Academic CV

"It's fuzzy-minded
liberal thinking like
that that gets you
eaten."


Principal Snyder

D.Phil

1999-2004

I completed studying for a D.Phil in mathematics at St. Peter's College, Oxford University in September 2004. My thesis examined various partial differential eigenvalue problems with an aim to find the natural modes and frequencies of certain flat-panel loudspeakers. Perturbation theory, in particular WKB, was used to obtain a ray theory formulation of the problems (following work pioneered by J.B. Keller relating to quantum theory, now known as the EBK method after Einstein, Brillouin and Kramers) which generally yielded a sequence of delay equations for the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. In certain circumstances these could be solved using further asymptotics or Fourier methods, otherwise numerical techniques could be used. All results were verified independently using spectral numerical methods.

My supervisors were Prof. S. J. Chapman and Dr. J. R. Ockendon at the Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (OCIAM). We also did some work in collaboration with the sound technology company NXT.

Also during these years I held a number of teaching appointments. I most recently held a Junior Lectureship at Brasenose College. During the final few months of the writing-up phase of the D.Phil I held post-doc position, developing upon the department's work on the effect of ionic surfactants on free surfaces.

Masters

1998-1999

In 1999 I completed a Masters course in Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Analysis at Keble College, Oxford University. Aside from the taught parts of the course, I did some research into the method of Multiple Scales (this was mainly an overview of what is already known though I did add a few insights of my own). I also did some research into lubrication theory problems with rough boundaries.

For my dissertation I took on a problem suggested to us by DERA on Ballistic Missile Re-Entry Roll Resonance. This involved using multiple scales methods to determine if and when a ballistic missile will experience roll resonance upon re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. I was supervised by Dr. J. R. Ockendon on this problem.

Undergraduate

1995-1998

I studied Mathematical Sciences at Keble College, Oxford University as an undergraduate. After obtaining a 2nd in my First year "Moderations" exams I went on the achieve a high First (fifth in the year) in my Final Examinations.

A-Levels

1993-1995

I obtained the following A Levels at Stafford Grammar School:

Mathematics (A) (1)
Further Mathematics (A)
Physics (A)
Chemistry (A)
General Studies (A)

O-Levels

1991-1993

I obtained the following O Levels at the British School of Lanzarote:

English Lang. (A)
English Lit. (A) (GCSE)
Spanish (B)
French (A) (GCSE)
Geography (A)
History (A)
Maths (A)
Maths (A) (A/O Level)
Integrated Science (A)
Physics (A)