I am a research associate/support scientist in the physics and astronomy department at Leicester University. My position is split into three main roles; developing the public archive for SuperWASP; maintaining and developing LEDAS; and carrying on with personal research.

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Polarized QPOs from the INTEGRAL polar IGRJ14536-5522 (=Swift J1453.4-5524)
Potter, S. B.; Buckley, D. A. H.; O'Donoghue, D.; Romero-Colmenero, E.; O'Connor, J.; Fourie, P.; Evans, G.; Sass, C.; Crause, L.; Still, M.; Butters, O. W.; Norton, A. J.; Mukai, Koji
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15944.x

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A learning community for teens on a virtual island - The Schome Park Teen Second Life project
Gillen, G.; Twining, P.; Ferguson, R.; Butters, O. W.; Clough, G.; Gavad, M.; Peachey, A.; Seamans, D.; Sheehy, K.
elearningpapers No. 15 (2009)

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RXTE confirmation of the intermediate polar status of IGR J15094-6649
Butters, O. W.; Norton, A. J.; Mukai, K.; Barlow, E. J.
A&A 498L, 17 (2009)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/200911725

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Circular polarization survey of intermediate polars I. Northern targets in the range 17h<R.A.<23h
Butters, O. W.; Katajainen, S.; Norton, A. J.; Lehto, H. J.; Piirola, V.
A&A 496, 891 (2009)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/200811058

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RXTE determination of the intermediate polar status of XSS J00564+4548, IGR J17195-4100, and XSS J12270-4859
Butters, O. W.; Norton, A. J.; Hakala, P.; Mukai, K.; Barlow, E. J.
A&A 487, 271-276 (2008)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200809942

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A new two channel high-speed photo-polarimeter (HIPPO) for the SAAO
Potter, S.; Buckley, D.; O'Donoghue, D.; O'Conner, J.; Fourie, P.; Evans, G.; Sass, C.; Crause, L.; Butters, O. W.; Norton, A. J.; Mukai, K.; Still, M.
Proc. SPIE, 70145E (2008)
DOI: 10.1117/12.789716

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The Accretion Flows and Evolution of Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables
Norton, A. J.; Butters, O. W.; Parker, T. L.; Wynn, G. A.
ApJ 672 524-530 (2008)
DOI: 10.1086/523932

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Discovery of polarized emission from the long period intermediate polar RX J2133.7+5107
Katajainen, S.; Butters, O. W.; Norton, A. J.; Lehto, H. J.; Piirola, V.
A&A 475, 1011-1018 (2007)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20077618

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RXTE confirmation of the intermediate polar status of Swift J0732.5-1331
Butters, O. W.; Barlow, E. J.; Norton, A. J.; Mukai, K.
A&A 475, L29-L32 (2007)
DOI: 10.1051/004-6361:200078700

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Magnetic cataclysmic variable accretion flows
Norton, A. J.; Butters, O. W.; Parker, T. L.; Wynn, G. A.
AIP Conf. Proc. 924, pp. 534-539 (2007)
DOI: 10.1063/1.2774907

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I read an MSci in Physics at Imperial College London, graduating with a first class Master of Science degree in 2005 (see table below). The syllabus followed a compulsory selection in the first year with ever increasing choice in the later years. A significant amount of project work was undertaken with much emphasis on computer modelling. All of the models were written in C++. Examples include: a simulation of a ferromagnetic material - using the Monte Carlo methods; a simulation of a chaotic double pendulum and a galaxy simulation.

My final year research project was a computer model simulating LeSage Gravity in Dusty Plasmas. This was a continuation of the research project I began in the summer of my third year at Imperial. I constructed a simulation in C++ of dust particles in a low temperature plasma to test the hypothesised attractive force known as LeSage gravity. The method used was a molecular dynamics algorithm.

