Michal Kováč, who has spent fifteen years at universities in Basel and Oxford, and several years in Germany in the pharmaceutical industry, returned to Slovakia six years ago to lead efforts in data science at the Technical University of Bratislava. He started his career as a geneticist and molecular biologist but shifted his focus to data science to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of technological advancements in life sciences.

In an interview, Kováč highlights the indispensable role of programming and data science knowledge in 'life sciences'—areas pertaining to biology and related disciplines—especially as the volume of sequencing data doubles every nine months. He emphasizes the need for professionals in these fields to adapt and thrive within this evolving environment. Kováč is currently leading a laboratory at STU focused on personalized cancer treatment that leverages AI and genetic sequencing technologies to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

The rising intersection of AI with healthcare, particularly in oncology, indicates a significant shift towards data-driven methodologies that could revolutionize how diseases are treated. Kováč's work symbolizes a broader trend in the scientific community striving to remain at the forefront of innovation, thus marking a pivotal moment in medical research where human intuition increasingly intersects with artificial intelligence to potentially reshape treatment paradigms.