Profile
Holly Duns
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About Me:
I’m from Scotland and been living in the south since 2017. I’ve been to two different universities to do an undergraduate degree in criminology and a masters in digital forensics. I now work as a Principal Digital Forensic Scientist for the Police and MOD.
I’ve travelled, worked and lived overseas and now live near Oxford.
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I currently live near Oxford with my boyfriend, although i’m originally from Scotland.
I moved down south when I started studying an MSc in Digital Forensics at Cranfield University (Defence Academy) near Swindon in 2017.
I first went to uni in Dundee (Scotland) were I studied Criminology (BAHons). After graduating I spent two years working and travelling around Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
I love everything and anything to do with animals, the gym and love learning about things I have no idea about!
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My pronouns are:
She/Her
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My Work:
I am a digital forensics scientist. I spend most days conducting research into all forms of digital devices such as drones, mobile phones, vehicles, etc. to help and support law enforcement with their investigations.
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I am a digital forensics scientist and spend most days conducting research into all forms of digital devices such as drones, phones, tablets, hard drives, vehicles, etc. to help and support law enforcement with their investigations.
My work is formulated into work packages where each project starts with a background and literature review to better understand the topic and what has been done in the area. This also includes engaging with law enforcement representatives and stake holders to better understand their needs and where some of the issues lie.
We then write a plan and acquire the devices and equipment we need to carry out a full investigation into the device. We follow a detailed process to ensure we have a comprehensive understanding of each device, the software that we are using and the data we are capturing.
Each project is very different and I have worked on a range of devices including drones, smartwatches, IoT devices, cars as well as working with dogs used to detect digital devices at a crime scene.
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My Typical Day:
Currently I work from home most of the time and head into the office when I need more specialised equipment or some company.
I have a couple of laptops that I use for different things that host a heap of tools and software that I need.
I usually have some devices to populate with data or code to run and examine which takes up a large part of the day before forensically imaging the devices and examining the data after.
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Each day can be different with a typical day including populating devices with data before forensically imagining them and analysing the data. Thats when everything works!
Occasionally it gets more exciting where we get into the lab and do electronics work such as removing and re-adding chips to devices, 3D printing molds and compiling complex circuits to enable us to populate devices with data and read them at the same time.
Our labs are less “long white coat” science labs and more of a relaxed, comfortable and less sterile environment!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Set up workshops or a computer forensic program for schools
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Education:
North Berwick High School,
Abertay University – Criminology (BA),
Cranfield University – Digital Forensics (MSc) -
Qualifications:
Scottish Standard Grades:
Maths, English, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, PE, French,
Scottish Highers:
A – PE,
A – Product Design,
C – English,
C – Maths,
(D – Physics & Biology),University:
2:1 – BA Criminology,
Ungraded (Equivalent to a 2:1) – MSc Digital Foreniscs, GCHQ & NTAC accredited.
— NOTICE: No computing at any stage prior to my MSc :O – kind of an important part!!!! -
Work History:
I have done a variety of jobs including:
- I taught people how to ride whilst I was at school, this helped fund my eventing career (horses are not cheap!!)
- I was a bar tender in a golf club and a night club whilst at uni. This was the best way to meet more people and afford to be a student!
- I was a cleaner, working for and helping my sister create and run her own business. It was very successful and I still do some cleaning today to help people out.
- I worked as a waitress for a caterer from a young age (~14). I worked at private functions/events and weddings – I have been planning my wedding day ever since!
- Whilst I was travelling I worked in sales, which I hated and I was rubbish at. I then found a job as the head groom for the chairman of eventing Australia. I love horses and have had them most of my life so this job was extremely rewarding (I even got to ride some that had been to the Olympics!). I did this for 6months as that was the limit on my visa but I met some of my best friends doing it and have a lovely Aussie family who I keep in touch with and visit.
- Throughout my MSc I volunteer at The Platform Project in Swindon that helps children who are struggling at school or need a bit of direction.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Outgoing, independent, hard working
What did you want to be after you left school?
I had absolutely no idea, I always liked the idea of being a dog handler in the police.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Pilot
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Taylor Swift or Lewis Capaldi
What's your favourite food?
Chocolate Cake
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Live closer to my family, win the euro millions, not have chronic fatigue and pain
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