Meet our team: Julian
Since starting at Kiron last February, Julian has quickly become a part of the Kiron community. After getting his masters in bioinformatics, a field which combines biology, computer science, and statistics to interpret data, he initially took a job at a marketing firm honing various technical data analysis skills there. However, the job never seemed like an ideal fit for him. When Julian began data analysis, he had imagined he would use his skill set to help others by providing them with useful information. That’s what he found at Kiron.
My job is to promote data-driven development.
What is your Role at Kiron?
I was hired to support the research team, kind of as a researcher but with a little more of a technical role. We came up with the title “software developer/data scientist”. In my former job, I was a data scientist so I brought that along and now I don’t know. Researcher? Something like that.
What is your Mission for Kiron?
How to reach the right people, instead of people just applying to us and seeing what will happen. Addressing and enrolling people in a more direct and personal way. The first step, finding the right people. After this task, I can provide good feedback to our tech people for designing our services and platform. Seeing it from the data perspective, seeing what is happening really behind the curtains, what data we collect and how to refine it, how to make it suitable for the processes. When I think we need to alter something but don’t necessarily have the data to show it, then my job is to advise: this is a good idea but maybe this would be better. My job is to promote data-driven development.
Kiron means to me…
I’m pretty new here, and I wasn’t sure what my end role would be when I started. I went right into working for a marketing company after my masters. From the first moment, I felt like I wasn’t doing the right thing like I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do. So I quit my job and came across Kiron. I think I was intended to do something good. Now everything fits together, everything I wanted basically.
What are the challenges you are facing?
Sitting in front of data like code and losing track of what’s behind it. You see numbers, but you can’t see the person behind it anymore. You lose track of what you are working for. The biggest challenge is to take a stand back from time to time and to remember that I’m not working anymore to increase the numbers of a big company. I try to never forget there’s a lot behind the abstract, behind the code.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I can finally do something really worthwhile. And especially I enjoy the people around here, my colleagues and the students who come in occasionally.
What was your favorite moment at Kiron so far?
My interview. It was one of the funniest interviews I’ve ever had. I came in for one hour and stayed for four. After the interview, we totally lost track of time and just kept talking. We kept discussing and from the first moment, I felt super connected.
Describe yourself in one sentence:
A catalyst – I feel like I’m improving myself and others when I’m working in a group. I can always work best when connected.
Who are you outside of Kiron?
I’m a pretty open guy. I like to do a lot of sports even in a warm summer like this. I like to go out and meet new people. I love to travel with not a lot of stuff, like for a month with only hand luggage. I like to see how it feels to have nothing to care for. I’ve traveled to Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, mostly North, Central, and South America.
Some last words for Kiron…
I know sometimes it’s hard to work with new groups. It’s hard to open up and realize that other people have no malintent, and that essentially we’re all working towards the same goal. Ideally, we can then focus on working well together, and not on being well advertised.
We are delighted to have Julian as part of our Kiron family now, supporting our data analysis and research.