Dr Paul Hancock
Paul Hancock holds a PhD in Physics (Astronomy) from the University of Sydney, where his thesis focused on studying the youngest radio galaxies using a southern sky survey conducted at 20 GHz. He was the primary software developer for the survey’s calibration, imaging, and source finding workflow.
Following his PhD, Paul worked as a postdoctoral researcher from 2013 to 2021 at the University of Sydney and later at Curtin University. His research centred on radio surveys and time-domain astrophysics, during which he developed several widely used software tools, including visibility stacking techniques, the ASKAP-VAST pipeline, and the Aegean source finding algorithm.
Paul first joined the Curtin Institute for Data Science (CIDS) in 2020, contributing to the SMART pulsar survey project. In this role, he developed a database-driven web application to allow the survey team more easily manage their processing workflows and pulsar candidate evaluation.
Since returning to CIDS in mid-2021, Paul has taken on a leadership role as the Data Science Lead for the ADACS (Astronomy Data and Computing Services) project. He now leads the software development group at CIDS, oversees delivery of ADACS services, and works closely with researchers and industry partners to understand their data science and software development needs. In addition to his project leadership, Paul teaches postgraduate machine learning for the School of EECMS.
While his background in radio astronomy and high-performance computing continues to inform his work, Paul’s focus is now on building sustainable research software solutions and leading cross-disciplinary data science collaborations.
Key competencies and interests include:
• Research Software Development
• Scientific Data Management
• Project Leadership and Client Engagement
• High Performance Computing
• Radio Astronomy