Welcome to the Alumni website for the School of Computer Science in St Andrews!
Feel free to look around, reminisce, and contribute. We're always looking for good stories and pictures to put onto the site. If you think you can help, you can email us at alumni [[at]] cs.st-andrews.ac.uk
For many years the school has taken honours students on trips to The Burn, a large country house outside Edzell in Aberdeenshire. These photos are from a recent trip, highlighting some of the activities on offer.
Martin Conaghan
Name: Martin Conaghan
Year of Graduation: 2008
What is your favourite memory from your time studying Computer Science in St Andrews?
Strangely enough, revising for exams. I used to get together with a few good mates from the class and go through the course material and exam past papers in one of the new tutorial rooms. It made revision much easier and more enjoyable. I also really enjoyed my Senior Honours project, which gave me a chance to undertake a substantial software engineering project on my own – and this helped me develop key skills I use every day now that I have a job. It was a great feeling to present the final product and look back on what i had achieved.
What are you doing now?
I’m at Software Engineer at Metaswitch Networks (formerly Data Connection Limited). The job involves using much of what I learned at St Andrews; Metaswitch have a reputation of excellent software so I’m always thinking back to lectures which stressed the importance of efficient data structure and algorithms. It’s hard to get a job here, but St Andrews is one of the few universities where Metaswitch recruit – which says a lot about the perceived standard of graduates.
What was your favourite module, and why?
I liked Distributed Systems. We looked at all sorts of interesting problems you face when networking computers together, and how to solve them. Many of the areas we studied are hot issues in the real world, so it was good preparation for working in industry.
Over the years the school has been in the news for a variety of reasons (always good!). We’ve collated a few of these newspaper clippings below.
The honours photograph from 2009, featuring staff, postgraduates, and senior honours students.
James Smith and David Rankine, two members of the Senior Honours class in 2009, both shared some of their memories with us earlier.
Do you have any memories of this class that you’d like to share? Feel free to leave a comment, or email us to contribute to the site.
David Rankine
Name: David Rankine
Year of Graduation: 2009
What is your favourite memory from your time studying Computer Science in St Andrews?
My favourite memory of Computer Science at St Andrews is probably upon Graduation. Being able to look back at the hard work and long hours and realising that it was all worth it at the end of the day. The satisfaction of having completed the degree to a high level was second to none. Specifically, during studying, there were many times that my classmates and I would be having banter in the labs and generally keeping spirits high as we worked on coursework. It would have been very difficult to complete all the work without the ridiculousness that went on in labs.
What are you doing now?
I am now a Technology Consultant for IBM, based in London. I am currently working on the IBM’s congestion charge project for ‘Transport For London’. IBM have recently taken over the London congestion charge system from Capita. I was originally brought onto the project short-term to help the project partner with incident management. This developed into a longer-term role doing Incident management and release management for one of the teams within the project. Despite officially having a management based role, I have also helped with important data analysis, drawing upon skills I learnt during my time at St Andrews.
What was your favourite module, and why?
My favourite module was probably CS3301, Component Technology. I enjoyed learning of different ways to make programs interact across a network and how to put them into practice. This was further built upon in CS4103, where we looked at the problems facing networked computers. I could also highlight the CS4302 Multimedia module, as the Audio visualisation practical was good fun and the class produced some hilarious results.
Favourite Quote
“There is no magic” MB, SP
“Does it actually fly though?” AB to DI
James Smith
Name: James Smith
Year of Graduation: 2009
What is your favourite memory from your time studying Computer Science in St Andrews?
I really enjoyed the Software Team Project I did in my third year. I enjoyed the chance to work with some cutting edge technology in Wireless Sensor Networks and then augment the data from those devices to Social Networking websites such as Facebook. The most valuable aspect however was the experience of working in a team and learning how to deal with the pressures and challenges which arise.
What are you doing now?
I am now working towards my Ph.D in Computer Science here at St Andrews under the supervision of Prof Ian Sommerville. My research area is Cloud Computing, where I have been looking at aspects such as failure, energy consumption and other socio-technical issues. I have also been doing some teaching here this year, Tutoring and Lab Demonstrating for first years and helping out as a Customer/Technical Advisor on the Software Team Project.
What was your favourite module, and why?
My favourite module here was either Distributed Systems or Graphics. I found both really interesting and well taught.
Most Memorable Quote
“Can you write me some documentation, you know… in case you get Swine Flu” – Anonymous Professor
Class of 2008
The honours photograph from 2008, featuring staff, postgraduates, and senior honours students.
A few members of this class, Martin Conaghan, Nick Atkinson, and Jan de Muijnck-Hughes, shared some of their memories with us earlier.
Do you have any memories of this class that you’d like to share? Feel free to leave a comment, or email us to contribute to the site.
The honours photograph from 2007, featuring staff, postgraduates, and senior honours students.
Gregory Bigwood, a member of the Senior Honours class in 2007, shares some of his thoughts with us here.
Nick Atkinson and Jan de Muijnck-Hughes, two members of the Junior honours class that year, were also interviewed.
Do you have any memories of this class that you’d like to share? Feel free to leave a comment, or email us to contribute to the site.
Jan de Muijnck
Name: Jan de Muijnck-Hughes
Year of Graduation: 2008
What is your favourite memory from your time studying Computer Science in St Andrews?
Some of my fonder memories of my time within the department were in relation to my time employed as a summer student. During both occasions, it was nice to be able to build up a rapport with the teaching and research staff and to be able to observe their research methods and to discuss, outwith the confines of the lecture hall, the topics at hand.
What are you doing now?
Currently, I am in the second year of a two year research master program reading Computer security as part of the Kerckhoffs Institute in the Netherlands.
What was your favourite module, and why?
Favourite course, most definately had to be PSAC, a lot of good times were had during the course. Not only were the cakes from … it escapes me, delicious but the presentations and lectures themselves were a good laugh. Favourite moments include, Adam’s showing of the copyright infringement video from The IT Crowd never heard so many people laugh during a presentation like that.
Honours Photograph (2006)
The honours photograph from 2006, featuring staff, postgraduates, and both honours classes.
Gregory Bigwood, a member of the Junior Honours class in 2006, shares some of his thoughts with us here.
Do you have any memories of this class that you’d like to share? Feel free to leave a comment, or email us to contribute to the site.