Profile

Photo:

Dre Cristini

    • About Me:

      I live in Stoke-on-Trent (near Manchester).

      I used to be a research scientist in Astrophysics – I took part in I’m a Scientist in 2017. We made simulations of the interiors of stars. These days I work on more commercial research projects as a Data Scientist.

      My main hobbies are riding my motorbike, running and mountain biking.

      My bike – 1998 Honda VFR800 with many upgrades

       

      Half marathon – My main hobby atm – that’s my mate Steve

       

      The Cloud – I love hitting the trails when I can

    • Read more

      I love fast things on wheels – I have a motorbike and a Porsche, and I’m a semi-pro at go karting.

      I also love gaming (board and video), and I’ve just started playing golf.

      Car meet – My car is on the right – Porsche Cayman S

       

      Work social – I love go-karting, have you ever been?

       

      D&D night @ work – What board games do you play?

    • My pronouns are:

      Dude/broski

    • How does my work involve computers?:

      We develop AI algorithms to help people detect dangerous threats like guns, drugs and bombs. We also help them detect things like cash, smuggled alcohol and cigarettes – the money from these usually funds more dangerous organised crime.

      We develop these algorithms using computer vision techniques like object detection or image segmentation. We use beefy GPUs and computer clusters to train our models.

       

      Working from home – My assistant is called Ajani – he’s a Savannah cat (look them up)

       

      Backscatter X-ray – One of the projects I’m working on – detecting the number of people in a car

    • My Work:

      I am a Data Scientist in the security industry. I help to build huge X-ray scanners that are used to detect dangerous things like guns and drugs hidden inside trucks and cars. My background is in Computational Astrophysics.

      We use machine learning and physics to build better systems in order to keep up with the criminals.

    • Read more

      My work is very varied, which I love!

      • I help to build new systems for prototyping –  we’re testing out a new detector technology on our CarView system
      • I help to test systems to see if they operate how we expect them to – I often drive my car through the scanner to see what it looks like
      • I help to calibrate the systems – this involves a bit of electronics which is fun
      • I help to gather new data – without data there is no model, we recently went to Ireland and gathered lots of scans from the Border Patrol there
      • I help to build and improve our AI programs – we’re currently working on an algorithm to count the number of people inside a car
      • I help to build databases for sharing data – we are working with other countries in the EU on this, the project is called Borderlink

       

      Engine smuggling – Testing out smuggling locations – can you name the gun?

       

      System testing – Serious work…

       

      Ion Chamber – Expensive equipment used to measure the radiation output of the systems.

       

      New detectors – Helping on the forklift to add new detector panels to our CarView system

       

      Algorithm testing – Occupied scanning tests in the CarView system

       

      Silicon photo-diodes – These detect X-ray photons and convert them into digital signals

       

      PCB calibration – The boards have to be calibrated in a dark box using a multimeter

       

      Particle accelerator – this is what produces the X-rays. Lots of physics to explain if you’re interested…

       

      Staged threats – Image testing for what these guns would look like

       

      Playing with guns pt 1 – We use deactivated guns for testing, we want to see what they look like in the X-ray images.

       

      Playing with guns pt 2 – Nice pistol for scanning

       

      Playing with guns pt 3 –We were staging some firearms to scan for the UK border force

    • My Typical Day:

      I’m usually up for 7am, sometimes go for a run (or even run to work).

      Get to the office for 9am and the first thing is coffee, then emails, and then onto whichever project I’m focusing on atm.

      We have a team coffee break at 10.30am, where we talk about all sorts. Sometimes I’m on the yard helping with scanning, gathering weapons, driving the forklift or building something.

      I usually have 2 or 3 meetings about current projects or ideas that people have for new ones.

      Then pack up and go home for 5pm.

       

      Funny scan – Interesting driving position

       

      Eagle M60 X-ray – Our flagship system. Mobile cargo X-ray scanner. Deployed all over the world and around ÂŁ3M each!

       

      Ireland trip – Me and two of my colleagues with the Irish Border Force and their Rapiscan truck

       

      Cork M60 – Gantry deployed and ready for scanning

       

      Ice cream! – I wonder what an X-ray of an ice cream would look like…?

       

      Vienna meeting pt 1 – My colleague Harry is presenting on an EU project we’re working on

       

      Vienna meeting pt 2 – Being silly after the important meeting – Vienna cathedral

      Desk toy – Our CarView system shrunk to desk size.

       

      Test truck – We have a factory in Boston too. This is the test truck with lots of plates and bits to scan.

       

      Happy Dre – I got to drive the test truck through the scanner!

       

      Mobile scanner – One of our backscatter systems. Lower energy and reasonably portable.

    • Read more

      Sometimes I’m lucky enough to go on a work trip – either a conference, offsite meeting or collaboration visit.

      This year I’ve been to Boston in the US, Vienna in Austria and the Republic of Ireland.

      We also have lots of socials within the Science & Technology team. I love the team I’m in and my colleagues are certainly the best part of my job. We’re more like friends than colleagues and do a lot of cool stuff together.

