Laboratory automation development at BioReliance, part of Merck Group KGaA. I am the senior engineer on a UK/US joint project to automate a complex cell testing assay. This involves dealing with multiple external vendors as well as internal IT and LIMS experts, and scientists to ensure that integration works as expected and milestones are hit. I have basic proficiency in Hamilton STAR liquid handler programming as well as Biosero GBG automation software. I have also designed objects in CAD for 3D printing and very nearly had a new liquid handler tip design patented (the application fell at the final hurdle).

I have over twenty years experience as a software engineer working in the pharmaceutical and life sciences. My day to day responsibility is for software of the Lab2Lab product; this is a wide-area automation system that has been keenly adopted by Novartis, AstraZeneca and other pharmas. I wrote and maintain the C# software (with WPF) and designed the underlying Oracle database. I also deal with the full path from customer feature requests through to build and release.In addition I have worked on projects including a cloud based diagnostic system, a new tablet coating production system for the pharmaceutical industry, an automated synthesis laboratory.I have considerable experience of working with mechanical and electronic engineers, developing software for lab automation systems. This has involved user interface development, database design, state machine control, distributed network architecture along with all aspects of code archiving, version control, unit test development. I mainly work in C# and WPF and for database development usually Oracle but also MySQL and sqlite.The software applications I have developed have ranged from relatively simple data input and editing applications to specialist middleware utilities through to complex, state-machines based hardware control systems. In addition I have a considerable amount of customer facing and product marketing experience; attending and presenting at conferences and trade shows throughout Europe and North America.In 2018 TTP Labtech was bought by a large investment firm and has since become the core of SPT Life Sciences group.

The PI division of TTP was spun out as a separate subsidiary company called Labtech. This was as part of the move from pure consultancy to developing our own products. During the first few years we still took on several large consultancy developments but by they end we purely developed and sold our own product lines.

As part of the Process and Instrumentation division of the renowned consultancy TTP. I worked with mechanical and electronic engineers to help meet customers requirements.

Taking forward a joint project between Dundee University and NCR to develop mechanical modeling software for use in the design of ATMs.

A short contract to investigate using neural networks for the control of mechanical systems.

An attempt to start a business with 3 friends. We developed a software application for use in the forestry industry and won a technology development competition run by local government. We did not have the ability to take it forward.

Working in the exploration side of the oil industry. Based on-shore and on drilling rigs in the North Sea.

Working mainly in Edinburgh but also covering the wider central belt of Scotland.