Ms Ruth Thompson

Lecturer in Computing

I joined CCCU in 2021 as a Lecturer in Computing, and teach applied mathematics and Python to undergraduates in foundation and first year (0.4 FTE).

My background is in the natural sciences with an MSci in Physics from UCL, where for my Masters project I used atomic force microscopy (AFM) at the London Centre for Nanotechnology to image DNA fragments and analysed these with Matlab. These interests in structural biology and image analysis led to various research projects at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, where I also volunteered to teach coding skills to other postgraduates, postdocs and technicians.

I am now completing a PhD in Biodiversity Management at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, where I was also a Graduate Teaching Assistant for 3 years. My current research is on the use of machine learning to detect illegal online wildlife trade, for which I primarily work in Python. My PhD supervisors are Dr David L Roberts and Prof Julio Hernandez-Castro.

U10780 Advanced Mathematics, U10795 Mathematics for Computer Science

  • Navigating ethical challenges in online wildlife trade research Morcatty, Thais Q., Su, Shan, Siriwat, Penthai, Andersson, Astrid A., Atoussi, Sadek, Feddema, Kim, Henriques, Sergio, Janssen, Jordi, Karve, Anushri, Pytka, Jennifer, Thompson, Ruth M., Nijman, Vincent, Wright, Joss, Roberts, David L., (09 Sep 2024): Wiley. [Journal article]