Edward G. Boyle BSc. PG Dip.
Home address
Telephone
Email
Web
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edward.boyle@ed.ac.uk
http://homepages.ed.ac.uk/eboyle1/
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/eboyle1/
18 years experience of working in demanding and highly technical IT environments, mostly in
higher education institutions but also in commercial and government establishments
Large range of IT skills, primarily software engineering (Perl, PHP, ColdFusion, JavaScript,
Java EE), RDBMS administration and development (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL
Server, Oracle PL/SQL), systems administration (Unix, Linux, Windows) and website design &
development (XHTML, CSS, XML, Apache, Drupal, WordPress, Dreamweaver, Photoshop)
Strong analytical, numerate, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Extensive experience of working on many and varied technical IT projects involving large
teams but also small individual projects, and delivering outputs within a framework of managed
timescales and deliverables
Strong belief in participation in the complete software development lifecycle involving rapid
application development methodologies to build web-based products that fulfil project
objectives, enable wider institutional goals (e.g. teaching, learning & research), create dynamic
and interactive knowledge communities and provide useful user-focused services
Self-motivated and flexible, able to learn new IT skills quickly and able to manage workload
and deliver outputs without supervision
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Work Experience
Mar 13 – Aug 14; Web Developer/Technology Support Officer (grade 6), University of Edinburgh
Web development on various projects and technical support with the College of Humanities &
Social Sciences web team (http://edin.ac/10bMszR):
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maintenance and development of the Edinburgh College of Art website (Drupal 7, Drupal
features & custom modules, Cosign/LDAP authentication: http://edin.ac/1mdH8JO, Git,
Compass/Sass, visible at http://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/)
development of a research website for the Edinburgh College of Art with an image archive
and geographic/keyword based search mechanisms (using Drupal 7 with Bootstrap 3 RWD
module/theme and OpenLayers mapping module), see http://edin.ac/1nxaKOQ
development and evaluation of COTS/bespoke conference management systems for the
University (and development of an academic conference website using the OpenConf PHP
application for submissions, see http://ewda.hss.ed.ac.uk/)
development of an interface for the Child Protection Research Centre website for
displaying/filtering dynamic research output data from the University's PURE system (using
Wordpress plugins, templates and jQuery UI & DataTables), see http://edin.ac/1nx8CXt
development of a web-based map interface for the College Office visualising geographical
student data, using the Google Charts API, see http://edin.ac/1nx8YgJ
management, development and technical support of the School of Divinity website
(http://edin.ac/191FUtq) and associated social media and multimedia content (Facebook,
Twitter, Wordpress blogs, streaming video). Responsibility for technical support of the Learn
VLE in the School of Divinity. Projects completed for the School of Divinity: news/events
facility using Google Calendar, new customised staff profile system (Polopoly CMS web
proxy, MySQL/PHP; visible at: http://edin.ac/1gBoRCF), updating of School website
information architecture & content (including videos, images and research content for REF
2014).
Oct 12 – Feb 13; Software Developer (grade 7), SCHOLAR (http://scholar.hw.ac.uk/), Heriot-Watt
University, Edinburgh
I was responsible for the technical maintenance and support of the SCHOLAR assessment
system and its development in line with the broader learning & teaching aims of the SCHOLAR
project. I worked with applications using the InterBase/Firebird RDBMS, Windows Server
platforms and Delphi Pascal software in a web-based environment. Projects completed:
migration of desktop tools to Windows 7 and migration of server system from Windows 2000 to
Windows 2003 server.
Jan 12 – Sep 12; Freelance IT
- School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh; development of an
augmented reality application for GPS-enabled smartphone/tablet platforms, using PHP/MySQL
and a third-party app (Layar); development of a prototype website for research academics
involving amMap and the UVic Image Markup Tool.
- Student Recruitment & Admissions, University of Edinburgh; ColdFusion web forms and
FileMaker Pro database development and bug-fixing.
- Maintenance and technical support of the ERPem, CommNet and UC4G websites (see below).
- Technical advice to Heriot-Watt University for the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
website.
