We are very pleased to welcome Warren James to the Epi team, who will be working with us as a data analyst in conjunction with the Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science.
Warren is 27 years old and holds a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen. He has been in Aberdeen since 2012 and will be joining the group to work on the VOICES project.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I (somewhat) recently finished a PhD in Psychology at the University of Aberdeen in which I examined the extent to which people are able to solve problems in an optimal manner (turns out, we’re not very good at this for the most part!). During my research I learned to appreciate the value of high-quality data science, both in terms of its availability and reproducibility. After finishing my PhD, it was very important to me that I found a position where I would be able to use the skills I had learnt.
Generally, I’m interested in learning different ways in which complex data analysis can be presented in a more widely accessible way.
What will you be working on with the Epi Group?
I am a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow working on the VOICES (Vasculitis Outcomes In relation to Care Experiences) study. The main goal of this project is to examine how health care services are used by those with systemic vasculitis in Scotland. In particular, I will be responsible for looking into how different services in Scotland are used by examining various factors such as when and how often patients visit a practice, and what their outcomes are.
I’ve always enjoyed working with data and using various statistical analyses to learn something about the world. In this role, I can really see where and how the outcomes of the research will directly apply.
Why did you choose Aberdeen?
Back in 2012, I came to Aberdeen to start my undergraduate degree in Psychology. I had decided on coming to Scotland as I spent plenty of my childhood holidays coming north of the border to see family and going to some smaller music festivals. I looked at several other universities in Scotland, but ultimately I decided on Aberdeen because I felt it was the best place for me to complete my undergraduate degree. Fortunately, my adolescent self managed to make a good decision without being particularly well informed as Aberdeen university has consistently performed well in university performance tables! I also had the pleasure of meeting, and working with, some great people involved in psychological research who helped me to develop my professional skills beyond what I had originally expected for myself.
Are you currently involved in any other research?
At the moment, it’s early days for my work in the field. However, as my role is situated across the Epidemiology department and the Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science, I’m looking forward to seeing what other projects I may be able to become involved with. Currently, I’m still in contact with my PhD supervisor as we’re writing up some of the research from my thesis, and also tidying up a few follow up experiments in my spare time.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I’m very keen on music. I’ve been playing guitar for a fair while, and am slowly trying to teach myself piano when I get the time. At the moment, I’m very much looking forward to open mics starting up again as it’s always great to see some of the musical talent that exists in Aberdeen. Apart from music, I enjoy also visiting some of the nature walks around Aberdeenshire (weather permitting).