Meet Giulia Migliore — a brainy gym rat with a background in biopsychology and a mission to make data science actually useful. Whether she’s lifting weights or launching LLMs, this now 23-year-old Italian is all about strength, structure, and smart thinking. With her first job in the pocket and a neatly packed lunchbox still by her side, Giulia’s just getting started.
Favorite ELAS: the Neanderthal 🦴
A scientific soul with a sporty streak
Originally from Padova, a charming city near Venice, Giulia made the bold move to settle in the Netherlands after an internship in Utrecht stole her heart. “The way people work here is so balanced — productive and flexible. It felt like the future.” So she returned to start a Master’s in Applied Data Science at Utrecht University.
But data wasn’t always the dream. Giulia’s roots are in psychology — or more precisely, psychological, cognitive, and psychobiological sciences. “It was like psychology with a neuroscience twist,” she explains. Think: brain scans, not talk therapy. From there, her statistical foundation led her to data science, which felt like the perfect bridge between theory and tech. “I didn’t want to start over with a whole new AI bachelor. Data science gave me the tools and the career path.”
Detour to ASReview — and why that worked out
Giulia didn’t end up at ASReview by design — at least, not at first. Originally assigned to a project with a startup, her plans fell through when the company ceased to exist a week after the match. “I panicked. It was less than a month before the thesis period started.” But the stars aligned, and a last-minute list of alternatives led her to ASReview. “It turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened. I’ve learned way more here than I ever could’ve in a chaotic startup.”
What drew her in? The fact that ASReview is one of the biggest open-source projects at the university — and the sense of community behind it. “I expected this strict, serious research vibe. But instead, I found a warm, transparent group of people who genuinely care. Everyone’s happy to help, and interested in what you’re doing. That makes you want to do your best.”
Using LLMs to cut through the noise
For her thesis, Giulia dove into the cutting edge: exploring how large language models (LLMs) could help researchers eliminate irrelevant papers before they even get to the abstract. “Screening titles with an LLM could save so much time. If we can rule out the obvious mismatches early, we can make the whole process more efficient.”
She worked with custom prompts, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and a fair bit of technical troubleshooting. “Setting up the virtual machine to run the model was a challenge. But it taught me a lot — like working with the terminal, managing cloud resources, and getting things to run at scale.” And while publishing her results is still on the wishlist, her project already added value to the ASReview ecosystem — both technically and conceptually. “It’s a first step. But I’m sure LLMs will play a bigger role in ASReview’s future.”
“I like learning, but only when it has an actual purpose. At ASReview, what I did mattered — and that made all the difference.”
Structure, sport, and self-awareness
Ask anyone at the office, and they’ll tell you: Giulia is organized. Like, very organized. From meal prep to project planning, she’s got her act together. But she’s also deeply self-aware. “I like learning through doing. Not just for a grade — but because it matters. That’s what motivates me.”
Outside of her studies, she’s often found in the gym — lifting heavy five days a week. “It clears my head. I’m in my gym rat era,” she says with a grin. Her sports journey actually started early — with swimming, synchronized swimming, and even competitive rowing. “I came in second at the Italian nationals once! Water was kind of my element.”
And when she’s not coding or training? She dreams of a road trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights — or maybe a solo vacation just for the experience. “You know, take yourself with yourself. That kind of thing.”
Looking ahead — and already arriving
Since graduating last summer, Giulia has taken her first big leap into the working world as a junior data scientist at ASR — a perfect next step for someone who thrives on structure, challenge, and meaningful work. Her long-term goal? Moving into a project management or leadership role. “People I’ve worked with often told me I was a natural at taking the lead and keeping things organized. That kind of responsibility actually energizes me.” And from what we’ve seen, that energy is contagious.
Want to join Giulia and be part of ASReview during your studies? We’re always searching for enthusiastic students who want to contribute to our success. Contact us to explore the opportunities.