Apr 11 – Oct 11; Web Developer (grade 6), School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of
Edinburgh
I worked on a six-month contract building a new web-based (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) staff
profile system for the School to offer editing forms and public web pages containing text and
images, utilising CSS layouts, JavaScript and third party software (CKEditor). Major goals were
integrating the system with the university’s Content Management System (Polopoly),
authentication/authorisation system (EASE) and central research and student data services. I
worked closely with academic and support staff in the School to gather requirements and
feedback on prototypes, and to generate documentation for the system. The system was
delivered on time with all the required functionality and can be seen at: http://edin.ac/13FfZVz.
Jan 11 – Apr 11; Freelance IT
- Student Recruitment & Admissions, University of Edinburgh; ColdFusion web forms and
FileMaker Pro database development and bug-fixing.
- Development of two engineering research consortium websites (http://www.commnet.ac.uk and
http://www.ukchinab4g.ac.uk) in collaboration with academics at the University of Edinburgh and
Heriot-Watt University. Both websites use the Drupal Content Management System (CMS) and
use was also made of Adobe Creative Suite applications (Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Photoshop).
Aug 07 – Aug 10; Computing Officer (grade 7), School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
Responsibility for developing and improving the School of Engineering website
(http://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/), and implementing a new website platform using the Drupal CMS,
alongside evaluation of the university’s Polopoly CMS. This used many of the same techniques
that were used to develop the ERPem website (see below), particularly in terms of Information
Architecture. I was also responsible for providing technical support to the administrative
databases in use within the School, involving ColdFusion and Microsoft SQL Server.
Responsibility for all technical aspects of the development of the Edinburgh Research
Partnership in Engineering and Mathematics (ERPem) website (http://www.erp.ac.uk/), including
requirements gathering, design of the information architecture and interface, standards and
legislation conformance (accessibility, FOI, data protection), SEO and security. This involved the
use of Adobe Creative Suite applications such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop and Illustrator as
well as the building of the website using the Drupal CMS, MySQL and Perl scripts, and the
evaluation of the Polopoly CMS. I was also responsible for gathering content for the website and
creating CMS interfaces to allow non-technical staff to edit the content.
May 02 – Aug 07; Software Engineer (grade 7), Edina National Data Centre (http://www.edina.ac.uk/),
University of Edinburgh
Main responsibility was software engineering for the development and maintenance of many
projects and services. These were heavily Internet-based and involved a large variety of Internet
technologies and languages, including Perl, Java, PHP, XML, Z39.50 & OAI-PMH, Apache,
Tomcat JSP/Servlets, ASP, Web Services (SOAP), MySQL and PostgreSQL.
Major projects were the JISC-funded Go-Geo (http://www.gogeo.ac.uk/) project and the AGI
Gigateway service (now decommissioned). Go-Geo is an academic-orientated portal offering
access to datasets (from sources such as the Ordnance Survey and the British Geological
Survey) having a geospatial element or of possible interest to the GIS community. For both of
these projects I built web-based keyword, placename and graphical map-based search tools and
metadata search engines, using Isite and YAZ indexing software.
Connected to these projects, I developed web-based graphical mapping applications using UMN
MapServer, GDAL/OGR, and the Google Maps and OpenLayers APIs. I also developed
applications that implemented geographic information specifications from international bodies
including the FGDC, OGC and ISO, as well as UK governmental standards. I also worked with
the NeSC investigating the use of Grid technologies (Globus Toolkit and the OGSA-DAI project)
and the integration of large, disparate and heterogeneous datasets.
Other responsibilities: presenting technical papers and demonstrating software at national and
international conferences; attending XSLT and J2EE training courses; writing project reports and
technical documentation, development of Python-based extensions for an internal Plone/Zope
intranet/CMS application, technical support for the e-learning Jorum project
(http://www.jorum.ac.uk/) which involved evaluating IMS metadata specifications and repositories
(DSpace, Fedora and Eprints); development of a DSpace repository for the GRADE project
(http://edina.ac.uk/projects/grade/).
Feb 02 - Apr 02; Web Developer (Admin grade AA2), Finance Department, University of Edinburgh
Developed a range of web-based financial services including web forms for training registration
and updating of databases of financial information using ColdFusion, MS IIS and NT server.
