I am a graduate software and web developer looking for an opportunity to use my programming skills in a productive, creative environment. I have two passions: creating and learning. When combined with an intuitive understanding of good design and engineering, and the technical skills obtained from my education and experience, this makes me a flexible worker and lateral thinker. Developing a personal interest in my work is vital to me, and this produces a strong motivation to succeed.
University of Sussex (October 2007 - September 2008)
Distinction-level grades obtained on marked coursework. Thesis entitled “Cellular Automaton Models for the Evolution of Biological Patterns and Adaptive Camouflage” completed successfully, awaiting results. Coursework project for Artificial Life course presented at Artificial Life XI conference, see below.
This course has allowed me to improve my technical, scientific and creative thinking by pursuing cutting-edge research. I have developed my programming skills to facilitate the implementation of dynamic, complex simulations of systems found in the natural world. I have learned to concisely and clearly express my ideas and document my findings in the form of technical papers and essays, as well as verbally communicating with others and giving presentations.
University of Manchester (September 2003 - July 2006)
Attained first-class grades in: Introduction to Computer Systems, Computer Design, Professional Issues in Computing & Information Technology, Object-Oriented Programming with Java 1 & 2, Reasoning About Programs, Imperative Programming with C & C++, Interactive Computer Graphics, Operating Systems.
Successfully completed a final-year project entitled “Binary to Bytecode Translation” which involved creating a flexible system for automatically translating x86 native machine instructions into Java bytecodes for execution on the Java VM. This project was programmed in Java and provided opportunities to learn about time management in large projects, implementing both technical and high-level specifications, and dividing complex systems into manageable sub-systems.
Rainford College (September 2001 - June 2003)
A-Level: Physics [A], Information and Communication Technology (AVCE) [A], Mathematics [B]
AS-Level: Electronics [A]
Rainford High Technology College (September 1996 - June 2001)
GCSE: Three A*, six A, two B including: English [A*], Science [A*], Mathematics [A]
Matthews, Jamie. (in press). The longevity of distinct cultures in an agent-based model of memetic drift. In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Artificial Life, MIT Press. Presented at ALIFE XI, Winchester, August 2008.
I have built and maintained professional web sites for several local and international customers, including a motorsports parts business, a secondary school, a musical instrument construction company and an international jazz education organisation. The latter involved creating a site which is available in six different languages. As part of this work, I have implemented my own Content Management System in PHP which can be used as a flexible platform from which to build a diverse array of sites.
Portfolio available at www.bombcircle.net
Technical support and systems maintenance/servicing at Pilkington European Technical Centre in Lathom, Lancashire. Worked as part of a team to transfer each of the 700+ computers on the site to a new Active Directory domain server. Re-employed for a second period the following year and liaised with employees to oversee successful data migration to new computer systems.
Completed a 2-week Trident work experience placement at this small, local web design company, and was additionally given a paid project to complete for them during the following summer.
Selected as one of a team of four students during my first year at college to take part in the nationwide Engineering Education Scheme. This six-month scheme involves working closely with a professional engineer and a teacher to solve a real-world engineering problem.
We worked with Pilkington Group on a microchip-controlled system to monitor and control the cooling of glass as it is produced on a float line. As well as problem solving and team work, the course involved learning to manage a project, presentation skills and other key working practices. The solution we designed and prototyped was eventually implemented at Cowley Hill float works in St. Helens and is still being used.
Full, clean licence. Passed both theory and practical driving tests on the first attempt, and went on to obtain the Pass Plus qualification.