Recently, we spoke with Akash Kumar, one of our Data Scientists at the Hartree Centre North East Hub. Akash primarily works on our collaborative data projects, but you may have spoken with him at one of our events.

Interview with Akash, Data Scientist at the Hartree Centre North East Hub

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Can you tell us about your role?

My role at the Hartree Centre North East Hub is as a Data Scientist working through the National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD), based at Newcastle University. My work directly supports the Hartree Centre North East Hub mission to empower small and medium-sized enterprises across the Northeast to gain a competitive edge through innovative digital technologies.

In practice, this means I evaluate project applications based on criteria such as societal value and how emerging technologies can benefit businesses. Once projects are selected, I work closely with organisations to scope their data challenges and deliver 12-week collaborative projects. The goal is always to create data products that companies can use - helping lift Northeast businesses by giving them access to cutting-edge technology and analytics that can genuinely improve their operations and add value to their services.

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What is your favourite part of your role?  

Honestly, the best part is seeing when a business owner suddenly realises what their data can do for them. On a typical day, I apply data science practices to tackle complex business problems, working with large, complex datasets - both structured and unstructured. We're flexible with data science tools and techniques, but what really excites me is the collaborative aspect.

A big part of my work involves sharing results with stakeholders and having meaningful discussions about what to try and test in our data science solutions within a business context. It's incredibly rewarding to help business owners understand what would be most helpful for their specific situation and to provide actionable insights as projects progress. These conversations often reveal opportunities they hadn't considered before.

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What advice do you have?

First and foremost, don't hesitate to get in touch! We're always happy to discuss potential data challenges with businesses, even if our programme might not be the perfect fit - we often know of other resources that could help.

My advice is to come with an open mind about your data challenges, but also be prepared to clearly articulate your business problem rather than getting caught up in specific technologies. I've worked across quite different domains - education, financial services, including mortgage applications, and entertainment ticket booking systems - and the best outcomes always come when we stay focused on solving the actual business problem rather than chasing the latest technology trends.

If you're not sure where to start, I'd recommend attending some of the workshop events that my colleague Steven runs. They're a great introduction to getting started with data and understanding what's possible.

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What is a fun fact about you?  

I've had a love for mathematics since childhood - it was never just numbers for me, but a way to solve puzzles and see patterns in everyday life. I still find joy in applying that same logical mindset to tackle complex business problems through data science.

On a lighter note, I'm the type of person who watches cooking videos at midnight and then actually tries the recipe the next day!

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