PhD Researcher (2025 – present)
Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST) | University of Lausanne
About Me
I am a PhD researcher at the University of Lausanne (IDYST), focusing on the intersection of data science, and environmental conservation. Prior to starting my PhD, I did a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering and a Master’s in Data Science from the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO). I also worked for two years as a Scientific Assistant in the Computational Intelligence for Computational Biology research group (HEIG-VD).
Research
My doctoral research investigates the development and application of foundation models in environmental science, with a primary focus on fluvial ecosystems. Integrated within the European project MultiGIS4Rivers, my work uses machine learning and spatial data analysis to study:
- Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) dynamics
- River flood monitoring and risk assessment
- Biodiversity in riparian and forest corridors
- Forest fire impacts and prevention
Publications & Presentations
- ICANN 2026 (International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks) — Presentation
Paper: Strengths and Limits of Foundation Models for Land Use Land Cover Classification - ClimateInformatics 2026 — Poster Presentation
Abstract: Evaluating the Potential of Foundation Models for Land Use and Land Cover Classification
Contact
- Email: magali.egger@unil.ch
- Office: Geopolis, Room 3247 (UNIL-Mouline) Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland