John Cotterill Email & Phone Number

Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom

Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom

London, England, United Kingdom

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

I continued in a research position at the University of Birmingham to further the developments I made on a scattering approach to proton Computed Tomography during my PhD.

Cancers located in the head and neck, as well as cancers in children, benefit from the achievable dose distributions with proton radiotherapy. pCT offers the potential for reduced uncertainties when planning cancer treatments using protons, in comparison to the x-ray CT currently performed clinically. A suitable pCT device would allow for more targeted proton treatments, resulting in reduced mortality and side effects. The device could also be envisioned to make proton therapy a viable treatment modality for other cancers, where clinical studies are yet to show an advantage over traditional x-ray techniques. My research has included Geant4 simulation and experimental investigations using silicon detection technologies from high energy particle physics to develop such a device. An understanding of medical physics and clinical oncology has been fundamental to ensure performance requirements are met, and it is practical for clinical use. One study motivated design decisions for a pCT device as part of the OPTIma group, which is to be installed in the Proton Beam Therapy Centre at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester (one of the two new NHS proton therapy facilities). I have also worked to further progress a compact pCT design proposed with the PRaVDA group.My research culminated in the development of my own approach to pCT, which through both simulation and experiment has shown incredibly promising results.

I assisted with the conduction of experiments in the Year 1 Laboratory for Undergraduate students. Guidance was given on good experimental practice and techniques. I was required to explain the physics concepts underlying the experiments being undertaken clearly and concisely to help develop their understanding of various topics. Lab book and report marking with quality feedback was also made.

I was voted in by the UoB Gymnastics Club members as Club President to lead the committee and club. I was the main contact between the University and committee/members, requiring clear and concise relaying of information. I arranged and led regular meetings with the committee to discuss allocation of tasks, scheduled all training, coaching, and employment by the club. With the assistance of the committee, I planned and ran a national gymnastics competition for universities in order to raise funds for the club and for charity. This was a successful year which culminated in the club achieving first place at the British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) National Championships for the first time in its history.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Particle Physics

Activities and Societies: Gymnastics and Trampolining Club (Squad)

Msci, Physics With Particle Physics And Cosmology, Class 1

Activities and Societies: Gymnastics and Trampolining Club (Squad)

Education record

A-Levels: >Physics >Maths >Further Maths >Chemistry >Philosophy and Ethics 12 GCSE A* - C