Rachel's home page - CV

Skills

Employment

Jan 2001 – present:   MISD, University of Cambridge
Computer officer

Nov 2002 – present:   CamSIS Project

• Joined the technical team within a large project to provide the University of Cambridge with a new student records system based on PeopleSoft.
• At the procurement stage, worked with one other person for a Technical Special Interest Group set up by the university. Duties included chasing specific technical queries with potential vendors and producing summary reports for consultation within and outside the SIG.
• Acted as principal advisor to the SIG on accessibility issues.
• Provided support to business experts carrying out Fit/Gap analysis, including resolving an internal team dispute that risked delaying go-live.
• At go-live, took full-time responsibility for second-line user support.
• Prioritised and allocated bug-fixing work to myself and up to 5 others.
• Contributed to developing a formal in-house release process.
• Took responsibility for tracking progress on fixes and modifications within the technical team for the new release process.
• Took responsibility for technical administration of releases.

Jan 2001 – summer 2004:   University Card Project

• Replaced an Access-based user interface with a web-based application written in Perl, including obtaining skills in Linux, Apache and Perl to carry out the project. The new interface was live by September 2001.
• Learned PL/SQL and took over maintenance of the back-end database.
• Acted as interim project manager for six weeks.
• Learned Delphi and brought maintenance of externally-written smartchip programs inside the project.
• Gave a well-attended presentation to University IT staff on the technologies used in the card web interface.
• Worked closely with the project manager to refine and improve the web interface and provide technical support for improvements in the business processes of the Card Office.
• Opened web interface to College and department staff from Summer 2002.
• Worked with the CamCORS project (a reporting system for student supervisions) to provide photographs from the card database in CamCORS.
• Researched contactless card technologies and developed a pragmatic solution, writing a paper which was presented to College IT staff and later publicised across the university in early 2004.
• Worked closely with my replacement to achieve a smooth handover during the summer of 2004. Remained available for occasional consultation.

Sep 1999 - Dec 2000:   Jobstream Group plc, Cambridge
Software developer

Worked in a small team developing and maintaining a software application for the offshore financial industry.

Jun 1998 - Oct 1998:   British Telecom, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich
Student placement

Market research review followed by assessment of projects and software developed within the Computer Telephony Integration Group, concluding with a presentation on my findings to the CTI Group.

Jun 1997 - Sep 1997:   British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge
Student placement

Data analysis for two projects: one on upper atmospheric phenomena and one investigating coincidence of radio wave phenomena and earthquakes.

Sep 1995 - Oct 1996:   Dyson Appliances, Malmesbury
Test assistant

Carried out standard performance tests to assist the design process of vacuum cleaners. Managed short and long-term test programmes for various departments. Occasionally trained others in test procedures.

Education

Oct 1996 – Jun 1999:   University of Cambridge
B.A. in Natural Sciences and Computer Science (General): First

Sep 1988 – Jun 1995:   Hardenhuish School, Chippenham
A-levels: 3 A grades, 1 B grade
GCSEs: 10 A grades

Other Interests

• Reading, especially science fiction and crime novels
• Environmental and social issues
• Rock climbing
• Family and friends

My contact details are supplied here.

Rachel's home page - CV