In Brief

A picture of Beth McMillanBeth McMillan is currently studying biochemistry at Sheffield University. She is also a classical musician and a devotée of geekery, especially web design. Her interests include knitting, fanfiction and recreational mathematics. In her spare time, she works as a receptionist-cum-programmer but when she grows up, she wants to be a research scientist.

Education

I'm in the second year of a three-year BSc course in biochemistry. The course covers genetics, microbiology, biotechnology and data handling, and provides opportunities to practise presentations, practical lab work, and scientific writing. This summer, I am working in the lab of Dr. Rosie Staniforth, looking at the aggregation of Stefin B.

Music

Grade 8 flautist (plus piccolo).

I've played with the Sheffield University Symphony and Wind Orchestras, the West Sussex County Youth Orchestra, the Crawley Area Youth Orchestra and Concert Band and the Sackville School Orchestra and Concert Band. I've also been lucky enough to accompany the Sheffield University Wind Orchestra on tour to Boppard Am Rhein, Germany in 2010, and with the West Sussex County Youth Orchestra to Carinthia, Austria in 2008.

Grade 7 singer

Sung with: Sheffield University Chamber Choir, Crawley Area Girls', Youth and Chamber Choirs, Sackville Community Choir and Sackville School Chorale. As well as formal concerts and solo performances, I also performed in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's musical Trial By Jury in 2009.

Computery Bits

BitFixIt Café

A weekend community project. We fix computers for people in the Burngreave area of Sheffield - repair hardware problems, remove viruses and malware, and install open source software. I've been working there since the beginning of 2009 and have learned a great deal in that time.

Programming

My family had a Commodore 64, and at around the age of eight I am credited with having created the worst game of PacMan ever (there was no maze, and the ghosts didn't move. The ghosts were also shaped like the letter X). The source code, fortunately, has not survived. Here are some examples of my more recent, less awful work. These are written in a scripting language called Reflection Basic, which is similar in syntax to Microsoft Visual Basic. They work with a program called PAS, which is widely used in the NHS.

Miscellaneous

For the last couple of years I've been participating in BarnCamp in the Wye Valley, a skill sharing event in which geeks get together and talk about open source software.

I made a little randomised animation in Python (using Pygame). It's called Sparkle.

Looking into making themes for Nokia phones was interesting. Here's my explanation of how they work (sort of) and some template files to help.

I set up a wiki for my revision notes. I've found I prefer using index cards, but the experience setting up and modifying MediaWiki was pretty cool.

I've also done some professional web design. Two examples of this are below.

Meridian Training Solutions Ltd.

Meridian Training Solutions ltd. This company trains financial service advisers. They wanted a clean, professional, corporate website. To keep the branding consistent, I based much of this design off their existing business card.

Go to the website »

Paul Rogers said: "At the beginning of 2009, I asked Beth McMillan to build a website for my new business. I left the design completely up to her, although I did provide the wording for the content, together with the images I wanted her to use.

Beth did not only build me a fantastic website; she also provided me with:

  • An editing program, to enable me to edit the site’s text and images as required;
  • written instructions on how to maintain and edit the site;
  • a 1:1 demonstration of how to use the editing program.

I was particularly taken with her ability to take written information and make it both interesting and eye-catching. One example of this is how quotes from satisfied clients are animated on the site’s home page.

Beth also created a “contact page” where people could post a question or message, to be delivered to the company’s email account.

I am delighted with both the site itself and Beth’s assistance regarding its maintenance. I have also received complements from colleagues regarding the website: they have commented on its professional appearance and user-friendliness."

Oroborous Technologies

Oroborous Technologies O-tech repair amplifiers for bands in Sheffield (including the Arctic Monkeys and Reverend and the Makers). They wanted an informative website in a zine-like, grungey style with a circuit diagram in the background and their cute logo in prominent position.
Go to the website »

For some more examples of my design work, take a look around my personal websites, where I try out my new ideas.

Interesting Things

Knitting, sewing and baking odd things are my favourite relaxation activities. I'm a big fan of the Craftster forum as a great place for organising craft swaps and learning new techniques.

I love to read, and I periodically write brief reviews of books. I also love blogs, especially my blog. Slash fanfiction grabbed me at the age of thirteen and has not let me go since. I also love to read webcomics, and even wrote one myself for a bit. My comic was featured in Snippets and Shock Paper Scissors.

I think social networking is important, and I use Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn and Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family around the world.

Employment History

Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead - Administrative Bank Staff

O-tech
O-tech
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