I’ve created this website as a way to share my hints and tips on analysing publicly available data in R and Python. As well, as some of my personal delves into data analysis and visualisations.

I’m passionate about using data to improve people’s lives and daily experiences. I’m fortune enough to do this in my role as a Civil Servant but stress that all views on this blog are entirely my own. I’ve included more information on my background with data below.

PhD Scientist, with multidisiplinary research experience. Currently working as a Data Scientist in International Development.

I’ve had probably an unconventional career path but at the heart of everything I’ve done has been data. I started off as a geology undergraduate, which led me to a masters in geochemistry, that opened the door to a PhD in planetary science, which allowed me to dip my academic toes into some interdisciplinary research crossing the borders of astrophysics, planetary science, geology, and material science.

Experience in R, Python, Matlab, QGIS, C++.

I was fortunate to be given time and space to develop and hone my skills throughout my education and career. Starting with C++ modelling during my masters gave me the confidence to tackle Matlab and Python during my PhD/PDRA. From there I moved to the public sector and R, with a focus on Shiny Apps (incorporating JavaScript and CSS).

Having left academia in 2018, I lived ‘the dream’ working freelance out of the back of my campervan travelling around Scotland. During this time I was fortunate to work on a wide variety of projects with people from across the globe.

Applied my skills to a range of topics and disciplines. Always keen to learn something new!

This included; developing astrophysics lectures for online learning, building models in R for academic research, ghost writing a cookery book, analysing GIS data, providing scientific advice on method development, and proofreading a lot of papers! During this time I also worked at a mountain bike center and then an indoor snow slope.

Having settled on the West Coast of Scotland, I entered the public sector. I’m really passionate about helping bring innovate insights and solutions using data, as well as bridging the gap for those lacking data confidence.

My current focus is trying to incorporate novel geospatial data science techniques into data that can be used by policy makers.

Passionate about using data for good - the more we know, the more targeted the interventions, the more successfull our outcomes can be!

When I’m not thinking about data, I can be found adventuring around Scotland with my toddler and dog.