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About me

Marian Helcl
Øverli.

Applied Physicist · AI Developer · Creative Problem Solver

Education M.Sc. Applied Physics & Mathematics — NTNU
Location Oslo, Norway

An applied physicist who loves experimenting, small dogs, and a good toast.

I love all dogs, but there's something special about small dogs. They can be noisy, but also very cute.

I like to experiment and ask "what happens if I do this?" — curiosity is my default mode.

I love food, but I'm not picky — sometimes a toast can be the best thing in the world.

The Foundation

Where physics meets
problem solving.

I studied physics and mathematics at NTNU, but the real education was learning to think in systems.

At NTNU, I studied Applied Physics and Mathematics — a combination that teaches you not just how to solve equations, but how to model reality. Physics gave me the ability to break complex systems into understandable parts. Mathematics gave me the language to describe them precisely. Together, they shaped how I approach every problem: understand the fundamentals first, then build up.

Analytical Thinking

Physics trained me to decompose problems into first principles — identify what you know, what you need to find, and the simplest path between them.

Mathematical Modeling

From differential equations to statistical analysis — learning to create models that approximate reality well enough to be useful, and knowing their limits.

Systems Perspective

Applied physics is about real systems with feedback loops, constraints, and emergent behavior. This perspective applies just as well to software and organizations.

The Journey

From sound waves
to software.

Every career has a turning point. Mine was realizing that the best acoustic solutions were built with code.

Acoustic Consultant & Project Leader

Brekke & Strand Akustikk AS · 5+ years · Norway

I joined Brekke & Strand to work in acoustics, but I ended up transforming how the team worked. My main tasks were project leadership, planning, and acoustic consulting for building, industrial, and transportation projects — construction noise calculations in CadnaA, sound measurements, and regulatory compliance with Norwegian workplace legislation. But I saw an opportunity: the manual workflows were slowing us down. So I built automated data analysis pipelines, maintained SQL databases, and developed the company's intranet solution with Blazor Server on the frontend and ASP.NET Minimal API on the backend.

  • Led projects from early phase through completion in industrial and transportation acoustics
  • Conducted sound measurements and compared results against workplace legislation
  • Built construction noise calculations and rail traffic analysis in CadnaA
  • Developed automated workflows for data collection, analysis, and reporting
  • Created and maintained SQL databases for efficient data management
  • Built the company intranet: Blazor Server frontend, ASP.NET Minimal API backend
  • Created dashboards and visualization tools for real-time project insights
  • Wrote Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for automated tools
  • Mentored new employees and shared knowledge across the team
C# SQL Blazor ASP.NET CadnaA Python Data Analysis Project Leadership

Summer Research Associate

SINTEF Community · Summer · Norway

At SINTEF, one of Europe's largest independent research organizations, I worked in acoustic laboratories conducting measurements and research. This was where theory met practice — applying the physics I'd studied at NTNU to real-world acoustic problems in a professional research setting.

  • Worked in acoustic laboratories conducting professional measurements
  • Applied physics theory to practical acoustic research
  • Collaborated with experienced researchers in a multidisciplinary environment
Acoustics Laboratory Work Data Collection Research

Engineering Summer Intern

AquaGen AS · Summer · Norway

At AquaGen, a leading fish farming genetics company, I focused on automation and workflow optimization. It was a fascinating intersection of engineering and biology — building tools to make complex processes more efficient in an industry I hadn't expected to work in. This experience planted the seed for my love of automation.

  • Developed automation solutions for fish farming workflows
  • Optimized processes at the intersection of engineering and biology
  • Explored solutions for more efficient operations
Automation Workflow Design Python Engineering

Course Leader & Teacher

Various · Multiple years

Teaching has been a thread running through my career. As a course leader, I developed and delivered content in physics, mathematics, and chemistry to children. Teaching forces you to truly understand a concept — if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. This experience shaped how I communicate complex technical ideas in every role since.

  • Led courses in physics, mathematics, and chemistry for children
  • Developed clear pedagogical approaches for complex scientific concepts
  • Built strong communication skills that transfer to technical consulting
Teaching Communication Physics Mathematics Chemistry
Skills & Tools

Languages, frameworks,
and craft.

A toolkit shaped by physics, refined by consulting, and expanding into AI.

Core Proficient Exploring

Programming

  • Python
  • C#
  • SQL
  • HTML / CSS
  • TypeScript

Frameworks & Tools

  • Blazor Server
  • ASP.NET
  • Minimal API
  • CadnaA

Data & Analysis

  • Data Analysis
  • Data Modeling
  • SQL Databases
  • Data Visualization
  • Workflow Automation

AI & Machine Learning

  • Neural Networks
  • Deep Learning
  • AI Agents
  • AI Tool Development

Domain Expertise

  • Acoustics
  • Sound Measurement
  • Applied Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Regulatory Compliance

Leadership & Communication

  • Project Leadership
  • Client Collaboration
  • Technical Writing
  • Teaching & Mentoring
  • Team Collaboration
How I Think

Approaches to
complex problems.

The right framework turns a tangled problem into a solvable one.

Design Thinking

Start with empathy, end with solutions

Design Thinking puts the human at the center. Before jumping to solutions, I invest time understanding who I'm solving for and what they actually need — not what I assume they need. This means conducting interviews, observing workflows, and testing prototypes before committing to a final design. It's iterative: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test. Each loop brings you closer to something that truly works.

Real example

When I was building automated workflows at Brekke & Strand, I didn't start with the code. I started by observing how colleagues actually handled data — where they got stuck, what they repeated, what frustrated them. The automation I built wasn't just technically efficient; it fit naturally into how people already worked, which is why the team adopted it quickly.

