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Getting a PhD Studentship
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Technical Background
Academic
Commercial
Education
I started my career in the late sixties, working as a graphic artist in design studios and advertising agencies in London.
In the mid eighties I got involved with computers and the subsequent DTP revolution. This led to working for a large corporation producing multilingual publications and multimedia. I also ran my own company, Geodesy, providing consultancy services and building web sites.
Despite my creative abilities I always had a strong interest in physics and astronomy, so
in 1989 I started studying for a physics degree with the Open University and completed my BSc in 2002.
After that I took up a PhD research studentship in astrophysics at The University of Manchester, which I completed in 2006.
I have been an Associate Lecturer for the Open University, and more recently worked in the USA for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory as a support scientist on the Green Bank Telescope.
Currently I am a visiting research fellow at The University of Manchester and Queen's University Belfast.
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Art Training
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Although I passed my 11-plus exam, I was sent to Bromley Technical High School for Boys in Kent, rather than the more local Beckenham Grammar School. This suited my abilities (not that I had much idea of what my abilities were), as in the third year we were divided up into streams - languages, technical, engineering and, most importantly for me, art. The art stream meant doing less academic subjects and spending more time doing art related subjects, although I also did well at maths and physics.
Our art teacher was Owen Frampton (father of Peter Frampton). He had experience as a graphic designer and guided us through the various skills of drawing, painting, graphic design and typography, very similar to a foundation course at art college. Another teacher in the art department taught us furniture design in conjunction with our woodwork lessons. This was all quite unique for a group of boys aged 14-16. Mr Frampton's aim (we called him Ossie) was for us all to leave the Art stream with an 'A' level in Art and a portfolio of decent work. He had contacts in ad agencies and art studios, and he would arrange job interviews for us, and that's how I got my first job with a London art studio in 1967. The studio sent me to St Martins School of Art, but I learnt more from Owen Frampton. |
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Technical Knowledge and Background
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I cut my computing teeth on Unix well over 20 years ago. Since then I have written programmes in C and Fortran, and have made extensive use of scripting languages such as the Unix/Linux shell, Perl and AppleScript. I can write code in HTML, PHP and JavaScript, and build databases with MySQL. I am also an experienced user of Quark XPress, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and MathCAD, as well as a range of astronomical software such as MIDAS, CLASS, GREG, SPECX and IDL. My experience of operating systems includes Mac OS X, Linux and Windows.
I have extensive international experience in providing technical and creative solutions to a wide variety of marketing initiatives. At RCI Europe I implemented innovative systems for the production of multilingual travel brochures and magazines, and led award winning teams producing multimedia and CD-ROM holiday directories. I also spearheaded the launch of RCI Travel's first UK web site. This ability to support complex production requirements is routed in a track record of many year's experience producing: brochures, magazines and catalogues; press advertising and direct marketing; corporate identity and packaging; audio-visual presentations and exhibition stands. I also have extensive experience of: operating systems; database development; web site authoring; document formatting; multimedia production; prepress digital artwork; sheet and web printing; finishing and fulfilment. |
| Academic | |
| 2009 - Present |
The University of Manchester, Visiting Research Fellow In the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. I am a collaborator on the JCMT Spectral Legacy Survey, working on validating the survey's data reduction pipeline. I am also developing Xgear which is a software application for running astrochemical models applicable to molecular clouds and star forming regions. Tutoring second and third year undergraduate students in physics. |
| 2008 - Present |
