Manuel holds a B.Sc in Business Administration & Economics from the University of Hohenheim and has completed additional courses in Mathematics at FernUniversität in Hagen. He spent a semester studying abroad at HEC Liège. After obtaining his M.Sc in Economics at the University of Bonn with a focus on Econometrics & Computational Statistics, he continued his education as a PhD student in the group of Jan Hasenauer working on Federated Learning. Manuel was a visiting scholar at the research group of Elisa Sicuri in 2022, examining the impact of lockdowns on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2022, he was appointed Head of Statistical Development for RDataSHIELD. He has a passion for sports and is known for his poetry and cullinary skills, particularly in making delicious homemade Pizza and Falafel.