Dr Alex
Goater
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My journey to becoming an analytical problem solver began during my doctoral research at the
University of Surrey,
where four years of working with complex galactic simulations and large datasets trained me to
approach problems
systematically and think at scale.
Beyond providing a technical foundation, the academic world also taught me the value of
collaborative problem-solving,
how to present complex ideas clearly, and to embrace feedback as a tool for improvement rather
than criticism.
When I'm not developing my technical portfolio, you'll find me struggling to contain this bundle of energy pictured here (his name is Monty and he loves taking out people's knees with big sticks!)
My PhD in astrophysics was a rigorous training ground in advanced problem-solving, statistical analysis, and intricate systems thinking. Over four years, I learned to decompose complex problems systematically and build robust data pipelines using Python in combination with statistical modelling methods. The centerpiece of my research was a comprehensive Python toolkit for galaxy morphology analysis that demonstrates my ability to architect scalable solutions. The toolkit implements sophisticated Bayesian parameter estimation using ensemble MCMC sampling (via emcee) to fit elliptical exponential surface brightness profiles to cosmological simulation data. What sets this work apart is the integration of multiple random orientation sampling—a novel approach that assesses morphological robustness by analyzing galaxies from different viewing angles, providing crucial insights into projection effects versus intrinsic galaxy properties. This work culminated in a first-author publication in a leading astrophysics journal, thus demonstrating my ability to deliver reliable solutions, with skills that are directly transferable to solving complex problems in any data-driven industry.
This portfolio website is a comprehensive showcase of my web development capabilities and design sensibilities. Built entirely from scratch with vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it showcases my ability to create performant websites without framework dependencies, resulting in fast load times and minimal resource overhead. The codebase follows modular architecture principles with semantic HTML structure, organised CSS using custom properties for maintainable styling systems, and vanilla JavaScript implementing efficient DOM manipulation and event handling. The technical implementation emphasises clean code practices including proper separation of concerns, with distinct files for structure, styling, and functionality. Interactive features like the scroll progress bar and form validation are built using native Web APIs, demonstrating proficiency in core browser technologies. Version control through Git tracks the development process with clear commit messages and branching strategies. This project exemplifies my approach to maintainable software development using foundational technologies.