Ruud T.

Ruud T.

Amsterdam, Netherlands
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About Me

Data Scientist & Al Consultant with over 10 years of experience developing Al and data solutions, combined with leadership in team development, client consulting, and strategic implementations. Skilled in translating complex Al technologies (LLMS, NLP, computer vision) into practical business solutions. Strong background in guiding client projects, leading multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to organizational Al growth. R. T. is skilled in translating complex Al technologies (LLMS, NLP, computer vision) into practical business solutions, and has a strong background in guiding client projects, leading multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to organizational Al growth.

AI, ML & LLM

Backend

Database

DevOps

Workflow

Other

Work history

Endeavor
Data Scientist (freelance)
2025 - 2025
Remote
  • Migrated data workloads from R to Python, re-architected model pipelines, and delivered performance optimizations for improved efficiency and maintainability.

  • Designed and implemented production-grade data models using SQL and DBT, with a focus on modularity, lineage transparency, testability, and scalable transformation flows within the QCue pricing platform.

  • Streamlined pipelines via query plans, DBT strategies, caching, and validation, boosting reliability and lowering latency.

MINDWIZE
Machine Learning Engineer (freelance)
2024 - 2024
Remote
  • Increased data usage efficiency by 24% by developing scalable ML models for needs analysis and churn prevention.

  • Collaborated with domain experts (NGO workers, policymakers) to align solutions with future marketing.

  • Experimented with generative Al for marketing campaign support (text & customer segmentation).

Excel PythonXGBoost/Sklearn Generative Al Explainable Al
Context Labs
Senior Data Scientist (freelance)
2023 - 2025 (2 years)
Remote
  • Cut data processing time by 30% via optimized ETL pipelines, built 20+ ETL/ELT pipelines (Python, Spark, dbt) for 10+ TB/day processing, improving analytics readiness by 40%.

  • Used Git version control and collaborated via feature branch workflow and code reviews, applied interpretable ML (NLP, graph analytics, geospatial data) for sustainability (CO2 accounting, supply chain traceability).

  • Developed generative Al use cases such as automated supply chain data summaries, reduced DBeaver/Trino infrastructure costs by 30%.

Save the Children International
Senior Data Specialist (freelance)
2022 - 2024 (2 years)
Remote
  • Designed end-to-end pipelines for multi-source datasets, improving efficiency by 40%, optimized NoSQL processes via partitioning and indexing, reducing latency by 50%.

  • Built ETL scripts for 10+ TB datasets, improving data quality for key decisions, designed and implemented automated data validation workflows using Azure Data Factory and Azure Databricks.

  • Applied NLP and large language models for multilingual report classification and translation, used dbt for modular transformations, reducing reporting errors by 25%.

DBTSQLnoSQLAzure Data FactoryDatabricks PythonETL/ELT NLP/LLM
Xentral Software GmbH
Lead Data Scientist (freelance)
2021 - 2022 (1 year)
Remote
  • Reduced bounce rate by 62% through A/B testing and customer insights.

  • Built a real-time recommendation engine with AWS SageMaker, boosting engagement by 12%.

  • Built a real-time Kafka and Spark Streaming pipeline for over 2 million daily events, enabling dynamic pricing.

AWS SagemakerKafkaSpark Streaming GitPythonEmbeddings/Generative
G-Star RAW
Senior Data Scientist (freelance)
2020 - 2021 (1 year)
Remote
  • Conducted performance analytics to guide cost-effective optimizations.

  • Identified KPIs on user behavior, segmentation, and retention, achieving 10% improvement.

  • Built Snowflake SCD (Slowly Changing Dimension) pipeline for tracking inventory history.

GCPTableauPythonStatistical Modeling
Eduvision
Data Analytics trainer (freelance)
2020 - 2023 (3 years)
Remote
  • Designed training programs (SQL, Python, R, SPSS, Excel) for 10+ participants at companies like HEMA & Thuisbezorgd.nl/Takeaway.com.

  • Delivered both in-person and online training.

  • Created courses on Al strategy and data-driven decision-making.

SQLPythonRSPSS Excel
Cegeka Consultancy (previously KPN Consultancy)
Lead Data Scientist (freelance)
2020 - 2020
Remote
  • Increased team capacity by 12% via mentoring.

  • Managed the workload of 7 data scientists, balancing priorities.

  • Improved cost efficiency by 15% through performance analysis.

Ministerie van Defensie
Senior Data Scientist
2018 - 2020 (2 years)
Remote
  • Led risk analyses and risk management strategies with senior leadership.

  • Established performance benchmarks with 10 key user behavior indicators.

  • Applied red-teaming methodologies to assess OSINT exploitation by malicious actors on defense Al systems.

NOVI Hogeschool
Data Analytics trainer
2018 - 2021 (3 years)
Remote
  • Taught Data Science, Full Stack Development, and Data Engineering including courses about Machine Learning, UML en R/Python programming.

  • Developed innovative teaching methods and shared them with faculty.

  • Modernized and reviewed curricula.

Elsevier
Quantitative Analyst (freelance)
2016 - 2016
Remote
  • Automated Excel dashboards with real-time Bloomberg integration, boosting efficiency by 30%.

  • Increased financial accuracy by 25% with scenario forecasting.

