|
CV: Post-doctoral Research Assistant
Printer Friendly
PDF Version
Save as RSS
Date Submitted: Last Modified: Current job: Employment Term: Job location: Date available: Industry: KeywordsEducation
2006—2010 PhD in Space Technology, University of Dundee
Synopsis: The ExoMars rover will make heavy use of machine vision algorithms for autonomous navigation. To support the validation of these algorithms, I researched and developed a visual simulation capable of generating realistic simulated images of a Mars-like virtual environment. This is an enhancement of the University of Dundee’s PANGU planet surface simulation tool. The simulation is based on data from the planetary science literature and validated using images from the Mars Exploration Rovers. It includes models of rocks, surface reflectance, atmospheric dust, a rover vehicle and dynamically computed shadows. It provides a straightforward way for autonomy researchers to generate high-quality images for testing, and has potential to be used as a more general rover simulation visualisation tool.
2001—2002 Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Aberdeen
1997—2001 BSc (Hons) Computer Science, University of St. Andrews
Degree Classification: First class honours.
Prizes: Class medal and John Honey prize for Junior Honours.
Honours Project: Association Rule mining for Bioinformatics.
Modules included: A.I., Neural Networks, Computer Graphics, Databases, Programming Language Design and implementation, Networking, Theory of computation. I also took courses in Mathematics and Physics.
1992—1997 Forfar Academy
Scottish Highers: Computing, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, all at grade A.
Honours: School Dux, prizes for Computing, Physics and English.
Employment
2009—2010 Software Engineer, University of Dundee
Development of rover visual simulation software in C++ and Java at the Space Technology Centre.
2004—2006 Teacher of Computing Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen, UK
Teaching 12-18 year olds at a private secondary school.
2002—2004 Teacher of Computing Kincorth Academy, Aberdeen, UK
Teaching 12-18 year olds at a state secondary school.
Summer 2002 English Language Teacher, APASS, Poland
Summer job teaching English at a language camp for Polish secondary school pupils.
Summer 2001 Software Engineer, TVI Europe, Dundee, UK
Summer job developing a helpdesk database for a manufacturing company.
Summer 2000 Summer placement, Institut Laue-Langevin, France
10 week placement at an international neutron science lab. Developed software to improve the usability of the D7 neutron spectrometer.
Skills
Computing
• Programming languages: C, C++, Java, GLSL, MatLab.
• Computer graphics: OpenGL, GPU programming, real-time shadowing, Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Functions, atmosphere modelling, VRML, 3D modelling.
• Operating Systems: LINUX, Windows.
• Applications: MS Office, Blender, NuGraf.
Space-related
• Experience of NASA Planetary Data System.
• Experience of Mars Exploration Rover Analyst’s notebook.
• Extensive experience of planet surface simulation using the PANGU tool.
• Planetary rover simulation.
• Vision-based autonomous navigation.
• Autonomous rendezvous.
Research Interest
My current research centres on the generation of realistic images for testing vision-based guidance systems in the context of planetary landers and rovers, asteroid rendezvous and spacecraft in-orbit rendezvous.
Project Experience
2009—2010 PANGU development for ExoMars rover
A project to develop a visual simulation tool to be used to test vision-based guidance algorithms for the ExoMars rover. I carried out the bulk of the research and development of this tool, as well as supporting users.
2007—2010 PANGU Enhancement
I carried out an extensive review of the Mars planetary science literature in order to inform the development of computer models of the Mars environment. I also carried out a proof of concept development demonstrating the potential of the PANGU tool to be used for the simulation of planetary rovers, researched and developed a high-quality dynamic shadow system and created a real-time implementation of the Hapke Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function for modelling the surface reflectance of planets.
2007—2008 Robust EDLS for ExoMars
This study aimed to develop technologies for the Entry Descent and Landing System of the ExoMars mission. I investigated the determination of the transverse velocity of a lander through the combination of the European Space Agency NPAL feature-tracking camera and a radar altimeter.
2006—2008 High-integrity Autonomous Multi-Range Rendezvous and Docking Study
This study aimed to develop a European capability for autonomous orbital rendezvous and docking. The PANGU tool was used as a scene generator to test the vision-based aspects of the rendezvous. I researched and developed new features to allow spacecraft models to be visualised realistically in the PANGU environment.