Subject	Mark (%)
Electricity & Magnetism	89
Mathematics	88
Matter,Vibrations & Waves, Quantum Physics & the Universe	68
Mechanics & Relativity	87
Physics Laboratory I	77
Physics Short Experiments & Project I	69
Weighted first year mark	79.14
Electromagnetism & Optics	72
Electrons in Solids & Applications of Quantum Mechanics	80
Mathematical Physics, Statistics of Measurement & Professional Skills	79
Physics Laboratory II	70
Quantum Mechanics	55
Sun, Stars & Planets	68
Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics	60
Weighted first & second year mark	72.7
Accounting	70
Advanced Classical Physics	87
Astrophysics	92
Computational Physics	71
Nuclear & Particle Physics	67
Physics I Comprehensive Paper	80
Physics II Comprehensive Paper	65
Physics Laboratory	65
Plasma Physics	63
Solid State & Atomic Physics and Professional Skills	69
Weighted first, second & third year mark	72.7
Atmospheric Physics	55
Cosmology	72
General Relativity	75
Instrumentation	80
Physics Research Project & Research Interfaces	80
Space Physics	75
Weighted first, second, third & fourth year mark	73.6

Final degree class 1:1

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A Levels	Grade	GCSEs	Grade
Physics	A	Dual Science	A* A*
Maths	A	Maths	A*
Further Maths	B	English Language	B
Business Studies	C	English Literature	B
		French	B
		Physical Education	B
		Business Studies	B
		Graphics	C

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I am an active member in a research initiative aiming to redevelop virtual learning environments by using the Second Life World. The project is called Schome and is housed on a private island in the teenage grid. I have several roles within the project. I have been using my programming skills to create interactive objects on the island and data collection and analysis tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot. I was also involved in a project in which the community have developed a satellite to go into space for a national competition. We were short listed and our project was developed further with the help of a Surrey Satellite Technology Limited.

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I undertook an undergraduate research opportunity program placement in which I worked in the Plasma Physics research group in my department. During this time I constructed a two-dimensional simulation of homogeneous dust immersed in a low temperature plasma. The aim of this being to build a flexible framework for later development in my MSci research project.

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Relocation of specialised equipment within the department.

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Bar work.

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Free lance tutor for A-Level and GCSE students in Maths and Physics.

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Computer

OS - Fully literate in both Windows and various flavours of Unix OS.
Typesetting - Competent in the Microsoft Office suite. Proficient in Latex.
Programming - C/C++ programming. Perl. MPI distributed computing. Sun Grid Engine computing.
Data analysis - Good general data analysis skills, including error analysis. IDL. R. Super Mongo data analysis. Matlab programming.
Web design - HTML, CSS, PHP, MySql.

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Telescope

ESO 3.6m - Two nights observing with the EFOSC2 instrument in its circular polarization mode at La Silla in Chile.
N.O.T. - The Nordic Optical Telescope, a 2.56m telescope on the island of La Palma. Three nights using the TURPOL instrument, and two using FIES.
S.A.A.O. 1.9m - One week helping to commission a new polarimeter.
Mallorca - 12 inch Meades used to teach undergraduate students.

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Teaching

Taught postgraduate students at the S.T.F.C. astrobiology summer school.
One week spent teaching undergraduate students how to use a telescope and do projects on the island of Mallorca.

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Outreach

I have been involved in various science communication outreach events, with groups of people ranging from brownies to amateur astronomy societies. I was involved in the national Space Safari initiative where I was a designated astronomy expert. I play an integral part in the Schome initiative.

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I was the student representative for the departmental computer policy group at the Open University. This meant that I liaised between the student body and other representatives in the department about the policies affecting the future direction of the departmental Unix system.

I was elected as web co-ordinator of the university post graduate student society (www.open.ac.uk/pgss) for two consecutive years. This involved redesigning the website and updating it regularly. Also in this role I liaised with the campus wide student body when issues were raised.

I am a core member of staff in the schome initiative, this places me in a position of trust with regards to the community's well being and identity.

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Awards

I won the OU research school poster competition in 2006. This then qualified me to go on and represent the OU at a regional event. I was shortlisted for the best second and third year talk in 2008.

Presentations

YAM07 - Presented a poster detailing some of my work at the Young Astronomers' Meeting 2007.

Proposals

I was a named co-investigator on two successful RXTE proposal (2007,2008). I am named as a co-investigator on a pending science outreach S.T.F.C. application. I have also been both a primary and co-investigator on four further unsuccessful telescope proposals (2008).

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In my spare time I run my own web server, on which I maintain my own websites (www.ollyandbecca.co.uk and www.faji.co.uk).

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