Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Haralampos (Harry) Gavriilidis, a final-year PhD candidate in data management systems at BIFOLD & the Technische Universität Berlin. My research focuses on improving how different data systems work together, making them more efficient, scalable, and able to handle larger, more complex tasks.
Being part of Software Campus has been invaluable, offering the freedom to explore ideas, funding for a junior research team, and an industry partner, to validate real-world impact. The soft skills workshops have also helped me grow as a person and opened my eyes to things I wasn’t even aware of.
What is your IT-Project about – core topic – and how could it be used in the long run?
AI may be the star of modern technology, but its potential can’t be fully realized without efficient data management. Today, data is scattered across various systems, making integration slow, costly, and inefficient. My project, PolyDB, helps bring order by enabling seamless data integration, ensuring that applications can access, transfer, and analyze data fast and without wasting resources.
We’ve developed decentralized query execution, allowing systems to collaborate without unnecessary data movement. We also created an adaptive data transfer framework that optimizes how data moves across environments, whether between cloud servers, company databases, or local devices.
For instance, in medical research, hospitals can analyze patient data across locations without centralizing sensitive information. Similarly, a global company can sync data without overloading networks and compute nodes. And, while we talk a lot about big data, spreadsheets are still everywhere—so we’ve developed a more efficient way to integrate them, because let’s face it, they’re not going away anytime soon.
For more information about our research and tools, visit our website: http://polydbms.org.
What exactly was your personal reason to pursue a career in computer science?
When I was young, my aunt bought me a computer—but for my bad (or good) luck, it had issues. Unable to convince the store to replace it, I had to (try to) fix it myself. This sparked my curiosity about how computers work, leading me to where I am now, pursuing a PhD in data systems.I started in app and website development but soon realized my true interest was in the systems that manage data. Data infrastructure is the backbone of modern applications, and the challenges it presents at the intersection of distributed systems, compilers, algorithms, and data structures fascinated me.
One of the key reasons I continued on my path to a PhD has been the mentors I’ve had throughout the years, whose guidance and encouragement inspired me to push forward.
Did a specific (public) figure of computer science or management impress you in a certain matter?
I’ll admit, I’m a bit biased because I’m a database guy, but I’m particularly impressed by Edgar F. Codd’s relational model. His idea of organizing data into tables with relationships revolutionized data management and remains a core part of modern systems. The fact that Chamberlin’s SQL implementation turned this theory into something that powers almost every database today speaks to its lasting impact.
What fascinates me is how the relational model continues to be relevant, even as the tech world pushes for modern alternatives. Codd’s relational model proves that good ideas don’t fade away—they adapt and endure.
Besides your job and Software Campus, what makes your heart beat faster?
Riding my 90s Honda Africa Twin is my biggest passion outside of work. Yes, my mom is not thrilled about it, and my mechanic often complains about its age, but there’s something about hitting the open road that gives me a sense of freedom like nothing else.
When I find time, I practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ is often misunderstood—people think it’s all about violence and fighting, but it’s actually a very gentle art that helps you stay active.
I also play the saxophone, though I think my neighbors would rather prefer I stick to coding! It’s a great way to unwind and channel some creativity when I need a break from work.
If there was one sentence with which you could reach out to every person, what would you tell the world?
The most exciting breakthroughs come when curious people with different skills and perspectives work together—let’s make that happen more often.
Source language of this interview: German & English
