Currently on secondment to the Data Science Institute

I joined the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1990 and I'm still here. (It's a great place to be.) I am a Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and have previously been Head of Department. I've been an Academic Governor, as a member of LSE's Council, and a member of committees and working groups too exciting and numerous to mention (or perhaps even remember). From 2019 to 2022, I had the LSE-wide role of VCAB (Vice-Chair Academic Board). I am currently on secondment to the LSE Data Science Institute as its Director.

I am originally from Paisley, in the west of Scotland, near Glasgow. Growing up in Paisley, I studied at Castlehead High School, then the University of Glasgow, graduating with a BSc in Mathematics in 1988. I completed a PhD in Mathematics in 1991, having studied at Royal Holloway College and LSE. I also have an MA in Higher and Professional Education (2002) from the Institute of Education, University of London and I was a member of the first cohort on LSE's Leadership Development Programme (2012-14).

My research interests are mainly in the mathematical theory underpinning machine learning, data science, and Boolean and pseudo-Boolean functions and I am also increasingly interested in the mathematical modelling of issues in data science such as algorithmic fairness and privacy.

I've taught a wide variety of courses at LSE. I won the inaugural 2014 LSE Students' Union Teaching Excellence Award for Sharing Expertise and Knowledge and have been awarded LSE Education Excellence Awards.