John Goodband, Control Theory and Applications Centre

I started at Coventry University as an undergraduate in mathematics and accounting. Having worked for 19 years, I felt the need to attempt something more challenging as well as to gain vocational qualifications to help me in a new career.

Both my final year project and the modules were directly related to control theory, which I enjoyed considerably. I therefore approached the Control Theory and Applications Centre (CTAC) to ask if they would consider me for postgraduate research. I subsequently graduated with a first class honours degree and enrolled as a PhD student.

The area of research was exceptionally challenging, as it took me into the realms of medical physics and neural network computing, in both of which I had no previous experience. The PhD training process was intensive and enlightening. I was making regular presentations at international conferences in conjunction with peer-reviewed papers, and succeeded in publishing two journal articles. I was also a member of a European cutting-edge research team investigating methods for improving cancer treatment.

Following this, I started another research project, this time for SIGMA, also based at Coventry University. The work is in yet another new area for me – educational research – and involves finding ways of improving mathematics education in higher education.  I was awarded my PhD in November 2006.

Throughout my eight years at Coventry University I have been constantly impressed by the ethic of helpfulness, first as an undergraduate being coaxed through periods of self-doubt, then as a PhD student receiving the training of a lifetime. I now aim to contribute to that ethic myself.