Camilla Borre is a Senior Data Scientist at The LEGO Group
Where did you graduate from and with which degree?
I have a PhD in astronomy from Aarhus University.
Please give a description of the work you do in your current position.
I am a data scientist in the additive design and manufacturing department at the LEGO Group.
My work primarily consists of looking at data from our machines (mostly our 3D printers) and comparing it to the quality of our printed parts. I make different data and machine learning models to optimize part quality, production time, machine maintenance etc. This is done by making experiments, prediction models and general data handling tricks.
I work very closely with the engineers in my team. They are the subject matter experts and know a lot about the machines and processes. By combining their knowledge and my understanding of physics and data analysis, we push the machines to perform at the top of their game.
A lot of my work is also spent visualizing and preparing data to enable my engineering colleagues, so they can do their own data analysis and monitoring and to assist the machine operators with their work. I also work with management to make data-driven decisions on how best to progress with the program.
The actual data science work is very similar to my work doing the PhD. The biggest difference is that during my studies it felt like being in a bubble of peers that knew the same (and often more) than myself. In the private sector I am often the expert on a topic and I have to translate to and work with a lot of different people from different backgrounds.
What motivated you to study physics or engineering in the first place?
I love understanding how the world works. Why do the stars shine? Why is the sky blue? How does a laser work? That all these things have a logical explanation that is true always and everywhere is fascinating to me. I am constantly amazed with how simple and complex the world is at the same time. I think there is a lot of beauty in how the universe works and how many crazy phenomena are out there. Things that can only truly be understood through the language of physics. The world and universe is an amazing place.
Furthermore, because the world is so logical, it means that it can be understood and predicted. Through my studies I found a love for analysing data and coming up with a prediction based on maths and logic. Seeing that prediction come true through tests or experiments is extremely fulfilling and exciting.
What made you decide to pursue a career in the private sector?
I love astronomy and research but academia is a special place. In my field you need to move around between post-docs in different parts of the world every two to three years and never know where you end up or if you ever get the professor position in the end.
What I really valued about astronomy was the research part and that also exists in the private sector. I miss astronomy and studying the stars, but in the end I valued staying close to my family and not having the uncertainty of where my next job will be (and if I can get the funding to continue). I am glad I made the change. There are many great jobs out there that I never knew of. I didn’t know you could work with developing 3D printers at the LEGO Group or that it would be something for me, but I’m super happy I found out.
How do you use the skills you learned as a physicist or engineer in your work?
More than anything, I use that I have learned to learn. I knew nothing about 3D printing when I started, but because I have been taught how to acquire new knowledge quickly and efficiently, I could catch up in less than 6 months. Apart from that, data is data. It doesn’t matter if you are looking at the stars or LEGO bricks. If you know statistics and coding you can get far in any R&D environment. Lastly, I also use my skills of communicating complex topics in an easy and approachable way for non-experts. This is a huge advantage when working with everybody from operators to engineers to management.
What does being a physicist or engineer mean to you?
It means to have a good understanding of how things are linked together and a good intuition for how things work and how to influence them. It’s a critical mindset combined with a sense of curiosity and a will to question and challenge our current understandings and push for improvements.
What advice would you give to young people (in particular women and minorities) with a background in physics or engineering who would like to pursue a career in the private sector?
Go for it! You know a lot and have much to contribute to any work place. You are much more qualified than you might think.
There are many cool jobs out there, so find out what it is that you love to do. If you are worried that going to the private sector means leaving research behind, I can assure you that that doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of research jobs in the private sector, and although it might not be researching stars (or your favourite topic), there are many other interesting things to explore. I am of the conviction that if you know enough about a topic it becomes interesting. I would have never thought I would be interested in 3D printers, but the more I learn about them, the more interesting and intriguing I find them. The world is full of exciting things. Also outside of academia.
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