Publications
I have authored or co-authored papers at international conferences, including:
• 10th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space, 2010, Sapporo, Japan
• 4th International Conference on Astrodynamics Tools and Techniques, 2010, ESAC, Madrid, Spain
• 60th International Astronautical Congress, 2009, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
• 7th International ESA Conference on Guidance, Navigation & Control Systems, 2008, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
• 10th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation, 2008, ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Funding
Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship Trust (2010)
To fund attendance at the 10th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space, in Japan.
UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (2008)
To fund attendance at the 2008 Alpbach summer school on Sample Return from the Moon, Asteroids and Comets.
Training
2008 Alpbach summer school on Sample Return from the Moon, Asteroids and Comets
A highly-regarded multi-disciplinary summer school held in Austria. It combined lectures from space engineers and scientists with a team project. I led the development of a proposal for sample return mission to the main belt comet Elst-Pizarro. We were subsequently invited to present this at the 2008 International Astronautical Congress.
PhD Transferrable skills courses
Mind mapping, statistics, speed reading, career management, intellectual property and commercialisation, academic writing, networking, negotiating and influencing.
Administrative experience
School of Computing Student recruitment committee, University of Dundee
I organised and led the activities for a very successful competition day for visiting school children. I also participated in the planning of numerous recruitment days.
PANGU users’ web site, University of Dundee
I organised the creation of a web site for users of the PANGU software. As part of this activity I also initiated the development a demonstration version of the PANGU software for use on student projects.
Space technology short course, University of Dundee
I was heavily involved with the development, delivery, administration and evaluation of a new course on space technology taken by students on the Computing undergraduate and Remote Sensing Masters degree courses.
Interests
These include gliding, hiking, acting and singing. I am also involved in youth work through the Air Cadet Organisation, in which I currently serve as an officer of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Registering is the only way of posting vacancies and obtaining contact details of candidates in our CV database.
All it takes is a few minutes and a credit card (Visa or American Express). To sign-up to this service, simply click on the Register link and fill in the form. You will then have instant access to our system after on-line payment where you will be able to complete the transaction in either US Dollars, UK Pounds or Euros.
All online credit/debit card transitions are handled through our secure third party payment processors at WorldPay. Worldpay are part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, the 5th biggest banking group in the world, WorldPay payment solutions are trusted by thousands of businesses, big and small worldwide.
Pricing starts at €450 (approx £400 or US$500 - use the convert tool for an exact conversion) for one month unlimited job postings and unlimited CV database access (for one user), with package discounts available if you have more permanent recruiting needs. For example, a Gold subscription will give you unlimited jobs posting and unlimited CV database access for one year at just over €250 per month!
2021 Pricing Structure (excluding VAT):
| 1 month - Discovery | 450 euros | convert |
| 3 months - Bronze | 1150 euros | convert |
| 6 months - Silver | 1950 euros | convert |
| 12 months - Gold | 3200 euros | convert |
If online payment is not convenient, give us a call at +33(0)622757477 or send us an email at sales@space-careers.com. We will set up an account for you and invoice you, but in this case, access to our website will be granted only after payment has been received. Note that you can also pay through PayPal.
Please note that the posting of academic positions is free of charge. All you need to do is email us your job description and we will post it for you.
VAT:
Spacelinks is based in France so the following European Union regulations regarding electronic commerce apply:
- if your business is located outside the EU, VAT does not apply to you
- if your business is located in France, you will be charged a 20% VAT
- if your business is located in the EU and you don't have a valid VAT registration number, you will be charged a 20% VAT
- if your business is located in the EU and you do have a valid VAT registration number, you won't be charged VAT provided you give us your VAT number (mandatory for invoicing)
Support:
For sales enquiries and general information, you can call us on +33(0)622757477.
Support is available Mon-Fri on +33(0)622757477 or via email. Out-of-hours support is provided only via email.
Please also note that we are located in France. Our normal office hours are 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday. France timezone is GMT+1.
Warning:
We are very serious about our job seekers privacy so only legitimate recruiters and employers are eligible for a recruiter account. All subscriptions requests will be manually approved and recruiter accounts constantly monitored. Users who enter inaccurate or incomplete information will not gain access to post jobs or search resumes. Sharing of login details with a third party will result in the suspension of the recruiter's account with no subscription refund.
To ensure you are approved, please include the following on your application:
* The website address of your Company. Under construction websites will be rejected.
* Email - Must end in @yourcompany.com. Applications using free email accounts such as Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail will be rejected.
Individual exceptions can be made on a case by case basis by emailing sales@space-careers.com. Accounts found not to be in compliance will be deleted.
