Systems
Scalable backend architecture
Java/Spring Boot services, REST APIs, cloud integrations, batch processing, and maintainable modular design.
Technical Project Lead & Software Architect
Dr. Alex El-Shaikh
I lead and build data-intensive software systems from requirements to delivery, combining architecture decisions, Java/Spring Boot engineering, cloud integration, stakeholder alignment, and a research foundation in database systems.
Project delivery
Requirements, risks, dependencies, and technical decisions
Backend architecture
Java, Spring Boot, SQL, REST, and cloud services
Data systems
PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Neo4j, Elasticsearch, Kafka, Spark
7 publications
DNA storage and database systems
Engineering Focus
Architecture. Delivery. Data.
Systems
Data
Database-heavy applications
Relational and NoSQL systems, ETL pipelines, query optimization, indexing, and TB-scale research data.
Delivery
Project and delivery leadership
Stakeholder alignment, requirements engineering, risk and dependency management, reviews, mentoring, and Scrum/Kanban collaboration.
Research
Product-minded research depth
DNA data storage, distributed systems, scientific software, and translating complex domains into usable systems.
Career
Selected experience
Aug 2026 - present
Software Developer
Hessische Zentrale für Datenverarbeitung (HZD), Wiesbaden
- Design the database and persistence layer for the modernization of nationwide German tax systems.
- Model persistence flows and support migration from legacy system structures.
- Integrate cloud solutions for secure, efficient data processing and fraud-prevention capabilities.
Apr 2026 - Jul 2026
Senior Software Engineer
Accelerated Solutions GmbH, Frankfurt am Main
- Coordinated implementation across requirements, architecture, and development.
- Supported delivery through technical decisions, reviews, mentoring, and performance optimization.
- Contributed hands-on to Java/Spring Boot backend development and AWS integration.
Feb 2025 - Feb 2026
Postdoctoral Researcher
Imperial College London, Department of Computing
- Coordinated interdisciplinary work across computer science, biology, and chemistry.
- Led technical design and evaluation of DNA-based storage architectures and economic models.
- Supervised student research and delivered English-language NoSQL database lectures.
Nov 2019 - Dec 2024
Research Fellow & PhD Candidate
Philipps University Marburg
- Designed database and storage architectures for scientific datasets, indexing, query processing, and DNA-based storage.
- Owned research and software topics end-to-end, including student projects and theses.
- Contributed to NFDI4Biodiversity interfaces and third-party funding proposals.
Mar 2014 - Oct 2019
Teaching & Research Assistant
Philipps University Marburg
- Supported programming labs, software engineering practicals, and student groups.
- Tutored Java, OOP, algorithms, logic, mathematics, and database systems.
Academic Foundation
Education
PhD in Computer Science
Philipps University Marburg
- Dr. rer. nat., final grade 1.0, magna cum laude.
- Dissertation: Implementing random access on DNA data storage systems.
M.Sc. Computer Science
Philipps University Marburg
- Thesis: Lightweight Indexing on Data Streams, grade 1.3.
- Minor in economics.
ERASMUS Semester
Aalto University, Helsinki
- Exchange semester in Helsinki, Finland.
- International study experience in computer science.
B.Sc. Computer Science
Philipps University Marburg
- Thesis: Android game with interactive water simulation, grade 1.3.
- Minor in business administration.
