientist @ Vodafone

Alketa currently works as an AI & Data Scientist at Vodafone, where she uses data and artificial intelligence to solve real business problems and deliver personalised solutions to Vodafone customers. She holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, USA. She combines her technical expertise with a passion for using AI to make a difference in the real world. As a committee member of Vodafone Women in Technology (WiT), Alketa is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the technology industry. She is passionate about the potential of data to improve lives and believes that AI can drive meaningful change across multiple sectors. Alketa enjoys connecting with others to share ideas and explore new ways to apply AI to solve complex challenges, improve customer experiences and make a positive impact in the world.

 
 

YVONNE ZHANG

Data Scientist @ UBS

Yvonne is a Data Scientist at UBS, specialising in data-driven lead generation to enhance sales performance for personal banking clients. She also works on GenAI applications to empower client advisors with self-service data solutions. Prior to her career change, Yvonne has over eight years of experience as an actuary, with expertise in risk management models, actuarial valuation, capital standards across various jurisdictions, and auditing. Yvonne is a certified actuary with the Society of Actuaries in the US and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. She has a Bachelor's in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo in Canada and is currently completing her Master's degree in Informatics at the University of Zürich.

 
 

LAURA GIULIETTI

Product Manager | Data Scientist

Laura Giulietti is a versatile professional with a unique blend of expertise in civil engineering, product management, and data science, specialising in the construction and manufacturing sectors. She began her career as a civil engineer, holding a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Università Politecnica delle Marche. Following an early career in construction design and management, she worked as a Field Engineer and Global Product Manager at Hilti, gaining experience in developing both software and hardware solutions tailored to customer needs. Recently, Laura completed a Data Science Bootcamp from Construct Academy in Zürich, further enhancing her expertise in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. She is passionate about leveraging data and advanced technologies to create sustainable and intelligent systems that drive innovation and operational excellence.

 
 

ESTHER RIETMANN

Applied Gen AI Leader @AI Bridge

    Esther has a decade of experience in digital content creation and community-building, specializing in AI-first companies and initiatives. As the former Director of Content and Programming at Data Science Salon, she led the expansion of a dynamic, diverse AI community and orchestrated renowned data science conferences across the United States. In her current role as a Gen AI Leader at AI Bridge, Esther develops and facilitates actionable workshops, equipping businesses to leverage generative AI for enhanced efficiency and innovation.

 
 

Dr. ANNA FEDOROVA

Research Assistant @Zürich University of Applied Science

Anna Fedorova, PhD, started her education with a double-degree program in material science between her native National Technological University of Ukraine and the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg. After obtaining the master’s in material science she started the PhD program in Magdeburg to develop composite materials with negative thermal expansion. After she got her PhD, Anna began to work as an IT consultant at a German consulting company. Working as a business analyst she participated in different data integration projects in the banking sector. This experience inspired her to pursue another master’s in Data Science and intelligent analytics. During her studies, and particularly while writing her master’s thesis on the topic “Bibliometric Research in Publications on Gender Bias,” she developed a keen interest in digital ethics and responsible AI. This passion led her to join the Responsible AI Innovation Group at ZHAW, where she contributed to advancing trustworthy AI in critical infrastructure. She is now further pursuing this field through doctoral research at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

 
 

ADINA STOLL

Senior Software Engineer @Microsoft

Adina Stoll is a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft, located in Zürich. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Babes Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and a Master's degree in IT & Cognition from the University of Copenhagen. There, she deepened her expertise in Computer Science, specializing in Machine Learning. In her current role at Microsoft, Adina leverages her skills to design, develop and deploy cutting-edge AI solutions in collaboration with Microsoft’s most strategic customers through a co-innovation and co-engineering strategy. Her passion lies in driving progress and achieving tangible results.

 
 

MEENU BHARGAVA

Senior Project Manager

@ University of Sankt Gallen

Meenu has an MSc. in Computer Science. She currently works at the University of Sankt Gallen as a product owner and data analyst. She is part of a team that publishes the St Gallen Benchmarking Analysis,  a benchmarking analysis that looks at diversity and inclusion indicators across different companies. She is also part of a team that develops the Gender Intelligence Report, which is an aggregate analysis of the state of the member companies in terms of diversity and inclusion.

