A brief description of the many stages of my career.

1. From physics to data science
Andrew LoweAndrew Lowe
14 June 201714 June 2017

2. Early historyEarly history
(1993–1997)(1993–1997)
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1993–1996: BSc in physics, Royal Holloway, University of1993–1996: BSc in physics, Royal Holloway, University of
LondonLondon
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1997: TV & VCR retuning engineer, Channel 5 TV1997: TV & VCR retuning engineer, Channel 5 TV
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Was the 5th national terrestrial analogue TV channel in theWas the 5th national terrestrial analogue TV channel in the
UKUK
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Problem: TV broadcast frequencies had been allocated toProblem: TV broadcast frequencies had been allocated to
RF outputs from domestic video cassette recorders (VCRs)RF outputs from domestic video cassette recorders (VCRs)
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To achieve national coverage, large numbers of VCRs hadTo achieve national coverage, large numbers of VCRs had
to be retuned at Channel 5's expense before broadcaststo be retuned at Channel 5's expense before broadcasts
could startcould start
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Pre-launch, huge campaign to adapt public's VCRs to makePre-launch, huge campaign to adapt public's VCRs to make
them immune to RF interferencethem immune to RF interference

3. Pre-launch test transmissionPre-launch test transmission

4. Video playback withVideo playback with
RF interference from Channel 5RF interference from Channel 5

5. Reflections on being aReflections on being a
Channel 5 retunerChannel 5 retuner
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My first customer-facing roleMy first customer-facing role
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Visited several hundred homesVisited several hundred homes
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Had to gain the trust of the homeowner to grant me accessHad to gain the trust of the homeowner to grant me access
to their home and their VCRto their home and their VCR
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Job provided me with many interesting glimpses of theJob provided me with many interesting glimpses of the
inside of people's homes and how their owners liveinside of people's homes and how their owners live
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Many surprises behind doors only 5 minutes away fromMany surprises behind doors only 5 minutes away from
where I lived at the time!where I lived at the time!

6. Time metrologistTime metrologist
(1998–2000)(1998–2000)
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Assistant research scientist at the National PhysicalAssistant research scientist at the National Physical
Laboratory (NPL)Laboratory (NPL)
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NPL: the UK's national measurement standards laboratoryNPL: the UK's national measurement standards laboratory
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Provided technical and administrative support to a range ofProvided technical and administrative support to a range of
key activities relating to the maintenance andkey activities relating to the maintenance and
dissemination of the UK’s national time scaledissemination of the UK’s national time scale
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An interesting place to work during the countdown to theAn interesting place to work during the countdown to the
start of the new millenniumstart of the new millennium
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Much public concern about the “y2k bug” and the meltdownMuch public concern about the “y2k bug” and the meltdown
of civilisation that was forecast to result!of civilisation that was forecast to result!

7. Things I did at NPLThings I did at NPL
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Maintained atomic clocksMaintained atomic clocks
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Programmed the start andProgrammed the start and
end of daylight savings timeend of daylight savings time
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Collected and analysed GPSCollected and analysed GPS
timing datatiming data
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Operated a satellite earthOperated a satellite earth
stationstation
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Published monthly bulletinsPublished monthly bulletins
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Manned an enquiry serviceManned an enquiry service
that received hundreds ofthat received hundreds of
phone calls, letters andphone calls, letters and
emails from the publicemails from the public

8. Return to universityReturn to university
(2000–2008)(2000–2008)
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MSc and PhD in particle physics, Royal Holloway,MSc and PhD in particle physics, Royal Holloway,
University of LondonUniversity of London
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MSc thesis:MSc thesis:
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Data mining analysis of the search potential for the HiggsData mining analysis of the search potential for the Higgs
boson in a notoriously difficult decay channelboson in a notoriously difficult decay channel
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PhD thesis:PhD thesis:
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Multiple key contributions to a real-time multi-stage cascadeMultiple key contributions to a real-time multi-stage cascade
classifier that reduces data rate from 60 TB/s to aclassifier that reduces data rate from 60 TB/s to a
manageable 300 MB/s that can be written to permanentmanageable 300 MB/s that can be written to permanent
storagestorage
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Measured how performance of the data collection system isMeasured how performance of the data collection system is
degraded when electronic components in the detector diedegraded when electronic components in the detector die

9. I studied how much data is lostI studied how much data is lost
when electronic components diewhen electronic components die
Electronic boards in crates mounted on-detector

10. Life as an academicLife as an academic
(2008–2017)(2008–2017)
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Particle physicist (2008–2017)Particle physicist (2008–2017)
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Indiana University, USAIndiana University, USA
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California State University,California State University,
Fresno, USAFresno, USA
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Wigner Research Centre forWigner Research Centre for
Physics, HungaryPhysics, Hungary
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I spent several years based atI spent several years based at
the European Organization forthe European Organization for
Nuclear Research (CERN) inNuclear Research (CERN) in
Geneva and was a member ofGeneva and was a member of
the team that discovered thethe team that discovered the
Higgs boson, the observation ofHiggs boson, the observation of
which led to the award of thewhich led to the award of the
2013 Nobel Prize in Physics2013 Nobel Prize in Physics
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Moved to Hungary in 2013Moved to Hungary in 2013

11. Things I did as a particle physicistThings I did as a particle physicist
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Developed algorithms for real-time particle identification in streamingDeveloped algorithms for real-time particle identification in streaming
data at an input rate of 1 GB/s (total data processed to date: 70data at an input rate of 1 GB/s (total data processed to date: 70 PB)PB)
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Performed statistical data analysis for an experiment at CERN whichPerformed statistical data analysis for an experiment at CERN which
recreates conditions that are believed to have existed a fraction of arecreates conditions that are believed to have existed a fraction of a
second after the Big Bangsecond after the Big Bang
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Used machine learning to develop predictive classification algorithmsUsed machine learning to develop predictive classification algorithms
for recognising subatomic particles based on their decay propertiesfor recognising subatomic particles based on their decay properties

12. Data scientistData scientist
(2017—present)(2017—present)
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Now I'm at a major milestone againNow I'm at a major milestone again
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Recently started a new role as a data scientist forRecently started a new role as a data scientist for EPAMEPAM
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Opportunity to work with different types of data in differentOpportunity to work with different types of data in different
problem domains and have an impact on real-world problemsproblem domains and have an impact on real-world problems
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As a physicist, I learned how to:As a physicist, I learned how to:
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Work with data, including really big dataWork with data, including really big data
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Understand and dissect complex problems and find creativeUnderstand and dissect complex problems and find creative
solutionssolutions
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Work in large cross-functional teamsWork in large cross-functional teams
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Visualise and interpret resultsVisualise and interpret results
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Easy to make the switch to data science, just needed to learnEasy to make the switch to data science, just needed to learn
the language and toolsthe language and tools