Currently on secondment to the Data Science Institute
I joined the in 1990 and I'm still here. (It's a great place to be.) I am a Professor of Mathematics in the and have previously been Head of Department. I've been an Academic Governor, as a member of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s Council, and a member of committees and working groups too exciting and numerous to mention (or perhaps even remember). From 2019 to 2022, I had the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-wide role of VCAB (Vice-Chair Academic Board). I am currently on secondment to the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Data Science Institute as its Director.
I am originally from , in the west of Scotland, near Glasgow. Growing up in Paisley, I studied at , then the , graduating with a BSc in Mathematics in 1988. I completed a PhD in Mathematics in 1991, having studied at and ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. I also have an MA in Higher and Professional Education (2002) from the , University of London and I was a member of the first cohort on ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s Leadership Development Programme (2012-14).
My research interests are mainly in the mathematical theory underpinning machine learning, data science, and Boolean and pseudo-Boolean functions and I am also increasingly interested in the mathematical modelling of issues in data science such as algorithmic fairness and privacy.
I've taught a wide variety of courses at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. I won the inaugural 2014 ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Students' Union Teaching Excellence Award for Sharing Expertise and Knowledge and have been awarded ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Education Excellence Awards.