TEAM MEMBERS

Jan Reerink - Head of the Data Science Section

Prior to joining ESA I worked in various data science and data analytics teams in the aerospace industry.

Aside from supporting ESA's missions I enjoy reading science fiction novels and playing board games with my kids.

If you want to collaborate, please feel free to send me an email.

jan.reerink at esa.int

Pablo Gómez - Data Scientist

I am a Data Scientist working at the intersection of machine learning and space science and joined the Data Science Section in September 2023. My work in the section centers on identifying ways to maximise scientific return from the science missions using machine learning methods and improving the ESA Datalabs platform. For this, I work closely with colleagues from the Gaia, XMM, Euclid and Ariel missions. Previously, I worked as a Research Fellow in the Advanced Concepts Team at ESTEC and as a seconded researcher at AI Sweden in Stockholm. I did my Ph.D. in the Phoniatrics department under Prof. Döllinger at the University Hospital Erlangen / FAU.

My original background is in computer science, which I studied at TUM. Personally, I am strong proponent of open source and open science. I am the maintainer of the PASEOS and torchquad Python modules.

Further, I am passionate about topics related to gender, diversity and inclusion. In my free time I enjoy running, chess, classical music (violin & piano), producing electronic music and complementing my caffeine addiction with vegan food.

If you are a student interested in a thesis topic related to my topics, please feel free to send me an email.

pablo.gomez at esa.int

Sandor Kruk - Data Scientist

Description of the position

Background

Personal

If you want to collaborate, please feel free to send me an email.

sandor.kruk at esa.int

Vicente Navarro - Senior System Engineer

Description of the position

Backgroung

Personal

If you want to collaborate or ..., please feel free to send me an email.

vicente.navarro at esa.int

Arkadiusz Skórski - National Trainee

I am a Software Engineer working on the development of ESA Datalabs, supporting the Euclid mission, and contributing to cloud and automation initiatives within the Data Science Section. I joined the section in July 2024 through the Polish National Trainee Programme. As part of this, I focus on integrating innovative solutions that optimize scalability, data accessibility, and processing to maximize the scientific return of space missions.

I studied at Gdańsk University of Technology, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Space & Satellite Engineering. Before joining ESA, I worked at Intel for three years as a Software Developer and later as a Team Leader, followed by two years at Accenture, where I worked on a project for the financial sector.

Professionally, I strive to develop my skills in .NET, DevOps, Cloud, and AI, as well as Project Management and Data Analytics. Outside of work, I love playing musical instruments (guitars, piano, and drums), learning more about history, expanding my home automation solutions, and composing rock and metal music.

If you want to collaborate, please feel free to send me an email.

arkadiusz.skorski at ext.esa.int

David O'Ryan - Internal Research Fellow

Hi! My name is David O'Ryan, an internal research fellow at the European Space Astronomy Centre working in the data science team at ESA. I am a project scientist in the team and use ESA Datalabs with the large ESA archives to further my research. My research is focused on the evolution of galaxy morphology - how galaxies appear - with galactic environment - where galaxies reside. To constrain this evolution, we require large samples of galaxies across many different environments. These environments can be as sparse as field galaxies to as dense as the cores of galaxy clusters. By comparing the morphological differences over many galaxies in each environment we can get a sense of the impact it is having on galactic evolution.

When I am not working as a researcher, I spend my time on different programming projects, bouldering, hiking in the mountains near Madrid and playing board games with friends. I travel a lot, both for work and in my own time, and love exploring new places (well, mainly new restaurants).

If you want to collaborate, please feel free to send me an email.

david.oryan at esa.int

Léa Zuili - ESA Graduate Trainee

Hi! I’m Léa Zuili, a Young Graduate Trainee in the Data Science team at ESAC. I studied aerospace engineering with a major in Earth Observation, yet here I am, collaborating with space scientists. While Earth Observation—especially in the context of sustainable development—remains my field of choice, I was thrilled to join ESAC and work alongside experts in astrophysics and cosmology, subjects that have always fascinated me.

Before ESAC, I spent a year as a Data Engineer at a Parisian startup, using data fusion technologies to improve decision-making in the energy and environmental sectors. Now, in the Data Science team, I focus on MLOps, developing a prototype framework that could be integrated into ESA Datalabs. The goal? To enhance research reproducibility, streamline collaboration, and make life easier for machine learning scientists—tailoring the framework to the unique needs of space researchers in an academic setting. I’m particularly curious about how MLOps differs between academia and industry. Do researchers have different needs? Perceptions? How does the value of MLOps shift across these fields?

Beyond my technical work, I stay committed to sustainability as a Green Agenda Agent, supporting ESA’s Green Agenda 2025 to drive sustainability initiatives and foster cultural change. Outside of work, I can spend hours reading, watching videos or experimenting about fashion and cuisine. When I’m not having a walk around Madrid.

If you want to collaborate, please feel free to send me an email.

lea.zulli at esa.int

Marie-Alix Gillyboeuf - ESA Graduate Trainee

I am a Graduate Trainee at ESA, working on enhancing the accessibility of data in space science. Since joining the Data Science Section in September 2024, my focus has been on improving the ESA Datalabs platform by developing innovative methods that make space science more inclusive and accessible. As part of this effort, I am prototyping tools for effective data sonification.

My academic background is in Life Science Engineering and Data Science, which I studied at EPFL. Since joining ESA, I have also become a member of the Young ESA ED&I team, as I am passionate about diversity and inclusion and committed to fostering a more inclusive environment.

Outside of work, I have a passion for traveling and scuba diving. I also love spending my free time hiking, drawing, or simply enjoying a good book. 

If you want to collaborate or to know more about my project, please feel free to send me an email.

marie-alix.gillyboeuf at esa.int

Rafał Osadnik - National Trainee

I am a national trainee from Poland specializing in data science, working in the Data Science and Archives Division of the Science and Operations Department. I come from the Upper Silesia region and proudly identify as a "Hanys." In my role, I am currently involved in data science projects, focusing on computer vision, particulary on monocular depth estimation in the context of digital elevation models generation from optical images.

Before joining the team I worked at GMV as a machine learning engineer, using deep learning to identify hazardous landing zones during lunar landing. I also worked for the Silesian University of Technology as a C++ developer in an R&D project, implementing high performance digital twin of a commercial machine.

I hold an engineering degree in Technical Physics from the Silesian University of Technology and a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence from the Gdańsk University of Technology. I am interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in the field of applied machine learning.

I am interested in anything machine learning related from it's foundations, through design patterns to obscure methods and algorithms that nobody remembers anymore. My hobbies include embedded programming, hardware design, aeronautics, beer brewing, and resistance training. I am also an avid fan of various extreme metal genres.

If you want to get in touch, feel free to send me an email.

rafal.osadnik at ext.esa.int