Celebrating excellence: Neela, a remarkable Data Scientist

In the ever-evolving world of data science, finding individuals who consistently embody excellence in research, innovation, and mentorship is a rare and valuable occurrence. Neela, one of our leading Data Scientists, is a shining example of such a professional. Her exceptional breadth of knowledge on the latest technological advancements have made her an indispensable member of the team.

A Principal AI Specialist at BMT with over 9 years of experience in data science and analytics, Neela holds a PhD in Physical Oceanography, focusing on modelling the North Atlantic Ocean, a complex system understood through fluid dynamics. Her scientific endeavours have taken her across the North Atlantic Ocean many times aboard research vessels.

Current Project: Informed Cyber Sensing (ICS)

As the technical lead for the Informed Cyber Sensing (ICS) project, Neela’s aim is to understand cyber threat behaviour in a maritime setting, enabling autonomous response for attack projection, intention recognition, profiling and deception. She and her colleagues have developed complex simulated cyber attacks and environments within a ship’s Integrated Platform Management System.

Neela commented:

“The most rewarding aspect of ICS is implementing state-of-the-art AI techniques to solve real-world challenges, such as cyber deception. It is wonderful to see the entire project team leveraging their expertise in transformative ways. Through this project, I have significantly improved my coding skills, implementing advanced Python concepts to develop more robust code.

The ICS project will deliver tangible insights to our customer through AI-driven solutions for cyber response, optimising decision-making and resource allocation for future cyber security strategies.”

Despite her busy schedule, Neela has written and published a thesis on modelling the overturning circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean and co-authored two papers on maritime operational technology security and autonomous resilient cyber defence. The ICS project is expected to culminate in three more papers to be published in 2025.

Recognised by her teammates as a remarkable Data Scientist, and someone who embodies excellence in research and innovation, Neela also finds the time to mentor and educate colleagues, significantly contributing to the team’s growth. Her mentorship is characterised by her inclusive approach and genuine desire to see her peers succeed.

By celebrating the stories of remarkable women like Neela, we hope to inspire others to strive for excellence and make meaningful contributions in their fields.