  • Supported the design of risk classification models using statistical and non-statistical methods.

Excel
Eviso
Marketing Intelligence Analyst
2015 - 2018 (3 years)
Remote
  • Monitored and improved KPIs.

  • Assessed process improvements for cost-effective optimizations.

  • Identified key performance measures for user behavior, segmentation, and retention.

Emesa
Junior Business Analyst (part-time)
2014 - 2016 (2 years)
Remote
  • Built pricing & risk analysis tools to support risk management.

  • Created dashboard for customer service optimization, improving efficiency by 20%.

Excel
Stichting Politieke Academie
Political Data Analyst Intern
2014 - 2015 (1 year)
Remote
  • Applied predictive modeling (regression, optimization, clustering, neural networks).

  • Built social media analysis tools supporting 20 local parties, achieving 80% election success rate.

  • Conducted comparative research on EU versus Dutch elections.

Showcase

Improve Customer Service with Machine Learning
Improve Customer Service with Machine Learning
  • Utilized NLP and deep learning techniques to design a Seq2Seq model for a chatbot, using TensorFlow and PyTorch frameworks. The bot was finely tuned to provide context-aware, human-like responses, emulating the tone and expertise of a real customer service representative.

  • The AI-powered chatbot provided more tailored support, resulting in a 25% increase in customer satisfaction, a 10% reduction in customer wait time, and a 7% improvement in Net Promoter Score (NPS).

  • The project showcased the potential of NLP, deep learning, and AI-powered automation in revolutionizing customer service, contributing to more personalized, scalable, and efficient customer interactions.

Reduce Churn in Customer Base
Reduce Churn in Customer Base
  • A robust churn prediction model was developed, which analyses subscribers' historical behavior to accurately forecast the likelihood of churn. This was initially done using logistic regression but was later enhanced using advanced data science and machine learning techniques.

  • Utilizing social network analysis (SNA) for insights into subscribers' interaction patterns, variables capturing the influence of network dynamics on churn behavior were created. The variables were integrated into an ensemble model combining XGBoost and Random Forest algorithms, improving the model's predictive power. Iterative optimization and hyperparameter tuning further boosted the model's accuracy by 18%, outperforming the baseline.

  • This project demonstrates the effective use of AI, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making in solving complex business problems, enabling proactive customer retention strategies, and reducing churn rates. SNA and ensemble techniques were used, emphasizing the importance of diverse data sources and advanced analytics for actionable insights.

Increase Retention in Stronghold Areas
Increase Retention in Stronghold Areas
  • The project aimed to increase customer retention in underserved neighborhoods with limited internet access through advanced data science and AI techniques.

  • A web scraping bot was designed and implemented to extract, analyze and predict competitors’ expansion plan trends and opportunities; this data fueled machine learning models for customer segmentation and churn prediction.

  • The AI-powered strategies resulted in a 40% increase in retention rates and provided a scalable framework for future data-driven decision-making.

Financial housing budget model
Financial housing budget model
  • Developed an AI-based budget optimization model to help a housing corporation achieve CO2 neutrality by 2050

  • Designed a system that identifies which houses or specific areas should be prioritized for annual renovations

  • Implemented a solution that ensures the corporation remains within budget while progressing toward their sustainability target

Boosting Retail Sales Through Personalized Basket Analysis
Boosting Retail Sales Through Personalized Basket Analysis
  • Developed an AI-powered recommendation engine for a retail company, using machine learning algorithms to increase customer purchase volumes through real-time product suggestions.

  • The system was built with Python, Scikit-learn, and TensorFlow, incorporating customer segmentation and predictive analytics for personalized recommendations and future buying behavior anticipation.

  • The implementation resulted in a 15% increase in average order value, 20% boost in repeat purchases, and 10% reduction in cart abandonment, demonstrating the impact of AI in optimizing retail strategies and enhancing customer engagement.

Predictive Maintenance and Sustainability Platform for the Oil and Gas Sector: Enhancing Pipeline Operations, Emissions Tracking, and Compliance
Predictive Maintenance and Sustainability Platform for the Oil and Gas Sector: Enhancing Pipeline Operations, Emissions Tracking, and Compliance
  • Developed an AI-powered platform for the oil and gas sector that provides predictive maintenance, emissions management, and sustainability compliance. It integrates machine learning, IoT sensor data, and advanced analytics to deliver actionable insights for operational excellence and safety.

  • The system leverages forecasting models and anomaly detection algorithms to predict equipment failures and maintenance needs with 90% accuracy, reducing unplanned downtime by 20%. Integrated IoT sensors monitor greenhouse gas emissions in real-time, aiding in identifying emission hotspots, forecasting trends, and reducing the organization’s carbon footprint by 15%.

  • The platform incorporates automated reporting tools to streamline sustainability certification, saving hundreds of manual hours annually. It provides insights for improving sustainability metrics and aligns with global initiatives such as the OGCI and the Paris Agreement, thus positioning the organization as a leader in sustainable practices.

Education

Education
M.Sc. Environmental Resource Management (Environmental track)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2012 - 2014 (2 years)
Education
Post-initial Master of Arts - Latin American Studies
Universiteit van Amsterdam
2010 - 2012 (2 years)
Education
Honors Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and International Law
Roosevelt Academy University College
2006 - 2010 (4 years)