Queen's University Belfast, Visiting Research Fellow In the Astrophysics Research Centre. Investigating the chemistry of low metallicity environments such as molecular clouds at the edge of our Galaxy or molecular gas in dwarf irregular galaxies. I am currently investigating the different modes of star formation in the most distant low metallicity molecular cloud in the Milky Way. |
| 2007 - 2008 |
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), Support Scientist Providing observing support to astronomers using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Commissioning and calibrating of receivers after repair and reinstallation on the telescope. Technical reviewing of observing proposals. Trained to take visiting astronomers up to the GBT's surface and receivers. Gave talks to summer school students. I also created an on-line abstract database of papers that featured GBT observations, and recast the Green Bank web site to follow NRAO's new logo style. Referee for the Astrophysical Journal. |
| 2004 - 2006 |
The Open University, Associate Lecturer Tutoring S103 - Discovering Science, a first year foundation course in physics, chemistry, biology and Earth science. |
| 2004 - 2005 |
The University of Manchester, Maths Tutor Tutoring first year undergraduate students in mathematics and physics. |
| 2001 - 2002 |
Tresham Institute, Lecturer Teaching graphic design for Btec course. |
| Commercial | |
| 2001 - 2002 |
Geodesy Ltd, Managing Director Production and consultancy services for on-line and print based delivery. Research, writing and conference moderation for The Seybold Report on Multilingual Web Publishing. |
| 2000 - 2001 |
HolidayFactor Ltd, Web Site Director Responsible for the design, structure and implementation of an ecommerce, database driven, holiday rentals web site. |
| 1999 - 2000 |
RCI Europe, Director of Special Internet Projects Lead a project team from marketing, operations and systems for the creation of a fully transactional pan-European travel web site. Developed the business case and modelled the revenue opportunities that the site would generate. |
| 1996 - 1999 |
RCI Europe, Director of MultiMedia Development Produced interactive CD-ROM travel directory, directed the creative treatment of the user interface and designed the multilingual, geographic, relational database of resort information and maps. Led development of point-of-sale touch-screen multimedia, establishing working relationships with OEMs, VARs, AV providers and software authors. Implemented sales and marketing strategy involving direct mail, advertising and PR, plus back office support for sales force. Liaised with lawyers on copyright, production agreements, film rights and end user licence. Travelled throughout the world to promote the product and speak at trade conferences. |
| 1993 - 1996 |
RCI Europe, Head of Creative Services Directed multilingual creative team of 22 staff in the production of holiday brochures, magazines, sales brochures, direct mail, corporate identity and presentation graphics. Responsibilities included strategic planning, finance and liaison with group companies in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and India. Technical director for European conferences, co-ordinating production with external vendors for design and preparation of all print material, planning and construction of exhibitor stands, design and build of stage sets, provision of graphic branding and signage, plus all aspects of lighting, audio and video services. |
| 1987 - 1993 |
RCI Europe, Publications Production Manager Implemented a £0.5m multi-language, networked PC and Mac based publishing system with direct links to external pre-press vendors. Developed bespoke software solutions for the production of brochures and magazines in sixteen languages including Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic and Greek. |
| 1984 - 1987 |
Artbeat Design Ltd, Studio and Systems Manager Produced corporate identity programmes, holiday brochures, press advertising and AV presentations. Managed computerised typesetting and client modem data links. |
| 1979 - 1984 |
Liebling Stewart Design Ltd, Studio Manager Supported production of sales brochures, press advertising, direct marketing, consumer packaging, point-of-sale, slide presentations and exhibition stands. |
| 1968 - 1979 |
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| Education and Development | |
| 2002 - 2006 | The University of Manchester, PhD in Astrophysics. |
| 1989 - 2002 | The Open University, BSc (Hons) Natural Science. |
| 1997 - 2001 | The Open University, Diploma in Natural Science. |
| 1990 - 1999 | The Open University, Diploma in Physics. |
| OU Modules | S102, S256, S271, MS284, S357, S272, MST207, SMT356, SM355, S381. |
| 1987 - 1989 | C/C++ for Macintosh and Windows, Various Courses. |
| 1968 - 1969 | St Martins School of Art, London, Graphic Design Course. |
| 1962 - 1967 | Bromley Technical High School, Kent, 1 A level, 5 O levels. |
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Various, Graphic Designer and Artist