User Support Consultant
Tel +44 (0)131 651 3578
Fax +44 (0)131 650 6555
I joined EPCC in July 2008 as a member of the User Support Team and am particularly interested in the interface between people and computers.
I also retain a strong interest in computational chemistry from my previous work and studies and am currently working on optimising the VASP code for the UK national HPC facility: HECToR.
In addition to my work on HECToR I teach an undergraduate course in scientific programming in the physics degree programme and material on EPCC’s MSc in HPC.
Background
My honours degree was in chemistry at the University of Wales, Bangor where I carried on to complete an M.Phil. in Monte Carlo simulation under the supervision of Nick Quirke.
I obtained my doctorate in astrophysical chemistry in 2002 under David Cooper at the University of Liverpool.
From there I headed North to a postdoctoral research position with David Rankin at the University of Edinburgh. In this post I used ab initio quantum chemical calculations to help interpret and understand gas-phase electron diffraction data.
In 2004 I took up a position as a Research Fellow in the School of Physics at the University of Strathclyde under Klaas Wynne. I was using classical molecular dynamics simulations to help understand the results of terahertz spectroscopy experiments on polar liquids and solutions.
In 2006 I returned to the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh as the EaStCHEM Research Computing Officer where my brief was to enable the use of HPC and computational chemistry by experimental researchers.
Outside Interests
In my spare time I particularly enjoy mountain biking, squash and badminton. I also go caving whenever I get the chance and spend a lot of time walking our dog. If there is any time left over I try to grow my own vegetables.