From Data to Insight: Bridging Theory and Practice at PMOD/WRC
July 10, 2025
My name is Luca Baumann, and I am a Master student in Data Science at ETH Zurich. During my Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, I discovered my passion for Machine Learning and working with data. Since Data Science combines both aspects, I decided to continue my studies in the specialised Data Science master’s degree. However, since many courses at ETH Zurich heavily focus on theoretical principles and practical applications are often slightly more neglected, it is crucial to work on hands-on projects. Hence, the Internship at PMOD/WRC was the perfect opportunity for me to continue working on my skills and gather valuable practice experience by working with real-world data. This perfectly aligns with my career aspirations. After my studies I would like to work as a Data Scientist or Machine Learning Engineer.
What impressed me most about my time at PMOD/WRC was its long-lasting history. Many of the components of the used satellites are available in PMOD/WRC’s own museum and one could see the technological advancements of early versions of satellites compared to new ones. This was particularly useful to grasp a better understanding of the satellites and to understand where on the satellite which data was measured. Additionally, everyone in the team was very welcoming and helpful which made interactions and collaborations very pleasant.
Another impressive aspect of my Internship in Davos was the amazing view on the train ride to and from Davos as well as in Davos itself. Switzerland has so many beautiful nature landscapes and I think especially as a Swiss Citizen this gets frequently forgotten because we take it too much for granted.
Personally, I learned so much from my time at PMOD/WRC. It combined many important tasks like data preparation and cleaning, as well as model training and evaluation. Each of these tasks are part of the daily business a Data Scientist must deal with. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity! I think this internship experience helped me prepare for my later career, and strengthened my conviction to pursue a career in Data Science.
About PMOD/WRC
One of the trickiest acronyms in the ETH Zurich ecosystem, PMOD/WRC stands for “Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos / World Radiation Center.” It is a leading Swiss research institute dedicated to studying solar radiation and its influence on Earth’s climate. As a designated calibration center for the World Meteorological Organization, PMOD/WRC develops high-precision radiometers for both space-based and ground-based applications, ensuring global consistency in solar irradiance measurements and supporting international climate monitoring efforts. Find out more on their website: https://www.pmodwrc.ch/en/home/
