Ivan Ivani, PhD.

Ivan Ivani, PhD.

Data Scientist

I was born and raised in Novi Sad, Serbia, but as soon as I got scholarships I went abroad to study.

Education

image
My academic journey took me to Prague, where I studied physics at Charles University after receiving a scholarship. I earned my MSc degree in Biophysics there, working on Raman spectroscopy of biomolecules. During my time in Prague, I became fluent in Czech, adding to my native Serbian. Later, I moved to Barcelona to pursue a PhD in Structural Biology under Professor Modesto Orozco. This period was crucial for my development as a scientist, and I was fortunate to contribute to some exciting research. This period was crucial for my development as a scientist, and I was fortunate to contribute to some exciting research. While in Barcelona, I also became fluent in Spanish.

Researcher in Computational Biology in Prof. Orozco’s Lab, Barcelona, Spain

DNA surrounded with proteins My scientific career began in computational biology, where I specialized in force-field parameterization and molecular dynamics simulations of DNA, RNA, and proteins. At the Orozco Lab in Barcelona, I generated and analyzed petabytes of simulation data, applying tools to analyze and extract high-resolution metadata from complex molecular systems. This work contributed to structural biology and pharmaceutical design, culminating in publications such as one in Nature Methods (see my Publications tab!). I also collaborated with Dr. Eric Kool’s group at Stanford, gaining industry exposure and applying my research to real-world drug discovery pipelines. Full list of all my scientific publications

Work experience

Data Manager & Analyst in International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva/Amman/Damascus/Jerusalem/Caracas

Red Guacamaya on red cross aid boxes After my scientific career, my path took a different turn. Working for the ICRC as a Data Analyst and Data Manager Lead in the Protection unit was an incredible experience. I wasn’t always crunching numbers in the office, but diving deep into data from around the world both remotely and on-site in places like Geneva, Syria, Palestine, and Venezuela. As part of the Protection Unit, I was responsible for the secure processing and management of sensitive personal data, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and internal standards across multiple geographies. I built and maintained multi-location ETL pipelines using Python and SQL, improving data reliability and operational efficiency under challenging field conditions. My role bridged operational needs with technical execution—integrating field-level insights, designing scalable data workflows, and enforcing data governance for effective humanitarian action.

Data Scientist in RnD unit of Continental, Serbia

A parrot working on a computer with robotic arm I work in Continental’s R&D UX unit, where we manufacture in-car infotainment systems. My job combines data extraction and analysis, pipeline design, and data engineering, along with machine learning modeling to improve our products. I build robust data pipelines that process petabytes of manufacturing, enabling real-time insights and data-driven decision-making across international manufacturing ecosystem. I work with Manufacturing Execution System (MES) data on AWS and Oracle, covering different R&D areas and teams like Mechanical Engineering, Optical, and Display Technologies. I manage data access and analytical workflows across multiple global locations, ensuring consistency, scalability, and security. Using Power BI, I turn complex data into clear insights for engineers, leadership, and customers. I also develop Computer Vision algorithms to improve early-stage defect detection in manufacturing, always looking for new ways to use data for better decision-making.

My passion for computational science continues to inform my approach to data architecture, reproducibility, and system scalability in both industry and humanitarian sectors.

Skills

image
Over the years, I’ve developed a robust toolbox tailored to cross-domain data challenges. My expertise includes:

I pride myself on translating messy, complex datasets into clean, scalable, and insightful decision systems.

Languages

image
My multicultural career path has helped me build strong communication skills in several languages:

These language skills have been instrumental in navigating international teams, field operations, and cross-border collaborations—from leading data workshops in Damascus to co-designing systems in Geneva and Caracas.