Athena SWANIan Thompson

Ian Thompson

SIPBS Head of IT

In 1995 I gained a BSc in Pharmacology from the University of Glasgow, but decided to change focus and returned to complete an MSc in Information Technology the following year. After completing this course I worked as a freelance IT consultant, primarily working with database systems and the emerging internet/ web systems for clients including Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow Development Agency, Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities as well as various small local companies & organisations.  In 1998 I began to work at Strathclyde, in a post split between the Bioscience, Immunology, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Physiology & Pharmacology departments to develop web-based teaching and learning materials. The post evolved over the years, my departments merged together forming Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) and I took on the management and development of multiple departmental, faculty and university wide web-systems.  In 2016 I took on the responsibility of managing the 5-person IT team in SIPBS.

I have recently returned from three months Shared Parental following the birth of my son in 2018 and have been able to take advantage of the University's Flexible Working and Home Working policies.  In agreement with the Head of Institute, my working day has been adjusted so that I start and end the day earlier to coincide with nursery drop-off and pick-ups, and I work from home one day a week.

 

 

 

My role still has a software development element, but additionally involves working with the SIPBS management on IT strategy as well as managing and leading the IT technical support team that look after the wide variety of teaching, research & administration hardware and software. This covers everything from specialist laboratory equipment controllers through to the latest online teaching tools.

I am involved in commercialising our expertise and software - I have acted as consultant, developer and project manager on numerous projects both internally and external to the University, including online COSHH, chemical inventory and radiation stock systems, as well as the SCRIPT pharmacy prescription training system which is licensed to three other UK universities.  I'm also one of the founders of the ULab laboratory management software which is used by over 350 laboratories worldwide and is spinning out from the University in the near future.