David Boddie

Personal Details

e-mail david@boddie.org.uk
Nationality British

Personal Profile

Academic Achievements

Qualifications Ph.D. Applied Mathematics,
University of St Andrews, St Andrews, U.K.
M.Sc. Astronomy,
University of Sussex, Brighton, U.K.
B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics (Upper second),
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, U.K.

Advanced Level: Physics (A), General Studies (A), Mathematics (B), Chemistry (B).
GCSE: 6 A grades, 2 B grades. Note: English Language (A).
Awards The Fallows Memorial Prize, academic achievement at Advanced Level.

Employment

Trolltech ASA, Oslo, Norway
February 2004 to present

Position Technical Writer
Responsibilities Contributing to API documentation for the Qt cross-platform GUI framework and related projects. Writing examples to illustrate the recommended use of technologies and features.
Highlights Editing a printed publication aimed at C++ developers. Writing short technical articles covering uses and features of Qt.
Writing whitepapers describing technologies provided by Qt.

SleepyDog, Leicester, U.K.
November 2001 to October 2002

Position Software developer
Responsibilities Designing and developing novel user interfaces for the K Desktop Environment (KDE) on the Linux operating system and for Windows 2000/XP. Writing documentation describing features and implementation of the resulting software.
Working with groups in the open source community who have aims and interests related to those of SleepyDog.
General system maintenance (Linux) and troubleshooting (Microsoft Exchange Server).
Highlights Developing applications and components using C++, Qt and the KDE libraries, using build systems based on CVS and Makefiles.
Constructing application prototypes using Python, PyQt, Tkinter, Pygame/SDL and Visual Basic on Linux, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Devising, participating in and examining the results of usability testing on software developed for SleepyDog.

School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, U.K.
September 1997 to September 2001

Position Ph.D. Research Student
Thesis title: Magnetohydrodynamic Waves and Instabilities in Solar Magnetic Structures
Responsibilities Carrying out research on the mathematical modelling of magnetoacoustic waves in the solar atmosphere and the study of convective instabilities in solar photospheric magnetic flux tubes. The application of analytical techniques and numerical methods to the above projects and related problems.
Highlights Presenting research work at national meetings in the U.K. and international conferences in Germany and Belgium. Giving seminars on my research to colleagues in the Solar Theory Group.
Using numerical routines written in C to examine the properties of theoretical models. Employing RLaB and Python for graphing and interpretation of results.
Providing tutorial supervision of undergraduate students, supporting lecture courses in mathematics. Receiving suitable training to learn about "best practice" for tutors working with undergraduates.

CPES, University of Sussex, Brighton, U.K.
October 1996 to September 1997

Position M.Sc. Student
Responsibilities Studying a wide range of areas in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Carrying out a short research project, requiring a dissertation to be written as part of the overall assessment.
Highlights Presenting the ongoing results of my research project to colleagues in the Astronomy Centre.
The use of Matlab and RLaB as tools to understand the mathematical model on which my M.Sc. project was based. Successfully relating this model to data obtained by satellites, using basic assumptions.

Logotron, Cambridge, U.K.
July 1996 to September 1996

Position Programmer
Responsibilities Development of a software package related to a series of television programmes for the U.K. primary education sector. Working as part of a small team to an agreed overall specification, but with rapidly changing specifications for each individual project module.
Highlights Implementing a modular, interactive, graphical learning tool for children, operating within a desktop environment and complying with guidelines on appearance and functionality.
Ensuring the product satisfied the strict memory and storage restrictions on software prevalent in the U.K. education sector at the time.

Interests

Playing five-a-side football and swimming, having attained proficiency and life saving qualifications. I read both fiction and non-fiction, particularly humour and general science. I have a continuing interest in open source software development, having minor involvements with ongoing projects. When I have the time I also play the flute.