Allan Pennings
Researcher
Programmer
Scientist
About Me
Hi, and welcome to my website! Before I bore you with a self-congralatory spiel, I invite you to skip this part and have fun playing with some of the projects I am working on.
My name is Allan, and I currently work as an Experimental Physicist at the University of Melbourne. However, my passions extend far beyond understanding the universe.
I am a hard-working, fast learner with a deep fascination for technology. Much of my spare time is spent writing programs and applications to further my understanding of computer science, automate routine tasks, and analyze data that interests me.
My passion for technology and science has been shaped throughout my education. I began my journey at the University of Melbourne, focusing on Mathematics and Physics, with a keen interest in computer science. For my postgraduate studies, I chose to delve deeper into practical work, pursuing a PhD in experimental physics at Swinburne University of Technology.
A common misconception is that PhDs are just more years of classroom study, but in reality, they are more like research apprenticeships. During my four years as a PhD student, I spent my time as a research assistant in a lab, building state-of-the-art scientific equipment. This experience equipped me with a robust and future-focused skill set, from hands-on tasks like RF circuit design to computational challenges such as deploying machine learning algorithms.
After completing my PhD, I returned to my alma mater as a research fellow at the University of Melbourne. Here, I continued work similar to my PhD but with increased responsibilities, including supervising my own PhD student.
With the end of my contract approaching, I am excited to take the next step in my career and focus even more on my passion for technology.
My Skills
Communication
I have excellent verbal and written communciation skills,honed through my academic career and extensive tutoring experience. As a tutor, I developed the ability to clearly and concisely explain complex concepts to those unfamiliar with the subject. This combined with my experience presenting at international workshops has made me a skilled communicator.
Quick Learner
Throughout my professional career, I remained at the forefront of scientific advancements, constantly staying up to date with the latest findings and incorporating them into my work. This environment fostered the ability to quickly learn and apply new skills. As a result, I am adept at learning very fast, making me a versatile and adaptive professional.
Mentoring
I frequently taken on both mentor and supervisor roles, gaining valuable experience in leadership and guidance. As a PhD student I often oversaw undergraduate students working in our lab. I continued working in such positions during my postdoc work where I functioned as both a supervisor for a PhD student. As a result, I am well-acustomed to leadership and mentoring positions.
Collaboration
During my professional career I collaborated with a wide range of stakeholders, ranging from colleagues to international researchers who shared a common interest. As a result, I am comfortable and effective in working with diverse teams, allowing me to adapt to various roles as needed.
Time Management
I have excellent time management skills, demonstrated during my undergraduate studies, where I pursued a triple degree program typically completed in five years. Through effective time management, I was able to take on a significantly higher course load—1.5 to 2 times that of my peers—and successfully completed the program in just three years.
Problem Solving
During my tenure as a researcher, I regularly ventured outside the realms of current knowledge, tackling problems that had yet to be addressed. In this environment, I leveraged my problem solving skills to find solutions to unanswered questions, contributing to the broader understanding of physics.
