EmploymentTechnical Commercial Lead, PolyChord Ltd (a data-science spin out from the University of Cambridge astrophysics group), London, U.K. (Sep 2022 - present)
In this role, I interface between our technical and commercial teams, helping to shape company's forward strategy and day-to-day running. I design our technical projects plans and work closely with our data scientists to ensure that these are consistently delivered on time and deliver all milestones to a high level. This requires that I maintain a high-level vision of several projects at any given time, whilst also having an in-depth understanding of the technical development to support problem solving on a day-to-day basis. I also am responsible for writing and submitting all grant applications, with which we have successfully won more than £670K of funding over 2 years. In my commercial capacity I am heavily involved in all customer and collaborator relations, including meetings, presentations, and explainer documents. Senior Data Scientist, PolyChord Ltd, London, U.K. (Jan 2021 - Aug 2022) On joining PolyChord Ltd I was solely responsible for a proof-of-concept project in which I demonstrated the potential of using nested sampling to capture the dynamic motion of a folded protein. This required me to learn from scratch a wide range of modelling techniques associated with protein energy interactions, and to build a pipeline for sampling the corresponding energy function. It also required me to develop novel visualisations of the protein folding and then vibrating once folded, along with its energy function. I then supervised a follow-on project to this, and was in parallel fully responsible for a project optimising the design of a Nuclear-fusion plant. Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Queen Mary University of London, U.K. (Mar 2019 – Dec 2021) Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Imperial College London, U.K. (Aug 2017 – Feb 2019) Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University College London, U.K. (Oct 2015 – Jun 2017) Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) fellow, London, U.K. (Nov 2014 – Feb 2015) Researched and wrote a 4-page briefing, known as a POST note, entitled "Commercial Space Activities". This POST note aims to provide members of both houses of Parliament with an overview of the UK's space activities and any policy-related issues. Astronomer (part time), Royal Observatory Greenwich, U.K . (Oct 2012 – Apr 2014) I presented the planetarium shows to schools and the general public, and delivered school workshops. Research Assistant, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Sussex University, U.K . (Dec 2007 – Feb 2009) Assisted Dr. Harry Witchel in the application and administration of grants. Helped design and run large-scale commercial psycho-physiological experiments. Various roles in non-scientific industry . (2000 - 2007) Details available on request. Most notable role was 3 years as assistant manager for a record company. |
Education PhD in Astrophysics, Imperial College London, London, U.K. (2011 - Oct 2015)
Working with Dr. Jonathan Pritchard to understand the statistics of the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen using seminumerical modelling. Focus was on understanding the statistics of reionization (the process through which the Universe transitioned from a neutral state into the highly ionized Universe observed today). Skills and techniques developed include: Excursion set theory (and its numerical application); one-point statistics; power spectra and bispectra analysis; semi-numerical simulations; and estimating instrumental errors for radio interferometers. Also extensively utilised High Performance Computing. EuroMSc in Physics (with Distinction), University of Sussex, Brighton, U.K. (2009 - 2011) One year of taught courses in astronomy and cosmology, followed by a 9-month research project supervised by Prof. Andrew Liddle. This involved the application of Bayesian model selection to the optimisation of dark-energy surveys that utilise Baryon Acoustic Oscillations. Graduated with a distinction and the project led to a journal publication. BSc Physics (1st class honours), University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K. (1997 - 2000) Computer ExperienceProgramming: Experienced in C++, Fortran 90, Python (familiar with Pandas, Numpy, SciPy, TensorFlow, Keras, PyRo, PyTorch, Jax, SeaBorn), Matlab & IDL
Operating systems: Linux (proficient in command-line operation and shell scripts), Apple, Windows Cloud platforms: AWS and Azure Applications: Visual Studio code, Atom, Emacs, LaTex, TOPCAT, Aladin, Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, Logic, Microsoft Office |
Grants & Awards
ARC Centre for Excellence in All-Sky Astrophysics in 3D Visitor Fund (2019) $4,500 (AUD) to visit and collaborate with Cathryn Trott (Curtin University, Perth) and Bradley Greig (University of Melbourne)
Physics Department Winton Capital PhD Thesis prize (2016) £500 awarded to the best PhD thesis in the Imperial Physics department.
Science and Technology Funding Council STFC-POST Fellowship (2014) to work at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology for 3 months (See Employment section for details).
C R Barber Trust Fund (2013) towards attending 'Reionization in the Red Centre' conference in Australia. Science and Technology Funding Council 3.5-year PhD studentship (2011).
SEPNET (South East Physics Network) scholarship (2009) to undertake a 2-year (Bologna-compliant) MSc
Physics Department Winton Capital PhD Thesis prize (2016) £500 awarded to the best PhD thesis in the Imperial Physics department.
Science and Technology Funding Council STFC-POST Fellowship (2014) to work at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology for 3 months (See Employment section for details).
C R Barber Trust Fund (2013) towards attending 'Reionization in the Red Centre' conference in Australia. Science and Technology Funding Council 3.5-year PhD studentship (2011).
SEPNET (South East Physics Network) scholarship (2009) to undertake a 2-year (Bologna-compliant) MSc
Professional Activities
- Set-up and run (with Dr. Emma Chapman) a London reionization journal club. This is attended by members of University College London, Imperial College London and the Mullard Space Science Laboratory
- Ran the Cosmology seminar for Imperial College London Astrophysics and Theory groups in 2013-2014.
- PhD representative for Imperial College London Astrophysics group in 2012-2013.