About

I am a data scientist who leads applied AI projects from defining the problem and preparing the data to validating models and building tools that support decisions. In maritime work, I start by learning how an operation runs and where the team faces challenges. I work with seafarers, port teams, and engineers to understand those challenges and what limits their options. From there, I shape the modelling around the decision they need to make, whether that means predicting vessel performance or testing how different choices would affect the operation. I evaluate the model against historical data and review the results with the team to check that it reflects the conditions and constraints they work with. I have used this approach to develop digital twins and energy models for port decarbonisation. Port teams can use these tools to test infrastructure choices and understand their effects on energy use and emissions.

In my PhD, I explored how AI could personalise maritime training and improve the learning experience for seafarers. I built a system in which AI agents assessed learner responses and provided feedback tailored to each person. After fine-tuning the model for maritime scenarios, I evaluated the system with seafarers to understand how they perceived the feedback and what shaped their experience of interacting with AI.

Beyond maritime operations, I have applied data science to problems in property technology and predictive medicine. At Tiko, I worked with housing and market records to build production pricing models for homes in Spain, turning property characteristics into estimates for individual properties. At BASIRA Lab, I worked with graph-structured brain-connectivity data from Alzheimer's disease and autism studies. I trained graph neural networks to classify diagnostic groups and examined which brain regions and connections had the strongest influence on their predictions. I found it fascinating to see whether different models highlighted the same regions and what those patterns might reveal about each condition. These roles gave me experience with distinct data structures and modelling questions across commercial products and academic research.

My interests include applied data science in maritime, energy, infrastructure, and logistics, with a focus on complex operational data and physical systems.

8-12%
projected fuel saving per optimised voyage
<2%
vessel power prediction error
100+
commercial vessels in fleet scope

Senior data science profile

End-to-end delivery

Problem framing, data preparation, feature engineering, model selection, validation, decision interfaces, and stakeholder handover.

Applied modelling

Regression, classification, deep learning, graph neural networks, ensemble methods, cross-validation, SHAP, time series, and optimisation.

Production engineering

Python, Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, REST APIs, React, PHP, Salesforce, Apex, SOQL, and automated data workflows.

Technical leadership

Project ownership, intern supervision, support for PhD researchers, cross-functional delivery, technical writing, and peer-reviewed publication.

Human-AI interaction and benchmarking

AI benchmarking, human-AI interaction studies, comparative evaluation, learner profiling, and analysis of how people engage with AI-supported training systems.

Experience

  1. Research Assistant, Maritime Data Analytics at University of Strathclyde

    Own modelling work across multi-year AIS, sensor, and metocean records for a fleet of more than 100 vessels. Built a physics-supported power model with sub-2% error and weather-aware route and speed optimisation projected to reduce fuel use by 8-12% per voyage. Work with marine engineers and operators to turn results into fleet decisions.

    • Python
    • Machine Learning
    • Optimisation
    • Time Series
    • AIS
  2. Research Assistant, Port Digital Twin at University of Strathclyde

    Led the end-to-end design and full-stack development of a digital twin for port electrification, vessel traffic, renewable generation, hydrogen, infrastructure sizing, and emissions. Combined operational and environmental data in an interface that engineering and industry partners use to compare investment scenarios.

    • Digital Twin
    • Simulation
    • React
    • REST APIs
    • Stakeholder Delivery
  3. Research Assistant, Offshore Wind Analytics at University of Strathclyde

    Built reusable Python pipelines and constraint-based simulations for Buchan Offshore Wind Farm. Combined hindcast weather data with vessel limits, task duration, and daylight to produce operability evidence for platform design, vessel selection, and scheduling.

    • Pandas
    • Time Series
    • Statistics
    • Simulation
  4. Backend Engineer at OSF Digital

    Design and ship production-grade Salesforce backend systems, high-volume data workflows, APIs, and automation for enterprise digital products. Work with engineering, product, and client teams to maintain reliable customer-facing features.

    • Salesforce
    • Apex
    • SOQL
    • APIs
    • Testing
  5. Machine Learning Engineer at Tiko

    Built a production property valuation pipeline for the Spanish market, from data preparation and model training through deployment. Used deep learning, gradient boosting, and SHAP to identify the factors driving price and support buying and selling decisions.