Research
Publications
2026
arXiv preprint
An Economic Analysis of DNA-based Data Storage Systems
BibTeX
@misc{El-Shaikh2026economic,
author={El-Shaikh, Alex and Seeger, Bernhard and Heinis, Thomas},
title={An Economic Analysis of DNA-based Data Storage Systems},
year={2026},
eprint={2608.26342},
archivePrefix={arXiv},
primaryClass={cs.ET},
doi={10.48550/arXiv.2608.26342},
url={https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2608.26342}
}2026
Manuscript in preparation
On supporting ad-hoc filter queries on DNA storage using customized B+-trees
2026
Manuscript in preparation
Optimising DNA Storage by Utilising DNA-Origami Structures
2023
Scientific Reports
Content-based filter queries on DNA data storage systems
BibTeX
@article{El-Shaikh2023query,
author={El-Shaikh, Alex and Seeger, Bernhard},
title={Content-based filter queries on DNA data storage systems},
journal={Scientific Reports},
year={2023},
volume={13},
number={1},
pages={7053},
doi={10.1038/s41598-023-34160-5},
url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34160-5}
}2023
BTW 2023
DNAContainer: An object-based storage architecture on DNA
BibTeX
@incollection{El-Shaikh2023container,
author={El-Shaikh, Alex and Seeger, Bernhard},
title={DNAContainer: An object-based storage architecture on DNA},
year={2023},
booktitle={BTW 2023},
publisher={Gesellschaft fuer Informatik e.V.},
address={Bonn},
pages={773--795},
doi={10.18420/BTW2023-50}
}2023
Datenbank-Spektrum
An Extension of DNAContainer with a Small Memory Footprint
BibTeX
@article{El-Shaikh2023smf,
author={El-Shaikh, Alex and Seeger, Bernhard},
title={An Extension of DNAContainer with a Small Memory Footprint},
journal={Datenbank-Spektrum},
year={2023},
doi={10.1007/s13222-023-00460-3}
}2022
NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics
High-scale random access on DNA storage systems
BibTeX
@article{El-Shaikh2022random,
author={El-Shaikh, Alex and Welzel, Marius and Heider, Dominik and Seeger, Bernhard},
title={High-scale random access on DNA storage systems},
journal={NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics},
year={2022},
doi={10.1093/nargab/lqab126}
}No publications match your filters.
Academic Work
Talks, awards, and service
Invited and conference presentations
Ain Shams University, Cairo
Invited talk on DNA as an alternative medium for data storage, including cost and long-term viability.
BTW 2023, TU Dresden
Presented DNAContainer and received the Best Workshop Paper Award at the NoDMC Workshop.
DSMM 2022, University of Marburg
Presented high-scale random access for emerging DNA data storage systems.
Research recognition
Best Paper
NoDMC Workshop, BTW 2023 for DNAContainer: an object-based storage architecture on DNA.
Editor's Choice
NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics selection for high-scale random access on DNA storage systems.
Reviewing, supervision, and academic support
Peer Review
Trends in Biotechnology
Nature Communications
Scientific Reports
Briefings in Bioinformatics
BMC Bioinformatics
Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
Supervision
Bachelor projects
Master projects
Graduation projects
Programming projects
Exercise classes
Tutorials
Mentoring
Teaching
Lectures
- Relational Database Systems - University of Marburg
- NoSQL Databases - University of Marburg
- Geospatial Databases - University of Marburg
- Implementing Database Systems - University of Marburg
- Efficient Algorithms - University of Marburg
- NoSQL database systems - Imperial College London
Exercise Sessions
Database Systems
NoSQL
Software Engineering
Algorithms
OOP
Programming internships
Logic
Linear Algebra
Analysis
Geo-databases
Technical Range
Skills
Programming Languages
JavaPythonSQLC#C++RKotlinRustHaskell
Frameworks & Tools
Spring BootREST APIsAWSDockerKubernetesMavenGitLinuxJUnitPandasFastAPIJDBCjOOQJPACI/CD
Database Systems
PostgreSQLSQLMongoDBNeo4jElasticsearchKafkaSparkAmazon AuroraMariaDB
Engineering Focus
Software architectureBackend systemsCloud architectureSystem architectureData processingIndexingQuery processingPerformance tuningExperimental evaluationTesting
Methods & Coordination
Project coordinationStakeholder alignmentRequirements engineeringRisk managementDependency managementTechnical decision-makingScrumKanbanMentoringCode reviews
Spoken & Written Languages
German - nativeArabic - nativeEnglish - fluent