Objective

To always feel that I am doing something worthwhile, to never stop learning within a stimulating environment, and to walk this tightrope without losing my enthusiasm.

Education

Bachelor of Applied Science - Engineering Physics
Queen's University

Graduate courses:

Digital Signal Processing, Advanced Digital Signal Processing - UBC 

Experience:

Application Development Manager
Nov 2004 - Present
Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver

Managing a small team of application developers responsible for maintaining and expanding the functionality of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for a number of departments within a highly dynamic world-class research lab.  Lab applications supported included capillary sequencing, next-generation sequencing, mapping, functional genomics, and microarray technologies.  Duties within this role vary widely and include advising developers on technical design, prioritizing areas of development, technical training, and establishing coding best practices and efficient software development strategies.  Areas of expertise which are regularly utilized include agile software development, web interface design, database design, and general code development.

Software Designer/Developer
Feb 2000 - Present
Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver

Independently responsible for designing and implementing a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for a high throughput genomic sequencing lab.  This required building a scalable working system from scratch within months and expanding the functionality towards a fine grained sample tracking system enabling the use of barcode scanners to track laboratory procedures in real time, providing a number of QC features, and offering a number of data monitoring and time-saving features aiding the lab to operate at maximum efficiency.  The system as a whole was designed in a manner that allows for rapid expansion, flexibility and scalability while ensuring ongoing integrity of data.  Over time,  the system was expanded to support another department, increasing the diversity of requirements supported and the flexibility of the system as a whole.

Research Engineer
4 years
Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (PAPRICAN), Vancouver

Independently responsible for the design and construction of customized methods of automating data acquisition and analysis within a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) laboratory. THis involved interfacing devices such as stepper motors, displays, analog signals, and external instruments with computers and local micro-controllers. At a software level I wrote a comprehensive C-library for specialized image processing and analysis, and complex macros to standardize output and generate reports. (SOM, MATLAB, Origin) Work was carried out on both PC's and on a UNIX workstation. (data generated as a direct result of this work were used in at least 3 published papers)

College Professor
9 months
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology, Toronto

Taught systems analysis & design as well as computer architecture to 3rd year students of Electrical Engineering Technology. This included both lab and lecture work.

Computer Programmer/Physicist
6 months
Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Responsible for analysing output from nuclear imaging devices used in the hospital to monitor lung, heart and gastro-intestinal function. A customized algorithm was also developed to aid in some specific image analysis.

Simulation Design Engineer
2 years
Atlantis Aerospace Corporation, Toronto

Independently responsible for the logical representation of the electrical system for the MacDonald Douglas F-15 Eagle. This involved utilizing wiring diagrams, schematics and trouble-shooting manuals to develop a comprehensive logic flow diagram that was implemented into a set of computer algorithms used by a sophisticated aircraft simulator.

Skills & Interests:

Technical areas of exprience:

• database design (mySQL)
• software development
• agile development
• programming (perl, C, assembler, javascript, ajax)

Personal:
I enjoy the pursuit of numerous sports, many at a competitive level, such as canoeing, badminton, squash, rock-climbing and ultimate. I also enjoy reading, juggling and photography. In addition I have travelled extensively thoroughout the world, greatly valuing the perspective and understanding that this has provided me with.

Volunteer:
I have spent a lot of time volunteering my time to organizations such as Amnesty International, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee, Adbusters magazine, and Youth Challenge International (with whom I worked six months as a group leader in Costa Rica).