Smital Dhake, a data scientist of British Indian origin hailing from Maharashtra has achieved recognition at the UK’s RailStaff Awards 2023, held in Birmingham. Smital was honoured in the Newcomer of the Year category during the ceremony, which highlighted his outstanding contributions to the rail sector.
Expressing her gratitude, Smital Dhake stated, “This award means so much to me. It will inspire me to keep up the hard work, and I hope it also inspires others who are new to the industry. I am truly grateful for everyone who has helped me through my journey. I’ve had wonderful mentors, colleagues, and managers. I am truly honoured,” as quoted on railuk.com.
The prestigious award, announced at a recent ceremony in Birmingham, aims to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of individuals who are new to the rail sector or have opted for a career change, transitioning into apprenticeships.
Lorna Richardson, Head of Customer Engagement at Alstom, highlighted Dhake’s ability to forge collaborative relationships, attain IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) competence, and deliver safety-related works in record time. Richardson noted, “Smital Dhake rapidly applied her Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) expertise and has solely made an enormous impact already in a highly professional manner.”
Hailing from Jalgaon, India, Smital embarked on her path to success at Watford Grammar School in England. Fueled by her enthusiasm for science and technology, she furthered her education at King’s College London, specialising in data science.
As the sole data scientist at Alstom, a prominent player in the mobility sector, the 26-year-old professional, based at Alstom’s Hatfield office in eastern England, is the first in her role. Smital attributes her strong work ethic to the inspiration she drew from her grandparents. Her overarching ambition is to persist in leveraging and expanding her skills to make meaningful contributions to the advancement of engineering technologies.
Mifaz Miftha, Design Group Manager at Alstom, praised Smital as a quick learner with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, emphasising her exponential personal growth. Speaking after the recent award ceremony, Miftha highlighted Smital’s propensity to willingly take on more complex tasks beyond her role, delivering them with unwavering commitment and exceptional accuracy.
Smital’s meticulous problem-solving approach and critical thinking in design have positioned her as a valuable asset not only to Alstom but also to the broader railway industry, where innovation and sustainability play pivotal roles in growth.
Additionally, Miftha described the young scientist as an “enormous inspiration” for aspiring young women considering careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Smital’s dedication extends beyond her professional responsibilities, as she has devoted her personal time to visiting numerous schools, actively promoting careers in engineering and sustainability.
Established in 2007, the RailStaff Awards have been dedicated to acknowledging the commendable efforts of individuals working in the rail industry. The awards recognize the diverse roles within the sector, ranging from drivers and cleaners to engineers and station staff.
Serving as the sole national award program for UK rail employees, the RailStaff Awards frequently spotlight narratives of lives saved, careers transformed, and challenges overcome.
Smital became a part of Alstom’s Digital and Integrated Systems (D&IS) UK signalling business, contributing to the revolutionary Modular Advanced Route Setting (M-ARS) system at its Hertfordshire location.
Distinguished as the UK railway’s inaugural M-ARS system employing machine learning techniques, specifically reinforcement learning, it leverages real-time data to anticipate future events. This predictive capability facilitates rapid decision-making to resolve conflicting train movements, ultimately enhancing railway efficiency.
Alstom has reported that the M-ARS system is currently undergoing Network Rail product approval, with Smital playing a pivotal role in this process. Once approved, M-ARS is slated for implementation in various high-profile rail projects.
