Graeme Eddolls

Postdoctoral Researcher with a PhD in Experimental Gravitational Wave Astrophysics, working as part of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. I also have 3 years industry experience in the defence sector, rising to lead analyst for the Sandown Class minesweeper.

The role of an EMSA is extremely diverse and provides me with an incredibly wide range of skill sets. These include organisational, interpersonal, and physical coordination skills; deep technical knowledge; sound fundamental understanding of Physics and Engineering; and analytical techniques that can be easily manipulated to be applied to a variety of other professions or roles, in both industry and academia.

Some examples of my work are listed below but this is not an exhaustive list. Many of the tasks encompass what is expected of an EMSA, but due to my passion, enthusiasm, and willingness to take on as many roles and learn as many new skills as possible, I regularly went above and beyond the base role requirements. These examples include:

• working onboard both Royal Navy (RN) ships and submarines (55 vessels to date) conducting inspections and heath checks; checking the material state of the degaussing and related systems; and rectifying any defects via in- depth knowledge of onboard electrical systems and electromagnetic (EM) fields
• briefing RN command teams onboard vessels, including Ministry of Defence customers with detailed technical information that is clear and concise
• working onboard all vessels at sea for trials work (or short term deployment) in order to conduct optimisation rangings at our underwater electromagnetic ranges throughout the UK and abroad
• maintaining and testing aforementioned electromagnetic ranges. This includes proposals for capability advancement relating to extremely low frequency electromagnetic (ELFE) measurement which I have been heavily involved in. This work involves using FFTs and other analysis methods when working with discrete frequencies and harmonics
• use of complex software specifically made for EM ranges covering GPS and tracking software (Trimble), navigational aids (in house), ELFE and static EM analysis (Ultra Transmag and in house)
• running and maintenance of Harbour Entrance Range requiring technical knowledge of EM signatures, vessels, range software (in-house), and hardware (both in-water and external)
• technical report writing for customers relating to both static EM and ELFE signatures in Microsoft Word and PDF formats. ELFE reports in particular produce both quantitative data and qualitative analysis (generally 100 pages). This requires the analyst to sift through background, raw and modelled data, coming to conclusions for sources of noise/backgrounds as well as analysis and identification of signature features emanating from the vessel. Reports also cover individual work I have taken on where I wish to further investigate signature issues or separate studies delegated to me, for example the Seabed Calibration Study that I published
  extreme flexibility and adaption to changing circumstances. All rangings are coordinated by signature analysts and require the very highest levels of self-discipline and organisation in order to successfully co-ordinate the entire trial from start to finish
• extensive travel both in the UK and abroad. All travel and expenses are organised, booked and reconciled by myself
• attendance of academic conferences relevant to EM fields, particularly in marine environments
  regular presentations on developments in my specific area of work to Technical Managers/Leads in the presence of my peers
• constant training and development. This extends to basic training modules covering security and extensive coverage of health and safety. This has included developing of my own training course for EMSAs, both less and more experienced than I am, to teach them the specifics of ELFE analysis
• constant work with classified material that requires extremely strict protocols and procedures to be adhered to at all times, varying from physical to cyber security
• supporting the ELFE Lead in the development of the ELFE capability to the ultimate benefit of the customer in-depth class analysis of vessels to distinguish EM signature defects, trends, and anomalies using a variety of software tools to their full potential including Microsoft Excel, MATLAB, and LabView
• creation of class owner documentation that lead to both improvements in the reports/service to the customer, but also identified defects within the class that lead to rectification by the Ministry of Defence
  regular engagement with Project Managers to ensure work is delivered in a timely, cost efficient, and legally compliant manner
• exposure to both business and engineering practices: from life cycle briefcases to strict change control forms, and engineering drawings and standards
• extensive health and safety knowledge covering radiation hazards (submarine reactors), general ship and submarine safety, radio emission hazard (RADHAZ), and formal EMF field training. All on top of the "standard" H&SE courses provided to an employee from first aid, manual handling, driving, working at height, etc
• site-related work as part of supporting the Head of Site which includes: 
  • Designing drawings for mounting hardware
  • Deployment and piloting of site RIB at sea for range maintenance 
  • Various repair work and PAT testing of on-site electricals 
  • Transportation of people and equipment via the site 4x4
• working with foreign counterparts on joint projects, for example:
  • working with the United States Department of Defense and its employees to use magnetic treatment facilities in Georgia. This was in order to complete a successful magnetic treatment of a UK submarine where I was involved with the analysis and treatment process, as an assistant to the Treatment Analyst 
  • biannual visits to the Middle East to range, optimise, and maintain the EM signatures of four permanently deployed UK minesweepers in Bahrain.
• representing QinetiQ as a STEM ambassador at events throughout Scotland. I also have held high-level discussions with management on how to better improve our STEM offerings and collaborate with schools, academia and other industry.

I have recently been award my PhD with my thesis entitled "Design, build and characterisation of a cryogenic single crystalline silicon prototype suspension for the 3rd generation of Gravitational Wave (GW) detectors". This PhD was funded by the Royal Society.
Throughout my 4.5 years I have developed skills in the following areas:

Steady-state thermal conductivity measurements over wide temperature ranges combining high and low thermally conductive materials
Design and development of custom built cryogenic temperature sensing wiring and integration into existing off-the- shelf instrumentation

Extensive hands-on experience with cryogenic vacuum systems, measurement, instrumentation and data systems More general development, testing and operating scientific instrumentation in self-contained laboratory and cleanrooms
Leading the design and build of in-house chemical etching baths with requisite health and safety built in

Training fellow PhD students in experimental techniques, specifically in the field of cryogenics
Extensive work on mechanical strength testing, materials characterisation, and thermal noise in the context of Gravitational Wave detection
Further practical experience of maintaining, repairing and operating high voltage equipment
Extensive experience and coding of FEA ANSYS Classic APDL language, MATLAB, LabView and some SolidWorks and ANSYS Workbench experience
Working as part of a research group of over 70 academics and students, including active participation at all levels from social to professional settings
Work as part of the 1200-strong LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) international scientific collaboration
Continuation and development of my 12 years of experience in science communication, specialising in adult outreach, scientific policy and public understanding of science (the latter with all ages). I am also a member of iGrav, the international GW outreach working group
Peer reviewing papers for scientific publishing
2 in-person academic talks and 3 remote talks as well as 2 in-person poster presentations and 2 remote.
Invited to give plenary talk at Einstein Telescope Instrument Science Board meeting, as well as chairing two parallel sessions, Oct 2022.