      Track race – My workmates came to support me at a running race

       

      3 Peaks Challenge – We all climbed Ben Nevis

       

      F1 Arcade Boston – One of the perks of travelling for the job.

       

      Boston Science Museum – home to this T-rex and Boston Dynamics

       

      Pub golf – No golfers were harmed during this event

       

      Xmas deco competition – We all dressed up for Xmas – I was Jesus…

       

      Site stroll – Jesus, an elf and a snowman walked into Building 3… Can you finish the joke?

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I’d reinvest into I’m A Scientist, so that Rapiscan can become a sponsor. It’s such a great cause and would spur my colleagues on to join in.

    CV

    • Education:

      My science journey started at Endon High School, where I first discovered my love for physics in year 10, up to that point I wasn’t really interested in anything tbh. After school, I went to Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form to study Physics, Maths and Electronics. At 18, I went to Keele University to study Astrophysics with Maths, graduating with a First Class degree. At 21, I took a deep dive into elementary physics with a Masters in Theoretical Particle Physics at Durham University. I then decided I didn’t like particle physics and took a few years off studying. At 24, I eventually went back to Astrophysics at Keele, where I completed a PhD in Computational Astrophysics, here I ran supercomputer simulations to understand how stars live and die. Later in life, at age 30, I decided to totally change careers and I joined the Science to Data Science Bootcamp in London in order to retrain as a Data Scientist.

    • Qualifications:

      GCSEs:

      Maths – B

      Science – AA

      English – CC

      IT – B

      Resistant Materials – B

      History – C

      Geography – C

      French – D

       

      A-levels:

      Physics – C

      Maths – C

      Electronics – B

      Computing – D (AS-level)

       

      Degrees:

      BSc in Astrophysics with Mathematics (1st)

      MSc in Theoretical Particle Physics

      PhD in Astrophysics

    • Work History:

      My career path has been anything but straight! I’ve worked as a private tutor for over 13 years, helping students of all ages understand tricky maths and physics concepts. I’ve volunteered as a data scientist, built models for retailers, and even helped forecast revenue increases. I’ve worked in academia, running simulations on some of the world’s biggest supercomputers (including NASA’s!), and presented my research at international conferences from Israel to New Zealand.

      I’ve had sooooo many jobs so I won’t go into detail for each one, and it’s definitely not been a straight path! I’ll put my rough age by each one:

      • Paper round (10)
      • Carpet fitter’s assistant (14)
      • Waiter (16)
      • Pizza Hut – kitchen (17)
      • Next – stockroom (18, 21)
      • Pizza delivery driver (18, 21)
      • Private Tutor (22 – present)
      • Casino croupier (23)
      • PhD student – funded (24)
      • Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Oklahoma (28)
      • Data Scientist – Inmarsat (30)
      • Mathematical modeller – Vessels Value (31)
      • Data Scientist – Veson Nautical (33)
      • Medication delivery driver (34)
      • Tesco delivery driver (34)
      • Data Scientist – Rapiscan (35 – present)

    • Current Job:

      Right now, I’m a Data Scientist at Rapiscan Systems in Staffordshire. I help design and improve AI tools that assist operators in detecting smuggled goods in cargo using X-ray screening systems. I get to play with cutting-edge tech, develop object detection algorithms, and manage data pipelines. I also mentor junior colleagues and lead collaborative projects. I get to work with some big names such as UK border force, EU joint research committee, Department for Homeland Security in the US and border agencies from all over the world including Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Canada, just to name a few.

      You’ll notice that even though I’m a Data Scientist (and have been for the last 6 years or so), I didn’t really do that well with computers at school – I got a C in GCSE IT (equivalent to grade 4) and a D in AS-level computing, and that’s where my formal education in computing actually stops!

      Everything I know today I’ve learnt on the job during my academic and industry careers. But that’s not to say that education is unimportant, it’s a critical bedrock of knowledge to build upon for any industry or career path. Just don’t worry if you’re unsure which direction to go, or if you’re not very good at something, hard work and determination can get you very far!

    • Employer:

      Rapiscan Systems is a global leader in security screening technology, founded in 1993 and headquartered in California. It’s the company behind the high-tech machines you see at airports, border crossings, and major events—designed to detect explosives, weapons, drugs, and other threats using advanced X-ray, radiation, and optical inspection systems.

      My team helps to build out things like intelligent image analytics, threat image projection, and real-time data integration to help security teams make faster, smarter decisions.

      Rapiscan’s systems can scan the undercarriage of vehicles, identify anomalies, and even authenticate occupants—all without stopping the car. It’s like giving security teams X-ray vision for real-world threats.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Go-karting Data Physicist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        RAF Pilot

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        More than I should have been

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Aerodynamicist

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Devin Townsend

        What's your favourite food?

        Pizza :)

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        My own island, dog translater, infinite wishes

        Tell us a joke.

        Schrödinger gets pulled over. The cop says, “Do you know how fast you were going?” He replies, “No, but I know exactly where I am!” The cop opens the trunk and says, “Did you know there’s a dead cat in here?” Schrödinger says, “Well, now I do!”

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