Profile
Duncan Hull
Is bracing himself for the England game
My CV
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Education:
St Laurence School a long time ago
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Qualifications:
University of Manchester, Biology (undergraduate), MSc and PhD (Computer Science) 2007
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Work History:
A sausage factory, a breakfast kitchen in America, a school in India, a publisher, a small software consultancy, the University in Manchester, Budgens supermarket and I did a morning paper round at secondary school for about 6 years (record service!)
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Current Job:
Software engineer
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Read more
I’m part of a small team of people that research and develop a public database of small compounds (many of them drugs) for use by scientists and engineers mostly in Europe. We make all our data publicly available on the Web so that anyone can use it for whatever purpose they see fit, such as discovery new kinds of drugs for cancer etc. As well as developing the database, we’re working on novel techniques to improve it so that more intelligent computer programs can “understand” the information, and make useful suggestions (and maybe discover new knowledge) for scientists in the lab, this is a kind of artificial intelligence. If we get this right, we can leave the computer to do our jobs for us and all go down the pub instead…. its a kind of Robot Scientist if you like.
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My Typical Day:
coffee, computer, meeting, lunch, more coffee, seminar, meeting, more computing, then home.
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Read more
I cycle to work, have a shower, then a coffee and read through emails. Every day at about 10am we have a group meeting called “Scrum” where we each talk about what we’re doing that day and try to help each out if possible. I spend a fair amount of time writing software and testing it, usually in the morning. Then we go for lunch in the canteen. In the afternoon there might be a seminar to go to on the campus where I work or there may be various lab meetings to attend. As well as doing experiments with software and talking to people, I try to read and write about the work related to what we are doing, to keep on top of developments. At the end of the day, its back on the bike and home…
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d like to build a large interactive wooden model of ribosome, the machinery inside cells that make proteins, and use this in science festivals and other teaching activities
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Only three words?!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Sometimes but generally
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Most things *except* Celine Dion
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1. Health 2. Happiness 3. To have close friends and family
Tell us a joke.
Q: How many mathematicians does it take to change a lightbulb? A: None. It’s left to the reader as an exercise.
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