duncansapien

"Phase-Only Optical Information Processing using a 16x16 Spatial Light Modulator"
-in what is now the School of Physics, University of Edinburgh.)

• HTML Version

• Edinburgh Research archive (includes PDF version)

Principal Areas

• Mathematical modelling of the spectrum observed in the phase-contrast microscope using a multiple convolution Bessel function approach.
• Development of a phase-only, nematic liquid crystal, spatial light modulator using the "Field Induced Birefringence" effect.

• Computational modelling of optimum algorithms for pattern recognition / correlation purposes with experimental verification (FORTRAN 77).

• Performing pattern recognition using electro-optical image processing via binary mode, phase-only filters in the Fourier plane of an optical image processing bench.

Astrophysics Principal Subjects
(in what are now the Institute for Astronomy and School of Physics)

• Astronomical Instrumentation - Imaging spectrometers, x-ray spectrometers, electronic design.
• Physical Optics - Fourier optics, image processing.
• Electromagnetism
• Matter & Radiation Interactions I/II - Model atmospheres, radiative transfer theory.
• Cosmology
• Special Relativity
• Quantum Physics
• LASER Physics
• Stellar Structure
• Thermodynamics
• Statistical Physics
• Electronics / Oceanography    (half-time courses in 2nd year).

Subject		Ordinary Grade 1983		Higher Grade 1984
Chemistry:		A		A
Physics:		A		A
Mathematics:		A		A
English:		A		A
Geography:		A		B
French:		A

Core Duties & Required Skills

• MANAGEMENT

• IT Infrastructure Management for 140 staff and 41 on-site graduate students in a multilingual research and teaching environment.

• Strategic Planning - meeting regularly with the University Strategic Development Co-ordinator to ensure smooth integration of School-level IT developments with University-wide technologies.

• Financial Planning - liaising with the School Director of Finance to evaluate, procure, implement and maintain cost-effective technology solutions for the School inside a project-managed framework.

• Project Management - packaging of technical developments into a formal Project Management framework (authoring of scoping document, project proposals).
  Examples include migration from NetWare to Windows Server 2003; development of state-of-the-art microlab environments requiring co-ordination between a half-dozen separate internal units and external (including international) vendors & technical specialists.

• Representation of the School at senior levels within the University (such as the IS/IT Strategy Committee & DISTINCT computing officer forum).

• Liaison with the wider University community (technical, procurement, financial) and IT service companies (vendors for servers, desktops, networking, repair).

• Personnel Management - oversee and direct the duties of two full-time IT support officers.

• TECHNICAL

• Systems Administration - design, operation, installation, configuration, backup/recovery of
  • VMware Intrastucture 3.5 ESX Servers - hosting Windows Server and Linux systems

  • Suse Linux 10.x/11.x Servers - NFS, NIS, DHCP, Yast, CUPS, SAMBA, Apache, MySQL

  • Microsoft Windows 2003 servers - Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy

  • NetWare 6.0 Servers - ConsoleOne, ZenWorks (NAL, snAppShot), NDPS, eDirectory, Veritas Backup Exec. Certified Novell Administrator(NetWare 4.11/5.0).

• SAN Administration - EMC Clariion CX3-20 / Celerra NAS via fibre-channel; NFS & iSCSI connectivity to Linux/Windows Server hosts.

• Programming & Scripting in support of all core IT operations - BASH, PERL, PHP, Kixtart, HTML/CSS, Javascript, DOS, C, Delphi.

• Technical Authoring - producing extensive web documentation (HTML/ Blog) for both technical and research staff on all IT systems.

• Database Design / management / backup - primarily using MySQL with PHP interface.

• Webserver Management - installation, configuration of Apache, vhosting, security, web-database interfacing.

• Desktop management - Suse Linux / Windows XP/2000 (hardware, fault-trace, software installation, scripting, configuration, networking etc.)

• Microlab management
  • Design, build and maintain dedicated Windows XP/2000 microlabs to host specialist software for the MSc in Logistics & Supply chain management and MSc in Translation And Computer-Assisted Translation Tools plus two new undergraduate Artec-Televic audio-visual microlabs.

  • Automate creation and management of multiple user accounts (via JRB utils, Perl, Kixtart, command shell scripts).

  • Install & configure specialist software for specialist postgraduate School Windows XP Microlabs (using bespoke PERL/DOS/Kixtart scripting to deploy applications) and the campus-wide PC Caledonia microlab environment.
  • Install/configure specialist software for the above microlabs: Trados Translators Workbench, Multiterm, Catalyst, Systran, Optrak, Class.

• LAN Management - ensure LAN equipment is up-to-date, meets capacity, and is properly configured.

Core Duties

• Provide UNIX support (BASH shell scripting, printing, PINE, LaTEX) to the Faculty including leading formal training of staff and postgraduate students ('Introduction to UNIX' course).

• Provide telephone helpdesk and hands-on IT support as part of a small team to the Faculty of Social Science (including the departments of Architecture, Archaeology, Sociology, Psychology and Economics.)

• Act as the primary IT support team contact for the Department of Archaeology.

• Act as course tutor on other formal courses ('Introduction to Windows / Word / UNIX').

• Fault-find & install hardware and software on PCs / Apple MacIntosh computers; configure networking under Novell NetWare 3.12/4.11 (IPX,TCP/IP)

Core Duties

• Install and manage Novell 3.11 & 4.11 file servers serving both the Graduate School and postgraduate student microlabs.

• Install and configure both Apple MacIntosh (System 8) and Windows 12-seater microlabs (Windows 3.11/ Windows 98) in the Graduate School for Social Sciences.

• Technical Skills Required:
  Delphi (Visual Pascal) programming, DOS batch scripting, Windows Registry editing, Microsoft 'Policies & Profiles', advanced knowledge of PC hardware, Windows/MacIntosh operating systems. Novell system adminstration (printing, security, account management).

Core Duties

• Providing IT Support for researchers on their NetWare 3.11 server using Windows 3.11

• Fault-find 10BaseT ethernet network when required.

• The post also required some Visual Basic programming in support of processing data collected by researchers.

Core Duties

• Operator of DEC VAX and MicroVax cluster.

• Manage multiple printers in production of high-resolution geological maps (paper, toner, queue management).

• Fault-find 10Base2 ethernet network when required.

Core Duties

• Design, fabricate and assess radio-frequency electronic test equipment for Medical Colour Doppler Ultrasound scanners - see publications.