Profile
David Sharp
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About Me:
I live in Cheshire with my wife, two children, my dog and my cat. I love running, football, 80s cartoons and listening to music on vinyl.
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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I'm a member of team ISOLDE
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My Work:
I’m a nuclear physicist. I study radioactive nuclei that only exist for a short time.
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Read more
I study how neutrons and protons in the nucleus behave. I do this by accelerating nuclei in a particle accelerator and firing them at a target that contains deuterons (one proton and one neutron). The beam captures the neutron and spits out the proton. Measuring the proton in a detector tells me about what has happened to the neutron in the nucleus – using rules called conservation of energy and momentum.
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My work before CERN:
I got experience as a nuclear physicist working at labs in America, Germany and France and before that I developed new detectors for detecting drugs and explosives.
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What I would like to do next?:
I will continue my research at CERN whilst training to be a lecturer at my home institution in Manchester.
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Education:
Christopher Whitehead High School, Worcester, 1996-1997
Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy, 1997-1998
Ousedale School, Newport Pagnell, 1998-2001
Ousedale 6th Form, Newport Pagnell, 2001-2004
Undergraduate University of Manchester, 2004-2008
Postgraduate University of Manchester, 2008-2012
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Qualifications:
GCSEs (Geography A*, Maths A, Science AA, German A, English Language A, Design Technology B, English Literature C, Art C, Graphic Products D)
A levels (Maths A, Geography A, Physics B)
Masters degree in Physics
PhD in Experimental Nuclear Physics
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Work History:
2012-2013 Scientist, Smiths Detection Ltd, Watford
2006-2008 Bar Manager. Manchester Evening News Arena
2004-2006 Warehouse worker, Routeco Plc, Milton Keynes
2002-2004 Cleaner, Ousedale School
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Job title:
Ernest Rutherford Fellow
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Employer:
University of Manchester
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Football-loving nuclear physicist
What did you want to be after you left school?
Car stylist - I did my year 9 work experience at Nissan
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No, I was always the one let out of class detections!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Stay at home dad
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Foo Fighters
What's your favourite food?
Curry
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To be awesome at football, to be able to speak any language, for my family to always be happy.
Tell us a joke.
Never trust an atom - they make up everything. (Blame my PhD student for telling me this)
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