I am a PhD student supervised by Gos Micklem based in Cambridge working on forms of unconventional computing, with a special interest in reversible and molecular computing. My research centers on the physics and computer science of abstract forms of these systems, whilst my future directions will expand into their practical implementation.

research

engines of parsimony

This project focuses on the maximum rate of computation that can be achieved by any physical computer within a given region of space and provided a given supply of power and rate of heat dissipation. In part i, we find general scaling laws independent of whether the computers are quantum or classical, and also find how these depend on whether the computers are reversible or irreversible. We also extend to the cases of very small and very large^† computers. In parts ii and iii, we consider the consequences of this performance maximisation on cooperative/concurrent reversible computers from the perspectives of communication and resource sharing respectively.

• part i — Limits on Computational Rates in Physical Systems — preprint
• part ii — Performance Tradeoffs for Communicating Reversible Computers — preprint
• part iii — Performance Tradeoffs for Reversible Computers Sharing Resources — preprint

^†

when general relativistic effects such as gravitational collapse become important

the ℵ calculus

Inspired by the recommendation of reversible computing obtained in engines of parsimony, we developed a model of computation—the ℵ calculus—and an associated programming language—alethe—for declarative reversible computation. Being declarative, it is amenable to composition and high level programming. Other select features include automatic parallelisation, and explicit but intuitive separation of effects from 'pure' code. What we feel is most novel about ℵ is that it models the reversibility of not just the transformation of data, but also the program state itself. This makes it a good model for building physical reversible computers. In particular it is well suited for molecular implementations, and supports interaction and communication between non-local computational entities.

• The ℵ Calculus — A declarative model of reversible programming with relevance to Brownian computers — preprint
• alethe — A programming language derived from ℵ — interpreter — standard library
• The Σ Calculus/sigma — An earlier iteration of ℵ/alethe — interpreter — example code

teaching

• 2016–2018 — Physics IA — small group tutorials for first year Cambridge physics undergraduates; also marked mocks
• 2015–2018 — Introductory Python — workshops teaching python to novice programmers as part of CUCaTS
• 2015 — Introductory C++ — workshop teaching C++ (arduino-flavour) to sixth-form students as part of outreach during iGEM

conferences

• dna26 — The 26^th International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming — September 2020 — Oxford Zoom
• naw — Novel Algorithms Workshop — September 2020 — Cambridge Zoom
  • talk — Reversible Computing
  • panel discussion — William Earley, Emre Ozer, Luca Cardelli
• rc — 12^th Conference on Reversible Computation — July 2020 — Oslo Zoom
• cicps — Cambridge-Imperial Computational PhD Seminar — February 2020 — Cambridge
  • talk — Engines of Parsimony: How to take over the universe on a budget
• dna25 — The 25^th International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming — August 2019 — Seattle
  • poster — Common material for the below two posters, introducing amorphous and reversible computing
  • poster — Reversible Models for Programming Molecular Computers
  • poster — Performance Trade-offs in Reversible Amorphous Computers
• ccbi — Cambridge Computational Biology Institute Annual Symposium — May 2019 — Cambridge
• th-natsci — Trinity Hall Natural Sciences Society — February 2019 — Cambridge
  • talk — Unconventional Computing: A guide to programming molecules and turning back (computational) time
• floc ≫ vemdp — Verification of Engineered Molecular Devices and Programs — July 2018 — Oxford
• ccbi — Cambridge Computational Biology Institute Annual Symposium — May 2018 — Cambridge
• dna23 — The 23^rd International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming — September 2017 — Austin
• ccbi — Cambridge Computational Biology Institute Annual Symposium — May 2017 — Cambridge
• igem — International Genetically Engineered Machine Jamboree — September 2015 — Boston
  • poster+talk — OpenScope
• wsci — World Science Conference Israel — August 2015 — Jerusalem

