Cara Thompson Email & Phone Number

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Helping others maximise the impact of their expertise by crafting intuitive, compelling and memorable data visualisations.There are two main strands to my consultancy work, which allow me to meet clients where their data needs are:- crafting intuitive data visualisations and clear narratives to help end users engage well with patterns in data- creating bespoke solutions which automate data processes and free up time for experts to focus on their area of expertiseNo matter the scale of the project, I find real joy in seeing faces light up when something obscure becomes plain, when a process that took days is reduced to minutes, and when people feel confident in their understanding of their own data. Whether you’re after a polished dataviz, a clear data-driven story, an automated data pipeline or a detailed report that updates itself whenever you feed it new information, I’d love to help you make the most of your data.

Using #rstats to automate reports and data-centred processes for a variety of clientsCreating polished datavisualisations in which the aesthetics are aligned with each client's brandWorking with clients in an iterative process to help them get to grips with the code and to adapt products to evolving needs

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

In this new phase of the role, I have turned my focus to fostering code craftsmanship within the team in order to improve the scalability and maintainability of our automated reporting, and to implementing technological solutions to facilitate team working. These are both key to the sustainable delivery of the high quality work for which this department has earned a reputation among sister organisations. In addition, I have worked with key stakeholders to create and enhance bespoke annual reports, implementing principles of data science and dataviz to collate, analyse, and communicate patterns of candidate performance across years of data. I have continued to contribute presentations and discussion papers to board meetings, to support decision making on a range of topics relating to examination delivery.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Leading on the creation of automated reports for an increasing portfolio of examinations, with a focus on clarity of communication. This involved seeking and implementing feedback from new stakeholders. Recruiting, training and overseeing a new team responsible for the analysis and reporting of exam-related data.Presenting information related to changes in examination formats to board members, and supporting a team to lead a variety of examination-data-related activities, from standard setting sessions to examiner training, via board presentations and written reports. Bidding for and successfully securing external contracts, growing the portfolio of the department beyond RCSEd examinations.Implementing workflow approaches and tools from the software engineering world (using Git, expanding the automated tests on the code base, holding regular stand ups, Agile approach to work planning).Providing key input to lawyers, surgeons and senior colleagues to help them engage with the complexities of exam-related data and analyses during an extensive court case.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Applied the statistical methods I had acquired during my Psychology research career to the context of Exams.Managed the transition from an external contractor to the creation of an in-house department, and automated examination reports in R in order to vastly increase the number of examinations for which analyses were carried out and routinely reported.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Preparing and delivering lectures on Research Methods to Masters level students enrolled on the Music, Mind and Body modulesSolely responsible for all content and delivery of weekly lectures for one academic year; grading students' essays on topics and research proposals linked to the methods discussed in the lectures

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Psychology, Thesis: Sounding Sparks: Inconguities And Aethetics In Music And Language

Independently designed, conducted and analysed ERP experiments to investigate cognitive and neurological responses to unexpected events.

Postgraduate Degree, Pgcert In Academic Practice

Master Of Science - Ms, Psycholinguistics, Distinction

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Bsc Joint Honours Psychology And Music, First Class