Jan 00 - Jan 02; Web Developer (Research grade AR1A), University of Edinburgh
Responsible for all aspects of technical development for an academic e-learning project called
the Scottish electronic Staff Development Library (SeSDL), a cross-university initiative
developing an online library of digital training and teaching resources. This included management
of a SunOS/Apache web server, writing Perl scripts and HTML (with database interfaces, web
forms and JavaScript), developing databases (MySQL, ColdFusion, MS Access), dealing with
metadata (IMS specifications) and controlled vocabulary issues, writing Java programs using
Sun JDK and Borland JBuilder, and creating and processing XML and XSL documents. I also
developed the ScotCIT project parent website using ColdFusion and MS Access.
Aug 99 - Jan 00; Computer Programmer, School of Computing, Napier University, Edinburgh
General IT support for staff and students, including desktop PC and application support, NT
Workstation lab support and management of NT Server, NetWare and Unix accounts.
Apr 99 - Jun 99; IT Support, Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland, Edinburgh
Sep 96 - Apr 99; Network Services Programmer (ALC grade 2), Computing Services, Heriot-Watt
University, Edinburgh
Responsible for supporting all aspects of network infrastructure across the university, including:
network facilities in student halls of residence; the university’s 56k modem dial-in system;
management of TCP/IP network facilities (IP address allocation, DNS, BootP/DHCP and the
university's JANET connection); network monitoring, management and security and the
production of network diagrams; maintenance and troubleshooting of the campus FDDI ring and
associated Ethernet segments; router/firewall administration and faultfinding; acquisition of new
network hardware and dealing with vendors, and the expansion and upgrading of the campus
network into new buildings and departments (Gigabit Ethernet, ISDN modems/routers and ATM
switches/Cellstacks for videoconferencing).
Mar 95 - Jul 96; Unix C Programmer, Solcom Systems, Livingston
Aug 94 - Sep 94; Researcher, Knowledge Tree Systems, Napier University, Edinburgh
Jan 92 - Sep 92; Full-time Administrative Assistant, Benefits Agency, Edinburgh
Education and Qualifications
Sep 10 – Dec 10
Sep 93 - May 94
Oct 88 - Jun 93
Sep 81 - Jun 88
University of Edinburgh; MSc. Geographical Information Science (one semester);
modules completed: Spatial Analysis, Spatial Modelling, Distributed GIS, Principles
of GIS, Water Resource Management, Research Practice & Project Planning;
practical assessments: ArcGIS, Perl, Oracle, SVG
Napier University, Edinburgh; Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology
University of Edinburgh; BSc. Astrophysics
Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, UK; Ten SCE O grades and five SCE H grades
Full and clean UK driving licence since May 1992 (car owner)
Interests
Travel, photography, mountaineering and the mountain environment. I have been a member of the
Mountaineering Council of Scotland since 2008 and the John Muir Trust since 2012, and am currently
working towards the MLT Mountain Leader Award qualification. I have climbed extensively in Scotland
and climbed at high altitude in the Sierra Nevada of California, the Sierra Nevada and Canary Islands of
Spain and the High Atlas of Morocco. I have lived in Germany, lived and worked in Belgium (in the
summer of 1988), worked in the USA (in the summer of 1989), have travelled extensively in the USA &
Canada, and have visited Norway, Sweden, Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Cyprus & Morocco.
In 2009 I completed the Edinburgh Marathon and In 2011 I climbed my 200th Munro summit. I have my
own personal website and blog at http://www.edwardboyle.com/.
References
Mr Euan Cameron, Web Team Manager
College of Humanities and Social Science Web Team, University of Edinburgh
56 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JU
Telephone: +44 (0)131 651 3160 Email: euan.cameron@ed.ac.uk
Ms Karen Howie, eLearning & Web Development Officer
School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh
Room 2.33, William Robertson Wing, Old Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG
Telephone: +44 (0)131 650 9110 Email: karen.howie@ed.ac.uk
Mr David Stewart, IT Services Manager
School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
Room A116, Alrick Building, King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL
Telephone: +44 (0)131 650 5647 Email: david.stewart@ed.ac.uk