qualifications

• 2016–2021 — University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall — Mathematics — PhD
• 2013–2016 — University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall — Natural Sciences — BA
  • 2016 — Part II — Half Physics with Cell & Developmental Biology — Class I
  • 2015 — Part IB — Biochemistry, Mathematics, Physics A — Class I
  • 2014 — Part IA — Biology of Cells, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics — Class I

select skills

• programming
  • current — haskell, python, c/c++
  • formerly — java, perl, scheme, php, objective-c, rust, ruby, agda, applescript, prolog, matlab, assembly, shakespeare
• it — latex, git, linux/posix sysadmin, web development, mathematica

societies

• molpigs — Molecular Programming Interest Group — 2020–present — responsibilities: founder
• cucats — Cambridge University Computing and Technology Society — 2014–2019 — responsibilities: treasurer, vice president, president, programming workshops, puzzlehunts
• srcf — Student-Run Computing Facility — 2017–2018 — responsibilities: publicity
• cusbs — Cambridge University Synthetic Biology Society — 2015–2017 — responsibilities: founding member, webmaster

awards & scholarships

• 2018 — Smith-Knight/Rayleigh-Knight Essay Competition — Principles of Amorphous Biocomputation — Group 3
• 2016 — Trinity Hall Scholarship — for attaining a first class result in my third year exams
• 2015 — Trinity Hall Scholarship — for attaining a first class result in my second year exams
• 2015 — Gregson & Benn and Ernest & Carmen Frankl Travel Grant — awarded to help me attend WSCI-2015
• 2014 — Trinity Hall Scholarship — for attaining a first class result in my first year exams
• 2013 — Mercer's School Memorial Prize (Merrett Bequest) — for outstanding academic achievements during sixth form
• 2013 — Cambridge Chemistry Challenge — Gold
• 2012 — Duke of Edinburgh Award — Silver
• 2012 — UKMT FMSP Senior Teams Maths Challenge — Regional Final — Second Place
• 2012 — UKMT Senior Maths Challenge — Gold
• 2011 — Emcel Maths Prize

other employment

• 2019–2021 — Web Developer

  Actively developing a website for a new startup company. The website will feature provision of content and ecommerce.

• 2016–2017 — Web Developer

  Developed a website for a veterinary startup. The website was built around wordpress and provided a CMS for blogging and news updates as well as a community forum.

• July–September 2015 — Software Engineer — iGEM, Cambridge

  Participated in the 2015 Cambridge-JIC iGEM Team under Jim Haseloff. This year saw the introduction of the Hardware Track in which we developed an open-source programmable 3D-printable microscope. Worked to develop abstraction layers to integrate microscope into a variety of hardware contexts, including an XY translation stage, and to facilitate automation. Also focused on stitching and geometry algorithms to implement the backend of a seamless panning interface. Headed Arduino workshop during outreach day to teach sixth form students C++. The team won a gold medal and received four nominations.

• June–October 2013 — Freelance Programmer

  Provided freelance programming help to algorithmic cryptocurrency trading enthusiasts. This mainly involved writing interfaces to the MtGox exchange API in various languages, including Java, Objective-C and VBA.NET. One client, as a result of my Objective-C work, offered a job in New York as a mobile app developer.

• 2010–2013 — Web Developer

  Designed a company website with a consistent layout and a PHP backend. Was also tasked with maintenance and updates. Subsequently rebuilt the backend on top of a custom content management system with a bespoke WYSIWYG editor, and trained key staff in its use.

• August–September 2010 — Design & Illustration

  Designed and produced anniversary invitations to a high quality using Adobe Photoshop. Had regular meetings with the client to ensure the design matched the specifications.

• July 2010 — Research Assistant— UCL/Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Surrey

  Worked with the head of Detector Physics in the Charged Coupled Device section. Mainly assisted in the calibration of an infrared weather camera by designing a custom IR LED apparatus to provide reference points which were then used to create a projection map using a computational model written in IDL. Also prepared some space-based optical lenses.

referees

~ available on request ~