DAVID HARPER

PERSONAL PROFILE

I am a problem solver. I work well in a team, contributing insights and developing new ideas. I also enjoy the challenge of setting my own goals, and I possess the self-motivation to reach those goals.

I am a scientist. I have professional experience in mathematics, astronomy, computing and genomics. I take a delight in learning about new developments in all areas of science and technology. I bring the rigour and discipline of the scientific method to all aspects of my work.

EDUCATION

1984-1987: University of Liverpool, Ph.D. in applied mathematics, for research on satellite dynamics

2003-2006: The Open University, Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry

CAREER

• Managing and monitoring 280 MySQL instances and 40 PostgreSQL clusters.
• Designing and implementing strategies to ensure the high availability of databases which support mission-critical services such as 24x7 laboratory pipelines and high-profile public web sites.
• Analysing and optimising the performance of the database servers, including tuning of the host operating system and back-end block storage.
• Identifying performance bottlenecks in database client code and advising on optimisation of SQL queries.
• Developing and implementing procedures to automate the monitoring and testing of daily backups.
• Liaising with software development teams to advise them on best practices for database client software.
• Creating and presenting training courses for colleagues to help them make effective use of databases.
• Learning and applying new ideas and techniques in MySQL and PostgreSQL by studying best-practice blogs and attending conferences.

• Initiating and leading the development of more robust and effective methods for managing large sets of genome assembly data.
• Communicating new ideas to colleagues through seminars and training courses.
• Solving data-management problems for members of the Pathogen Group.
• Installing and managing a set of database servers for the assembly data management project.
• Analysing and improving the performance of genome assembly software.
• Creating new software tools to visualise the progress of pathogen genome assemblies.

• Communicating astronomical information to the general public, government agencies, commercial organisations, specialists and professionals.
• Designing and creating graphical representations of astronomical information, including a set of 160 star charts for the publisher Dorling-Kindersley.
• Initiating and implementing projects to improve the accessibility of the NAO's astronomical information and the efficiency with which it is delivered.
• Innovating new computing strategies to make use of the World Wide Web as a publishing medium.
• Researching and developing new mathematical techniques to ensure the accuracy of the information which NAO produces.
• Collaborating with colleagues from institutions in the U.K. and the U.S. to maintain the standard and relevance of the NAO's publications.

• Teaching mathematics, computing and astronomy.
• Innovating improved methods for teaching and assessment of computing courses, moving away from the old-fashioned "lectures and written exams" model.
• Successfully persuading two dozen academic colleagues to write, check and mark graduate examination papers each year during the summer vacation, a time when most of them would rather be doing something more interesting.
• Organising training courses and conferences.
• Analysing and evaluating large sets of data to determine satellite orbital parameters in support of NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn.
• Innovating and improving strategies to obtain new high-precision measurements of satellite positions.

• Evaluating and comparing software packages.
• Advising clients on the choice of the best software for their needs.
• Developing new modules for existing software packages.
• Solving programming problems for clients across the U.K.
• Training colleagues and clients in the use of software.
• Communicating and reporting information via seminars, newsletters, user guides and books.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
• Member of the International Astronomical Union, serving on
  • Commission C.A3 (Fundamental Standards)
  • Commission C.A4 (Celestial mechanics and dynamical astronomy)
  • Commission C.X2 (Solar system ephemerides)
• Member of the British Computer Society

PUBLICATIONS

My 1987 Ph.D. thesis The Dynamics of the Outer Satellites of Saturn is available is a set of PDF files.

I have thirty publications, including two books and eighteen papers in leading peer-reviewed journals.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS

• Genealogy (I can trace my family through ten generations to Suffolk, Northampton and the Yorkshire Dales in the late 17^th century)
• Listening to classical music
• America and its history
• Keeping my cats amused with ping-pong balls and old shoelaces
• Islay malt whisky, especially Lagavulin, Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain
• Good food
• The history of the calendar

Copyright 1995-2015 by David Harper and Lynne Marie Stockman
All Rights Reserved
Designed and maintained by Obliquity
Last modified on 25 August 2015
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