Experience

BigSis (Insect control)

• United Kingdom
• Farming
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Entomology Research Scientist & Bioautomation Lead

  • Dec 2022 - Jul 2023

  Reading, England, United Kingdom Entomology R&D for BigSis (Zyzzle ltd) while also leading both the entomology and production teams. Designing and conducting experiments at speed for a growing start-up in the agritech sector. Automating sterile insect technique at scale using computer vision and rapid roll-out technology. Part of the strategic and medium-term planning of facilities, business processes, and team leadership. After working as an outside contractor I was hired as an Entomology Research Scientist at the… Show more Entomology R&D for BigSis (Zyzzle ltd) while also leading both the entomology and production teams. Designing and conducting experiments at speed for a growing start-up in the agritech sector. Automating sterile insect technique at scale using computer vision and rapid roll-out technology. Part of the strategic and medium-term planning of facilities, business processes, and team leadership. After working as an outside contractor I was hired as an Entomology Research Scientist at the Portman Road site. At first, my role was to help translate the company's development goals into achievable targets and concise research projects. After quick success in refining standard operating procedures and quantifying unknown variables in processes, I was given line management of the entomology team. This involves managing the team, the laboratory, and the needs of the business (consumables, health and safety, hazardous materials, SOPs, training) on top of my initial research and development role. After further success and the business stage transition to scale-up; I also became the manager of both the biology and production teams for the site, forming the combined bio-automation team. Working towards synergy between both approaches, we managed to quickly identify key problems with designs and hit ambitious goals quickly with great teamwork.

• Entomology Laboratory Assistant

  • Oct 2022 - Dec 2022

  Reading, England, United Kingdom Working as an external contractor in the mass rearing and selecting of insects at the Weighbridge Row site laboratory. Designing experiments to assess and track contamination events, sex ratios, sterile male yields, and refining standard operating procedures.



Purdue University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• PHD Student

  • Aug 2018 - Aug 2022

  Lafayette, Indiana Area Graduate Student, Research Assistant, and Teaching Assistant. Taught Forensics and Entomology classes over 5 semesters. Completed my PhD studies on genomics, evolution, and phylogenetics of Thrips (Thysanoptera).



Hichrom Limited

• United Kingdom
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Laboratory Scientist

  • Nov 2017 - Jul 2018

  Theale, England, United Kingdom Assembly, quality testing, and research of high-pressure liquid chromatography columns.



SAFE Project, SEARRP

• Invertebrate Research Projects Manager

  • Oct 2016 - Jun 2017

  Tawau, Malaysia Leading and training a team of unskilled research assistants to conduct tropical rainforest research, specifically focusing on the responses of insect communities, biodiversity and abundance in relation to rapid environmental destruction and land-use change. Data management, analysis, research methods design & application, reporting, outreach, camp management, logistics, dissemination of results to policy decision makers.



Operation Wallacea

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Invertebrate Scientist and Light Trapping Coordinator

  • Feb 2015 - Oct 2016

  Honduras As the Invertebrate Scientist Light Trapping Coordinator, I conducted a full systematic, taxonomic, faunistic inventory of Saturniidae and Sphingidae in Cusuco National Park (CNP), Honduras with DNA barcoding, electron microscopy, and dissection. As part of Operation Wallacea I provided an accurate picture of the populations of Saturniidae (Moon Moths) in CNP, investigating cryptic species and unknown specimens All sequences will be uploaded to BOLD for future use by Operation Wallacea… Show more As the Invertebrate Scientist Light Trapping Coordinator, I conducted a full systematic, taxonomic, faunistic inventory of Saturniidae and Sphingidae in Cusuco National Park (CNP), Honduras with DNA barcoding, electron microscopy, and dissection. As part of Operation Wallacea I provided an accurate picture of the populations of Saturniidae (Moon Moths) in CNP, investigating cryptic species and unknown specimens All sequences will be uploaded to BOLD for future use by Operation Wallacea and other scientists interested in using them to help clarify the taxonomy of Saturniidae moths. Show less



Harper Adams University

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Postgraduate MSc Entomology

  • Sep 2014 - Oct 2015

  Advanced Research Methods Biodiversity and Ecosystem services Biology & Taxonomy Of Insects Biology-based chemical control Diversity and Evolution of Insects Ecological Entomology Ecological principles and decision tools Research and Information Skills MSc Research Project



Operation Wallacea

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Jun 2014 - Aug 2014

  Cusuco National Park Honduras Quality hands-on experience deep in Honduran Cloud forest mainly in entomological research (More specifically Lepidopteran and Coleopteran trapping and analysis) but also with ornithologists, mammalogists and herpetologists collectively working towards obtaining biodiversity data for later publish. • Primarily involved in ecological entomological research particularly Lepidopterans and the collection of other invertebrate specimens, identifying/sorting pit fall specimens into appropriate… Show more Quality hands-on experience deep in Honduran Cloud forest mainly in entomological research (More specifically Lepidopteran and Coleopteran trapping and analysis) but also with ornithologists, mammalogists and herpetologists collectively working towards obtaining biodiversity data for later publish. • Primarily involved in ecological entomological research particularly Lepidopterans and the collection of other invertebrate specimens, identifying/sorting pit fall specimens into appropriate species before preserving samples in ethanol. • I also performed Amphibian and Reptile Population Surveying along rivers during the night, Data collection (Skin swabs for Chytid) SVL and Weight Measurements, Habitat/location Data, Specimens and Photographs), • Practiced field sampling methods for biodiversity and population estimates, such as Mist netting for Birds and Bats, Pit fall/Light trap sampling for invertebrates, Timed and measured physically demanding transects in deep jungle locating reptiles, arachnids, amphibians, birds and large mammals at both night time and day time, Habitat data collection and tree identification. Show less