Profile

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Algernon Bloom

My CV

  • Education:

    I have had a weird path through education. I failed some of my A-levels, so didn’t get onto the Physics course I wanted. I instead went through clearing and went to the University of Aberdeen to study engineering, but didn’t like it so change to mathematics.

    I then went to Heriot-Watt University (in Edinburgh) to do an MSc in Applied Mathematics.

    After my MSc, I did a PhD (in computational biology) at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London.

  • Qualifications:

    I can’t remember my exact GSCEs, I know I got an A in electronics, and Bs in maths and science and those were my highest. Got Cs in pretty much everything else.

    A-levels I received a B in maths, a D in chemistry and an E in physics (no wonder I didn’t get into physics for uni)

  • Work History:

    While studying I worked at a few bars and pubs.

    After my PhD, I worked as a postdoc at Barts Cancer Institute for 2 years on a continuation of my PhD.

    • About Me:

      I live with my partner and dog in Gloucester. I’m a mathematician doing cancer research during the day and play in a punk band on the weekend. I am LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent. I love music, video games and D&D!

    • Read more

      I live in Gloucester and work remotely in Glasgow. This means I get to choose my work hours quite a lot so am quite relaxed with it. I get to spend a lot of time with my dog (Sampo) who is disabled and likes to just sleep under my feet. I have dyslexia and ADHD (apologies for spelling mistakes), I find this means that I see the world in a different way.

      I play bass guitar (among many other instruments) in a punk band but am quite far from them now so have had to stop. Still most nights I will get to play a little.

      I’m also big into video games (sea of thieves, overwatch, elden ring, vermintide) and TTRPGs (D&D, Pathfinder, Dark Heresy).

    • Read more

      I am a Computational Biologist. This means that I get to develop software for problems that biologists and doctors face. This can be lots of different things, from helping them access data more easily to developing AI that can spot a tumour in an MRI scan.

    • My Typical Day:

      I wake up, take my dog (Sampo) out for a walk, and grab a coffee. I start work (remotely) at around 10am, where I will normally be programming bits of software. Then I have lunch in the garden, and in the afternoon it’s back to look at my results. I stop work at 6pm.

    • Read more

      I get to set my own pace on a lot of my projects and will spend most of the day with music (playing too loud) coding away and the occasional Zoom meeting

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      Organise tours of some of our labs and workspaces.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        punk rock cancer researcher

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Physicist

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Yes, I have severe dyslexia and ADHD. I had a lot of trouble at school

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Dubioza Kolektiv

        What's your favourite food?

        Pizza probably

        Tell us a joke.

        What is a pirates favourite letter? You would think it would be "R" but their first love is the "C"

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