Valentin Bacher, PhD Student, University of Oxford

To help current students and recent graduates navigate the world of work, several USI Alumni shared their career paths and career story. Here the story of Valentin Bacher, PhD Student at University of Oxford in Oxford (UK). USI Degree: Master in Computational Science, 2023.

How did you start your career?

As I enjoyed the project of my master's thesis very much, I decided that I want to stay a little longer in academia to do a PhD. To gain additional international experience, I went to England to conduct the research for my master's thesis. With the support of my English supervisor I will now start a fully funded PhD in medical image processing at the University of Oxford.

Why did you choose a career at University of Oxford?

To get additional international experience I went to England to write my master's thesis in cooperation with the University of Oxford. I therefore already knew the group and my potential supervisor for the PhD very well. Next to the Universities reputation, knowing that I will get along very well with my supervisor was the most important reason why I relocated to England.

What is your current role/duties?

I worked as a Research Assistant and will now start as a PhD student. Besides teaching and tutoring responsibilities, my work evolves around data acquisition, management and conducting research with the data collected.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career at University of Oxford?

From all I can tell, the universities in the UK have a very strong focus on academic merit and less on extracurricular activities, definitely more so than mainland European universities and American universities. I think the qualities the university is looking for are curiosity, the ability to work independently and not being afraid to ask questions.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

The reason why I chose the master's in computational sciences was the strong focus on mathematics and statistics. During my bachelor's studies in Germany in medical engineering, which focused mainly on applications, I wanted a deeper understanding of the mathematical foundation of machine learning. I specifically chose USI for two reasons, the first one being the strong international cooperation with other universities. I did a double degree with the FAU in Germany, where I already studied for my bachelor's degree. The second unique feature of USI for me was its small size, resulting in smaller lectures and therefore way more interaction with the lectures, especially compared to Germany. The small course size and the very close interaction were extremely valuable for me.

What competences and skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

As a new PhD student, the main qualities acquired at USI for my current position are mainly of an academic nature. Especially the mathematical and statistical subjects I attended at USI helped me a lot with the theoretical evaluation of the methods I was developing as a Research Assistant in England and will hopefully continue doing so during my PhD. Besides this, USI put a stronger focus on presentations which are also very useful for outreach during a PhD.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

What I profited most from was not being afraid to ask lecturers for help or recommendation letters and using as many networking opportunities and the alumni network as possible. I found it astonishing what is possible if you ask people and how supportive most professors were.