Role
Roy Barson is a Specialist IT Systems Development Technician working in the Department of Science and Technology.
Roy's role involves supporting comprehensives system and hard/software technical support with the Department of Computer Science such as:
- Imaging of PC’s and Macs with respective Windows 11 and Apple operating system images or Linux Ubuntu LTS.
- Administering the isolated laboratory domain as well as the mass installation of software to clients via PDQ.
- Technical research project realization into relevant hardware/software and networking requirements.
- Liaison with central Digital Technologies to realise the aforementioned.
- To produce the Django framework for the bespoke Computer Science FYP website.
- VMware and Proxmox virtual machine creation to create or update systems with the latest Ubuntu server LTS.
- The creation of various inventories for loans and insurance purposes.
- Increasing technical knowledge through exposure to training on VMWare Workstation Pro on such areas as Windows Active Directory, plus associated services set up, as well as CCNA networking.
Career overview
Roy holds a BSc Open Degree in Mathematics modules along with a BTEC HNC in Computer Studies.
Since graduating, he has worked as a technician in various roles at five different East Midlands universities for over 25 years. He has held three roles at NTU, starting in Faculty support for Art & Design and the Built Environment, where he was a major supporter of Apple Macs and OSX, moving on to subject-based specialism in Psychology.
Through this, he learnt Python programming, as well as supporting the interfacing of bespoke hardware devices to Windows, OSX, and Ubuntu Linux.
Research areas
Roy's research technical support can be summed up from his experience supporting Psychology, where he aided in MSc, PhD and published research projects by utilising skills in hardware interfacing, electronics and Python/Matlab programming for EEG, Eye Tracking, TMS, MRI, Doppler, BioPac, and VR.
External activity
Roy collaborates with colleagues needing technical support and advice within NTU departments and supports ex-colleagues at a range of external institutions.