From biology to data science: natural sciences offer many career paths

It was at a rock festival that Benedikt Venn’s interest in studying biology at RPTU was sparked. A few years later, he organized an international conference as a data scientist. In between lie intense years of study, many hours in the lab, and a doctoral thesis at the intersection of biology and computer science. His path shows just how diverse and varied a career with a background in the natural sciences can be.

When Benedikt Venn first hears about studying biology at what is now RPTU, he is standing in a field at Rock am Ring. Between concerts and cans of ravioli, an acquaintance tells him about the degree program in Kaiserslautern. At that point, Benedikt Venn was actually already enrolled at another university. He decided to transfer, not yet realizing that his acquaintance would become a close friend from his studies—and that the transfer would pave a path leading him all the way to a doctorate.

More than just classical biology

His start in Kaiserslautern initially feels like traditional biology: In botany class, the professor hands out various plant branches in the lecture hall—hardly anyone can identify them: “And you want to study biology?” the professor asks. The scene sticks with him. But it quickly becomes clear: biology is far more than just factual knowledge. It’s not just about cramming material, but about solving problems, planning experiments, and interpreting data.

Learning and Life in Community

What helps Benedikt Venn most in his studies are the people around him: “I’ll never forget the many evenings and nights I spent with classmates and friends at the university,” he recalls. “Whether it was at parties, study sessions during exam periods, or later in the lab when we were tinkering with a problem.”

To network and benefit from the experiences of upperclassmen, Benedikt Venn is active on the Biology Student Council: “Over time, I was able to take on more responsibility; I served as student council spokesperson and, as a member of the departmental council, was involved in faculty appointments and curriculum reforms.”

It’s not just his fellow students who guide him through the challenges of the first semesters; the close support from professors and staff also helps him find his footing.

New Research Branch

During his master’s program, a seminar with Professor Timo Mühlhaus provided him with a decisive impetus. Mühlhaus is establishing a new theoretical research group within the department that focuses on data-driven methods. “This field is becoming increasingly important in modern biology because experiments generate ever-larger amounts of data,” Benedikt Venn explains. “This data is virtually impossible to manage without computer-assisted analysis.”

For Benedikt Venn, this marked his entry into a field that was initially new to him: data science. “Programming was completely foreign to me until then, but the possibilities quickly convinced me to hang up my lab coat and pursue this line of research,” he reports.

Timo Mühlhaus also shapes Benedikt Venn’s future path: He offers to supervise his master’s thesis, which he completes in 2018 as the top student in his class. In it, he works with image data from brain research and analyzes temporal activity patterns of nerve cells. The goal is to better understand neurological activity patterns.

Germany Scholarship helps finance studies

To continue financing his studies, Benedikt Venn applied for a Germany Scholarship (more information on the Germany Scholarship). In addition to his academic achievements, his social engagement—which he contributes through the student council—also counts here. “I was lucky enough to actually be selected by a private sponsor,” he says. “The Germany Scholarship allowed me to participate in exciting events where I could connect with people from various industries in a relaxed atmosphere. This opened up new perspectives for my future career path.”

Research with Social Relevance

After completing his master’s degree, Benedikt Venn initially decided to stay at RPTU. He began his doctoral studies, working with data that tracks biological adaptive responses over extended periods. Specifically, he is investigating how plants react to changing environmental conditions. “Especially against the backdrop of climate change, this field of research particularly appealed to me,” he adds. “A better understanding of such processes can help us understand how plants and ecosystems might react to future changes.”

Organizing an International Conference

During his doctoral studies, Benedikt Venn works on data science libraries that his research group develops and makes publicly available. These tools, originally intended for his own research, attract international interest: Benedikt Venn receives a LinkedIn message from a company that wants to use his system and seeks his consultation. He hesitates briefly—then replies.

That initial contact quickly leads to more: Together with other stakeholders, Benedikt Venn organizes an international data science conference in Berlin, attended by around 120 researchers. For three days, the focus is on “Data Science in F#.” He reports: “I never would have dreamed that I’d one day help organize an international data science conference. I wasn’t a model student and had no interest in computer science. It was during my studies that I discovered a true passion.”

From a Ph.D. to a Career as a Data Scientist

After completing his doctorate, Benedikt Venn decided to move into the private sector. Today, he works as a data scientist at the IT consulting firm Exxeta. There, he works in various areas: “The project-based work, new challenges, and the variety of topics appealed to me.” Nevertheless, the mindset he developed in research continues to shape his work: structuring complex problems, recognizing patterns, and drawing reliable conclusions from data are all part of his daily routine.

His advice: Not everything has to be clear from the start

The RPTU graduate advises students and prospective students to keep an open mind and not commit too early. Not everything has to be clear from the start. What’s important is seizing opportunities and trying new things. His path shows that careers don’t always require a set plan. Often, they’re a process shaped by decisions, encounters, and the enthusiasm to learn new things.