Summary

* Doctorate in Accurate in-vivo assessment of a medical implant

* Wide experience in personal injury cases (e.g. cars, chairs, ladders and bicycles)

* Extended experience in computer simulation including MADYMO.

* Post Doc in the epidemiology of accidents



Education

1996-2002: D.Phil. (PhD) in Engineering Science, University of Oxford
(British Government EPSRC scholarship)

As an EPSRC Scholar, I developed a C++ system for X-ray analysis of knee replacements that can track wear of implants along with measuring the range of the joints movement and monitoring of any migration of the implant in the bone. CAD-CAM and Ideas 6.


1995-96: M.Sc. in Engineering and Physical Science in Medicine at Imperial College, London (Imperial scholarship)

With an Imperial College Scholarship I studied Anatomy, physiology, bone mechanics, C++ and Matlab, bio-sensors, signal processing, and took a thesis project in image process techniques in pathology. Headed an academic curriculum review committee for this newly introduced course.


1990-95: B.A. (Hons) in Natural Sciences Trinity College, Dublin

Honours project in Electron Spin Resonance detection of defects in materials. Physics major (2.1), Chemistry and Maths minors, Core courses in linear and non-linear optics, electronics, selected as the Erasmus scholar for study at the University of Regensburg, Germany for one year.



Professional Experience

Dec 2004 ongoing

The Principal of Crash Insight which is a specialist consultancy set up to provide expert scientific witness for the courts for car crash and personal injury cases. I operate in close collaboration with DVExperts.net

* Computer modelling of impact (MADYMO, LS-DYNA)
* Contract research projects
* Scientific reports advising on wether a seat belt was worn, the probable speed at impact and the aetiology of injuries
* Generation of intellectual property, prototypes and product development
* Projected turnover $ 100,000


Research Fellow
Nov 2002 Dec 2004, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Victoria 3800

Responsibilities:

* Provide bio-mechanical simulation and imaging support and solutions in projects focusing on impact injury.
* Guide researchers towards bio-mechanically valid resolutions.
* MADYMO, programming and IT mentor role.

Achievements:

* Attracted AUD $58,000 of industry funding for research on the biomechanics of spinal injury.
* Negotiated a $17,000 project with a government agency
* Received a $5,000 in house grant to investigate imaging solutions in water safety.
* Gained $16,000 of awards to cover the costs of publications.
* Gave a lecture series in Radiation Physics as an understudy.
* Developed relationships with the physics department and industry which have blossomed into ongoing projects and investigations and pilot studies.

See publications.


Lead Researcher of the Stereo X-ray Imaging Group
Oct 1998 - Oct 1999: Oxford Orthopaedic Engineering Centre, Oxford, England

Responsibilities:

* Development of a custom CAE system to make biomechanical analyses of bone implants.

* Design and redesign of system components

* Liaison with suppliers, users and constructors

* Construction and testing

* Software package design and testing
* Refining the research tool into a user-friendly system
* System automation, simplification and teaching
* Directing four assistant engineers

Achievements:

* Process system successful
* Clear protocol
* X-ray film quality assurance
* Printed process history for teaching and follow-up
* Managed a team effectively
* Nine times more films were processed than previously
* Database fusion program realised to merge information from many sources


Research Assistant in Opto-electronics
Summer 1992: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Under the direction of Professor Werner Blau, I worked on a project that endeavoured to create an optical switch.

There was a research hiatus in the lab. The problem was that a special optical material had been created, but it would not dissolve in a suitable solvent.

By using an azeotropic mixture as a solvent I generated a thin film of this special material. The thin film could then be cut to make a number of optical switches.



Prizes and Achievements

British Government EPSRC scholarship: 1996
Engineering Science at Oxford University to cover tuition fees.

Nuffield prize, Oxford University: 1996
To cover living costs for the duration of my degree at Oxford.

Scholarship from the University of London: 1995
To cover fees and half of expected living costs.

Established the Bagrit Society at Imperial College, London: 1996

Winner at the Philosophical Society Public Speaking Competition: 1993
Taking part as a guest was the President of Ireland at the time, Mary Robinson.

Built prototype Optical Switch: 1991

Erasmus Award 1992/93
Travel award to study at Regensburg University, Germany.

Second prize at the National "Aer Lingus" Young Scientists Exhibition 1986 Equivalent to the BHP Billiton Science Awards for Schools.

Christian Brother Schools Irish Language Scholar: 1983 and 1984


Professional Associations

Graduate of the Institute of Physics 1995.
Member of the International Society of Technology in Athroplasty 2000.
Member of the European Society of Bio-mechanics 2001.
Member of the British Orthopaedic Research Society 1999.
Recognised as a Biomedical Engineer in Australia by Engineers Australia, 2004.




Leadership

I have formulated and directed two advanced projects in CAE technology.

I also designed a project and conducted day-to-day mentoring of an M.Sc. student at the University of Oxford.

I have supervised two software engineering projects. My remit was to devise projects and manage two engineering workers.


Tutoring

At Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, England: Core module in Electrical Power and Machines to 4th year Engineering Science Students. I have also conducted design, build and test 'Matlab' computer classes at the Engineering Science department at Oxford University. I tutor chemistry at Trinity College at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Since 2002, I have been tutoring Engineering students at Monash University. This involves solving ODE's and programming computer models of engineering, ecological and financial problems.


Lecturing

Medical Imaging and Radiation Physics, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Monash University at Clayton, Semester 1 2004: 5 parallel support lectures on radiation physics and dosimetry.


Supervision Qualifications

I am currently taking a graduate supervision certificate class (HED5005) at the Higher Education Development Unit, Monash University, Clayton.

Publications

Five original refereed articles, six published abstracts, three posters. I have given nine presentations at conferences and chaired one session.