Tim Boleslawsky - PhD profile

Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you’re coming from, both academically and geographically?

Hi, I’m Tim. I am originally from Stuttgart, Germany, but have lived the last few years in
Gothenburg, Sweden, to complete my studies. Unlike many others in the Endotrain project—
or so I assume—my background is not strongly biological. I worked as a software engineer
and consultant for a few years in Germany before moving to Sweden to study Data Science.
At the University of Gothenburg and at Volvo, I became interested in enabling large-scale
data projects across different domains efficiently and securely. This will be my focus within
the Endotrain project. During my Master’s degree in Sweden, I also developed an
appreciation for academic work, which I am excited to continue in this PhD.
 

What motivated you to pursue a PhD, and what drew you specifically to Endotrain as a doctoral network?

I would describe myself as someone who needs to see the practical value in what I am doing
and who works best in a collaborative environment. Given that, a PhD was initially daunting
for me, as I have heard research can be quite theoretical and lonely. Endotrain as a doctoral
network stood out to me, because it emphasizes collaboration and practical applications. I
view Endotrain as a great opportunity to develop something meaningful while still exploring
the edges of current technologies. It allows me to develop something tangible, collaborate
with and receive feedback from other PhD students, work within a meaningful field that could
improve many lives, and grow as a scientist and data engineer.

Where will you be based during your PhD, and what are you most looking forward to about living and working there?

I am currently in the process of moving into my apartment in Blaubeuren. Blaubeuren is a
cute, small Swabian city right next to Ulm. For most of my adult life, I have been living in big
cities, so now I really wanted to live somewhere quiet and close to nature. Since Blaubeuren is not too far from where I grew up—and where my parents still live—I am really grateful for the opportunity to stay connected to the international research community while also being closer to home.

At this very early stage, how would you describe your PhD project in broad, nontechnical terms?

There are two initial key aims I would like to focus on in my PhD project. First, I will create a
data platform to efficiently and securely integrate the data produced by the other PhD
students. Second, I will work on new machine learning algorithms to improve different
aspects of the data integration, such as artifact detection, and thereby hopefully improve the
overall data quality.

During your PhD, what specific skills, methods, or areas of expertise are you most looking forward to learning?

There are two things that come to mind. First, I think I have a solid foundation in data
analytics, software engineering, and machine learning. However, I would really like to grow
as a scientist, which includes everything from paper writing to academic research. Second, I
have never built a large-scale data infrastructure from the ground up, and I am excited to be
part of that process and develop all the associated skills.

What are you most looking forward to about learning and working within an international doctoral network like Endotrain?

I think because Data Science, ML, and AI as research areas have grown so rapidly in recent
years, it is sometimes hard to keep track of what is being explored and researched.
Therefore, I find it particularly interesting to hear about the different ideas and concepts
developed by people across various domains. There is so much potential in this technology,
if applied appropriately, especially in the medical and biomedical fields. Hearing from people
with diverse backgrounds is really intriguing to me.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work that helps you relax and recharge after a long day of research?

I am a pretty quiet person outside of work and like to find things to challenge myself with. I
have always been into sports and have been going pretty consistently to the gym for the last
few years. More recently, I have really gotten into golf. Other than that, I enjoy reading,
especially fantasy novels and history books, as well as listening to music.

As you begin your Endotrain journey, what are you most curious or enthusiastic about right now?

Right now I am just eager to get started, to see what challenges arise, and to develop
innovative solutions together :)