    • Deep Learning
    • Gradient Boosting
    • SHAP
    • Production ML
  6. Research Assistant, Predictive Medicine at BASIRA Lab

    Developed and evaluated PyTorch graph neural networks to classify diagnostic groups for Alzheimer's disease and autism from brain-connectivity data. Compared biomarker reproducibility across five GNN architectures and co-authored the resulting PRIME at MICCAI 2021 paper.

    • Graph Neural Networks
    • PyTorch
    • Model Evaluation
    • Medical AI

2023-2026

PhD, Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering

University of Strathclyde, thesis submitted to supervisor, EPSRC Research Excellence Award

2017-2022

BSc, Computer Engineering

Istanbul Technical University, GPA 3.15 / 4.00

Projects

  1. Weather-aware Route and Speed Optimisation

    A physics-supported AI framework that predicts vessel power across changing sea states, then optimises route and speed for fuel, distance, and Just-in-Time arrival.

    Results: Sub-2% prediction error, 100+ vessels in scope, and projected fuel savings of 8-12% per voyage.

    • Python
    • Machine Learning
    • Optimisation
  2. Port Decarbonisation Digital Twin

    A simulation environment for testing energy flows, vessel traffic, shore power, hydrogen, battery, and renewable infrastructure scenarios at UK ports.

    Role: Led the full-stack build and delivered scenario analysis for port engineering and industry partners.

    • Digital Twin
    • Simulation
    • Full Stack
  3. Offshore Wind Operability Analytics

    A statistical workflow that combines long-term weather records with vessel thresholds and task constraints to support platform selection and mission planning.

    Output: Reusable Python pipelines and safety-critical constraints used in offshore platform design work.

    • Statistics
    • Time Series
    • Risk
  4. Fleet Performance and Trim Optimisation

    An analysis of sister-vessel records that separates environmental effects from operating choices and identifies efficient trim conditions for validation at sea.

    Results: Identified a 5-7% efficiency gain and a potential saving of about 100 tonnes of fuel per vessel each year.

    • Fleet Data
    • Feature Analysis
    • Validation
  5. AI Benchmarking and Human-AI Interaction

    As part of my PhD research, I developed an AI-supported maritime training system for Intelligent Seas and studied how people engage with AI, how different approaches compare, and how learner profiles can support more effective training.

    Publication: Toward Personalised Maritime Training: Seafarer Perceptions of AI-Based and Traditional Feedback, Journal of Marine Engineering & Technology (2026).

    • Human-AI Interaction
    • AI Evaluation
    • Learning Analytics

Applied AI beyond maritime

Property Pricing Intelligence

Built production valuation models for the Spanish property market and used SHAP to reveal the factors driving price, giving property teams clearer evidence for buying and selling decisions.

Decision impact: Explainable valuations powered by deep learning, gradient boosting, and automated model pipelines.

  • Property Technology
  • Production ML
  • SHAP

AI for Alzheimer's and Autism Diagnosis

At BASIRA Lab, I developed PyTorch GNNs to classify diagnostic groups for Alzheimer's disease and autism from brain-connectivity data. The research tested whether identified biomarkers remained reproducible across five GNN architectures and four connectomic datasets.

Research output: Peer-reviewed PRIME at MICCAI 2021 conference paper. Also available on ResearchGate.

  • Graph Neural Networks
  • PyTorch
  • Medical AI

Research

  1. 2026

    Learner Profiling in Maritime Training: Development of a Short-Form Assessment Tool

    Journal of Marine Engineering & Technology

  2. 2026

    Toward Personalised Maritime Training: Seafarer Perceptions of AI-Based and Traditional Feedback

    Journal of Marine Engineering & Technology

  3. 2025

    Navigating Knowledge: Analyzing the Impact of Demographics on the Learning Styles of Seafarers

    Ocean Engineering, minor revisions

  4. 2024

    Developing a Machine Learning-Based Evaluation System for the Recruitment of Maritime Professionals

    Ocean Engineering, 313, 119406

  5. 2021

    Investigating and Quantifying the Reproducibility of Graph Neural Networks in Predictive Medicine

    Predictive Intelligence in Medicine, MICCAI PRIME

Research and collaboration

Feel free to get in touch if you would like to discuss my work, exchange ideas, or explore a potential collaboration.

furkantornaci@gmail.com