Manuel Bayer

My doctoral research began with gigabytes of new night sky imagery; a pilot project used Python to extract and model data on faint stars from these images. I adapted code for additional datasets and analysed large-scale data (one gigabyte to terabytes) with SQL, Python, and R, deriving 100+ attributes for thousands to billions of stars. I presented results at international conferences and in three reports, one under peer review. I co-supervised successful bachelor’s and master’s theses.

After my first part-time job as student research assistant part from May 2018 to August 2019, the scientific report on the results obtained from the analysis of the multi-wavelength data and models of this data for specialists of the field needed to be finished. I was tasked with collecting and visualising this multi-wavelength data and models of the data using Python, and finishing the scientific report. I learned how to submit a scientific report to a peer-review journal and gained more Python experience.

Gigabytes of multi-wavelength image and tabular data with 10+ attributes required further analysis and visualisation. Collected, analysed, and visualised this data using Python packages, such as Numpy, SciPy, pandas, and scikit-learn for data science, and Matplotlib for data visualisation.

The doctoral program provided rigorous scientific and professional training through coursework, conferences, and networking. My dissertation used bright giant stars with reliable distances to study the Milky Way beyond the visible band/disc. Coursework included A1 Dutch, time management, and teaching assistant preparation for a galaxies course.

The program integrated physics methods, improved communication, promoted adaptability, and guided discipline strategies, while coursework included statistics and two English courses. An Erasmus+ Traineeship Scholarship supported master's research at the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, University of Central Lancashire, using Bash and Python for stellar data analysis.

The program addressed physics, mathematics, collaboration, and skills like presentations and time management. A bachelor’s thesis used Python to analyze multi-wavelength data from compact stellar systems for galactic evolution. Coursework included linear algebra, Python, LaTeX, computational science, and physics labs.