From Molecules to Models: How a Physicist Became a Data Scientist

In this talk, Dr. Iris Theophilou will share her career journey from a physics undergraduate to Senior Data Scientist at RISK IDENT in Hamburg. She will reflect on her scientific research background in theoretical and computational physics before exploring her transition into the world of data science and machine learning. Outlining the path that led her from academia to industry, she hopes to offer insights to scientists who are considering diverse career directions in industry.

Date: 28th November, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM
Venue: Seminar Room 3a, Building 1b, Second Floor

About the speaker:

Before entering industry, Iris was a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, where she developed computational methods for predicting electronic structures of molecular systems, supervised PhD students, and lectured in graduate programs. She previously held a postdoctoral position at Forschungszentrum Jülich, contributing to the development of the software Octopus for Quantum Chemistry and solid-state Physics.

Iris holds a PhD in Physics from the National Technical University of Athens, where her research focused on theoretical and computational studies in quantum chemistry. With a passion for mathematics, programming, and interdisciplinary collaboration, she continues to apply her scientific problem-solving mindset to real-world data challenges.

Jointly organised by the PIER Education Platform (PEP) and the Clusters of Excellence CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter and Quantum Universe.