First Principles Thinking

Break it down to what you know is true

First Principles Thinking means stripping a problem down to its fundamental truths and building up from there, rather than reasoning by analogy or convention. Instead of asking 'how has this been done before?' you ask 'what do we know for certain, and what can we build from that?' My physics background made this second nature — every equation starts from axioms.

Real example

In acoustic consulting, regulations tell you what noise levels are acceptable, but they don't tell you the best path to get there. By going back to the physics — how sound propagates, reflects, and attenuates — I could design solutions that were more effective and often simpler than the conventional approaches. The same thinking applies to software: understanding the underlying system lets you build better abstractions.

Systems Thinking

See the connections, not just the parts

Systems Thinking is about understanding how components interact and influence each other within a larger whole. Instead of optimizing one piece in isolation, you consider feedback loops, dependencies, and emergent behavior. A change in one part ripples through the system — and if you don't see the system, you won't see the ripple until it hits you.

Real example

When I led projects at Brekke & Strand, I couldn't just focus on the acoustic measurements in isolation. The data collection, analysis pipeline, client reporting, and regulatory compliance were all interconnected. By mapping these dependencies, I could identify bottlenecks — like manual data entry that delayed the entire reporting chain — and target automation where it would have the biggest systemic impact.

Why Work With Me

What I bring
to your team.

You need someone who can bridge the gap between deep technical work and clear communication.

Strong Technical Expertise

You need someone who doesn't just use tools — they understand the science behind them. My foundation in Applied Physics and Mathematics means I approach data analysis, modeling, and programming with deep understanding, not just pattern matching. When something breaks, I don't just Google the error; I reason about why it happened.

M.Sc. in Applied Physics and Mathematics from NTNU. Hands-on experience in data collection, analysis, modeling, and programming with Python and C#.

Real-World Consulting Experience

Theory is powerful, but it needs to be tested in the real world. Over five years as an Acoustic Consultant, I managed projects end-to-end — from planning and client conversations to data analysis and final delivery. I learned that the best technical solution means nothing if you can't communicate it clearly and deliver it on time.

5+ years at Brekke & Strand Akustikk AS, leading projects in industrial and transportation acoustics.

AI & Machine Learning Focus

The field is moving fast, and I'm moving with it. My current work centers on developing AI tools and AI agents, backed by certifications in Neural Networks and Deep Learning. I'm not just following the AI trend — I'm building with it, understanding the principles behind it, and thinking critically about its implications.

Certifications in Neural Networks and Deep Learning. Active development of AI tools and agent-based systems.

Teaching & Communication Skills

The ability to explain complex ideas simply is underrated. Years of teaching physics, math, and chemistry to children — plus experience as a course leader — taught me that communication is a skill you practice, not a talent you're born with. I bring this to every team meeting, client presentation, and code review.

Described as 'pedagogical in training new employees' and 'eager to share knowledge' by former employer.

Adaptability & Growth Mindset

From acoustics to automation, from C# to AI agents — my career is defined by adaptation. I don't just tolerate change; I seek it out. Every new domain is an opportunity to apply familiar thinking to unfamiliar problems, and that cross-pollination is where the best ideas come from.

Diverse career spanning physics, acoustics, software development, automation, and AI. Consistent pattern of learning new domains and delivering results quickly.

Where I'm Headed

AI, agents, and
the future.

The tools we build today will shape how we solve problems tomorrow.

AI Agents & Tool Development

Building intelligent agents that can reason, plan, and take action. I'm exploring how autonomous AI systems can assist with complex workflows — from data analysis to decision support. This is where my automation experience meets cutting-edge AI.

Active

Neural Networks & Deep Learning

Deepening my understanding of neural architectures and their practical applications. With certifications already in hand, I'm focused on applying these techniques to real-world problems rather than just understanding them in theory.

Active

AI Ethics & Responsible Development

As AI becomes more powerful, the questions around ethics, personal data, and responsible development become more urgent. I believe that building AI responsibly isn't a constraint — it's a design requirement that leads to better systems.

Growing

Cybersecurity Awareness

Understanding security isn't optional when you're building tools that handle data. I'm growing my knowledge of cybersecurity principles to ensure that the systems I build are secure by design, not as an afterthought.

Growing

Data Analysis & Programming

Python and C# remain my core programming languages, and data analysis is the thread connecting all my work. Whether it's acoustic measurements, workflow metrics, or AI training data — the ability to extract meaning from data is the skill that never gets old.

Foundation
The Creative Side

Where curiosity
meets craft.

Creativity isn't separate from technical work — it's the engine that drives it.

My creativity doesn't live in one domain — it shows up wherever I work. When I was building automation at Brekke & Strand, the creativity wasn't in the code itself but in seeing the opportunity: recognizing that a manual, error-prone process could become an elegant automated workflow. When I teach, creativity is about finding the analogy that makes a difficult concept seem easy.

Cross-Domain Thinking

The best ideas come from connecting fields that don't usually talk to each other. My path from physics to acoustics to software to AI has given me a toolkit that draws from each domain to solve problems in the next.

Knowledge Sharing

Creativity multiplies when you share it. I'm described as eager to share knowledge and pedagogical in training new team members. Making complex ideas accessible isn't just about communication — it's a creative act in itself.

Process Innovation

Seeing an inefficient workflow and imagining a better one is a form of creativity. From automated data pipelines to intranet solutions, I've consistently found ways to make teams more effective through creative engineering.

Curiosity-Driven Growth

I'm drawn to new challenges because curiosity is the fuel for creativity. Whether it's exploring AI agents, deepening my cybersecurity knowledge, or thinking about the ethics of the technology we build — each new area feeds the creative engine.

The Journey
Connect

Let's build
something together.

Please contact me for AI discussions, opportunities, or just to connect with me.

© 2026 Marian Helcl Øverlithe full story