Staff Profile – Meet Sun-Seeking Football Fanatic, Tim Whitbread
(Research Scientist, Mathematician)
With a PhD in Mathematics and an MMath degree, our research scientist Tim Whitbread has an impressive academic background. At IBEX, Tim’s role involves applying his acquired knowledge into statistical techniques to develop and improve the core algorithms in the company’s software.
To learn a little more about Tim, his interests, and his ambitions, I asked him a few (not too personal) questions:
A quick summary of what you do at IBEX
I primarily work on the core algorithm, with a particular focus on improving our bone health-measuring capability. I also helped to kick-start the application of Trueview in Mammography.
How did you find yourself at IBEX?
After finishing a PhD in 2019, I decided that I wanted to step into a ‘real world’ job for the first time. IBEX has a few links with Durham University, and after reading a vacancies email and finding that the skills required for the Research Scientist role matched my skill set, I decided to take the plunge.
Professional background, life outside of work, and some key interests?
I did an MMath degree at Newcastle University, before moving down south to study a PhD in Applied Mathematics at Durham University. My research area was Solar Physics and my thesis focused on calibrating mathematical models that describe the evolution of the Sun’s magnetic field. Outside of work I love watching and playing sport, and spend a lot of time, and a bit of money, travelling up and down the country ticking off football grounds. However, my faith, family, and friends are paramount.
What are some of your future goals and aspirations?
I want to use my skills to make a tangible difference to the world and to improve people’s livelihoods, which is one of the reasons I applied for the job at IBEX in the first place! On a personal level, I’d love to visit Disneyworld Orlando…
A moment in life that you’ll never forget?
I know I’m supposed to say my wedding day, but as a Liverpool fan, winning the Champions League in 2005 and the Premier League this year for the first time in my lifetime were pretty special too.
Your go-to productivity trick?
Avoiding a global pandemic is a good start! If that isn’t possible, I’d say it’s important to find somewhere comfortable to work where there are no distractions and to always stay in communication with the rest of the team.
What has surprised you about working at IBEX?
Given that this was my first job outside of academia, my preconceptions of office work mainly come from TV sitcoms, so I was delightfully surprised at the focus and drive of the IBEX team. This is clear to see in the amazing progress the company has made in its relatively short lifetime, and it’s so exciting to now be a part of that progress.
There you have it, an insight into Tim’s world!