Additionally,  she is the product owner of a new application where companies can individualize their dashboards to view diversity and inclusion metrics for their companies and benchmark them against industry peers and means.

 

 

 

DIANA NICOLETA POPA

Senior Research Engineer / Scientist @ Telepathy Labs GmbH 

Dr. Diana Nicoleta Popa works on improving conversational AI systems as part of her role at Telepathy Labs. Her work, expertise, and interests revolve around solving natural language processing and machine learning problems. She obtained her M.Sc. in Data Mining and Knowledge Management in 2013 and further her Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2019 as part of the Xerox Research Center Europe (now Naver Labs). Diana is highly interested in promoting diversity, making connections, and advancing the state-of-the-art and applicability of data science. 

 

 

 

RUXANDRA PRODAN

AI and Cloud Lead @ Bitline

Strategic Business Lead with over 13 years of experience in AI-driven strategies and cross-functional leadership within the technology sector. Proven success in aligning AI initiatives with business goals, empowering teams to deliver innovative solutions that drive growth. As a servant leader, she focuses on collaborative, data-driven strategies to simplify complex challenges. Passionate about coaching high-performing teams, solving problems and executing clear, impactful strategies that unlock business potential.

Ruxandra is also an advocate for the smart use of technologies to maximize efficiency and innovation in a responsible way. In every role she’s undertaken, her focus has been on building teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring execution with the right level of investment to drive growth and innovation.

Additionally, she often volunteers in initiatives with Social Impact such as building houses in Cambodia or ensuring basic necessities for poor families in Romania.

 

 

 

ANA SPRENGER

Environmental Engineer

Ana Sprenger is a highly skilled Environmental Engineer with a Master’s degree in Hydroinformatics and Data Science from Newcastle University. With over seven years of professional experience in data analysis, image analysis, and forecasting, Ana has a proven track record of applying advanced analytical techniques to drive meaningful insights and innovative solutions. Her technical expertise extends to software development, with a particular focus on cutting-edge technologies such as image recognition, Machine Learning, and deep learning.

Ana’s commitment to innovation is reflected in her portfolio of self-initiated projects, where she combines technical proficiency with a creative approach to problem-solving. Currently, she is developing a second-hand store rating platform, integrating her passion for sustainability with her expertise in technology to encourage more informed and environmentally responsible consumer behaviour.

A dedicated professional with a keen interest in fostering collaboration, Ana is driven by the pursuit of impactful, real-world applications of technology. Her work exemplifies a unique blend of technical excellence, strategic thinking, and a commitment to creating a sustainable future.

 

 

 

LORENA CARLA OROS

Engineering Lead @PwC Switzerland

Lorena is part of the Software Development and Operations team at PwC Switzerland, driving innovation in AI and cloud technologies within the Tax Technology space. With a track record of delivering cutting-edge solutions, she excels at leveraging data-driven strategies to tackle complex challenges, streamline operations, and create value for businesses. Her leadership in cross-functional teams has led to successful implementations of scalable, impactful projects across diverse industries during her career.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lorena is a dedicated advocate for empowering women in technology. She actively supports initiatives to inspire and uplift the next generation of women in STEM.

Lorena’s passion for community and sustainability extends into her personal life. She has volunteered internationally, teaching English and sports in South America, and is a firm believer in giving back through meaningful actions. Lorena thrives on exploring new perspectives and fostering connections that make a positive impact.

 

 

 

MICHAELA PONCET MACAKOVA

Michaela Poncet Macakova holds a master’s degree in mathematics from ETH Zürich, where she is specialised in statistics. She is currently part of the cross-company data science trainee program in Bern, applying her knowledge at three Swiss companies: BKW, Swiss Post, and Mobiliar.

Michaela is passionate about building models and uncovering actionable insights from data. She enjoys combining expert knowledge with data-driven methods to develop practical business solutions. She is also committed to sustainability and promoting diversity within the tech community.

 

 

 

FRANCESCA REYNOLDS

Francesca holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and a MicroMasters in Statistics and Data Science from MIT. She has previously worked as a mobile app developer and has recently moved to Bern where she works as a freelance developer on machine learning and software development projects. Francesca is passionate about combining psychology and technology, leveraging data science and AI to build innovative technological solutions that improve mental health and well-being outcomes.