Profile
Michael Taylor
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About Me:
I’m married and have been married for 17 years. I have two children who are in years 9 and 11. I have always worked since the age of 13 when I started delivering news papers and milk. I have worked on a farm, in a shoe shop, was a pool and lake life guard, a door man, a DJ, an engineer, an advertisement salesman, all before going to University of study Physics and Mathematics. Following my undergraduate studies I went on to undertake a PhD in Nuclear Structure Physics.
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I love music and regularly attend gigs (although I didn’t manage to get Oasis tickets !). I have taught myself to play guitar, piano, harmonica and ukulele. I have always had a passion for flying and was going to join the RAF instead of doing a PhD. I now fly recreationally and can fly basic aerobatics. I am also a qualified open water sub aqua diver although I haven’t dived in the last 15 years or so. I love games, in particular, modern board games. I also love sport, both playing and watching and I play football on average three times a week.
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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My Work:
I’m a nuclear structure physicist and my research now focusses on improving proton beam therapy for patient benefit through the development of novel techniques and technologies. I’m an expert in radiation detection and measurement as well as Monte-Carlo radiation transport simulations.
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I’m a senior lecturer in proton therapy physics and I co-led the design, development and commissioning of the UK’s only dedicated high-energy proton beam therapy research facility which I now manage and run. Prior to taking on this role my research focussed on fundamental nuclear structure physics and I worked at a number of Universities/Laboratories around the world performing experiments that shed light on the nature of the universe we live in. I’m a north west STEM ambassador and so I’m quite active in public engagement.
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My Typical Day:
I get up, iron clothes, have breakfast and make packed lunches. I then drop the kids off at school before heading to the office. I try to work from home at least one day a week to catch up on documents that I don’t get chance to read in the office due to distractions. My day is mostly meetings, both in person and online, managing people and projects and writing documents to bid for funding for projects. I sometimes get time to do some research myself which includes computer programming, data analysis and experiments using our high-energy proton beam facility.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
As a STEM ambassador I have created a number of practical demonstrations to explain physical phemomena to school aged children. I would love to create a national roadshow on the topic of quantum physics, creating cool demonstrations of quantum phenomona. The money would be used for materials and tools to create the apparatus needed for the demonstrations.
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Education:
Manor Farm Community School, Walsall
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Qualifications:
10 GCSE’s, 3 A levels, A first class honours degree in Physics and Mathematics and a PhD in Nuclear Structure Physics
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Current Job:
Senior Lecturer in Proton Therapy Physics
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Employer:
The University of Manchester
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
An RAF pilot
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really !
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Pilot
Who is your favourite singer or band?
At the moment, The Killers
What's your favourite food?
Chicken tikka madras
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
more time, more money and my own plane
Tell us a joke.
What is the best ever Christmas present ?....A broken drum, you can't beat it
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