A strong degree program with a focus on data science and AI
We are very pleased to congratulate our AI Engineer, Michal Cislo, on a special milestone: He has successfully completed his master’s degree in computer science at the University of St. Gallen (HSG), with a specialization in data science and AI, earning top grades.
Balancing a degree program with a full-time job requires a great deal of dedication, perseverance, and initiative. We are all the more pleased that Michal has navigated this path so successfully.
We asked him what motivated him to pursue this degree, what his master’s thesis was about, and how he was able to balance his studies with his job at Online.
Why did you decide to pursue a master’s degree in computer science?
After completing my bachelor’s degree in computer science in Poland, I knew I wanted to continue my education in this field. I chose the Master’s program in Computer Science at the HSG, with a specialization in Data Science and AI, because I wanted to deepen my technical knowledge and specifically prepare myself for the developments that will shape our IT world in the future.
Given the speed at which AI is transforming our industry, it was clear to me that I wanted to explore this topic in greater depth.
What was your master’s thesis about?
The title of my master’s thesis was “Evolution of LLM-Based DevOps Agents with Preference-Based Fitness Selection.”
Simply put, I investigated whether AI agents based on large language models can evolve over multiple generations in a way that allows them to solve DevOps tasks more and more effectively.
The agents had different characteristics and preferences. I analyzed which of these characteristics prevail and become dominant depending on the respective operational objectives.
What was your biggest highlight or lesson learned during your studies?
The highlights definitely included the experiences outside of traditional classroom instruction. As part of various courses, I had the opportunity, among other things, to spend three days at CERN, visit Microsoft’s headquarters in Munich, and talk with members of the leadership team there.
These insights were not only very fascinating on a personal level, but they also showed me how differently technology is viewed and used in research, science, and business.
How were you able to balance your studies with your job at Online?
Especially at the beginning, it was a challenge to balance my master’s program with my job—some days were quite long as a result. The flexibility to adjust my work schedule to fit my studies was a huge help.
At the same time, my studies and my job complemented each other very well. I was able to apply what I learned at the university directly to my day-to-day work. Conversely, my practical experience at Online helped me better contextualize and understand many of the topics covered in my studies.
By specializing in data science and AI, I have also built a much stronger foundation for understanding current AI developments and thinking about how they can be effectively applied in practice.
We’re proud of your achievement
Dear Michal, we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations on this tremendous achievement. Your graduation demonstrates not only your professional expertise, but also your dedication and your commitment to continuous growth.
We look forward to continuing to benefit from your knowledge and fresh ideas as part of our team and in our projects.
