Barry McLarnon
More About Me
COMPANY: SAP
With 12 million users and more than 1,800 partners, SAP is the world’s largest inter-enterprise software company and the world’s third-largest independent software provider overall. A rich history of innovation and growth has made SAP a true industry leader today employing more than 51,000 people in over 50 countries.
SAP Research, the technology research department of SAP, prepares the groundwork for future growth by identifying emerging IT trends with a focus on strategically important SAP business areas. SAP Research’s Campus-based Engineering Centre CEC Belfast was founded in January 2005 as the Research Centre of SAP (UK) Limited.
JOB TITLE: Research Associate (PhD)
This job role involves:
- Researching the latest technologies.
- Writing technical papers on important research and findings.
- Submitting proposals for new topics of interest.
- Creating and submitting patentable ideas.
- Developing prototype technologies for demonstration and results gathering.
- Giving presentations both internally and externally.
- Providing guidance to placement students.
- Working parallel to gaining a PhD through collaboration with the university.
EDUCATION:
2002 – 2008 : Queen’s University Belfast
- MEng Computer Science
- LCGI City & Guilds Licentiateship
1995 – 2002 : St. Mary’s Christian Brother’s Grammar School
- A-Levels: Computing, German, Physics, Mathematics
- G.C.S.E: Information Systems, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Double Award Science, German, English, English Literature, History, Religious Studies
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2005 – 2006 : Meridio Ltd. – Placement Student (Research & Development)
REASONS FOR CHOOSING IT:
The scope of an IT career is extremely broad, allowing almost anyone with an interest in computing to find a job that suits them. As technology evolves and we become more reliant on computer systems, a job in IT will ensure that you will stay at the cutting edge. With IT becoming more pervasive in everyday life, the computing skills you will acquire will give you a major advantage.
SKILLS REQUIRED:
- Good self-motivation
- A thirst for knowledge
- Ability to analyse and communicate well
- Strong Mathematical background
- Interest in computers
BENEFITS OF THE JOB:
- Working with cutting-edge technologies
- Many different projects to choose from
- Ideas are never constrained – you are always asked to think “outside the box”
- Lots of opportunities to travel for conferences by the biggest names in the industry
- Making connections with people from a variety of companies
- Opportunities to make extra money (e.g. patents)
CAREER GOALS:
I hope to have completed my PhD, with plans to work in another country, continuing to expand and improve my knowledge. I would like to work on a computer system that is put into wide-scale, every day use, and that gives real benefits to its users.
Piczo
Britain from above
IT Mobile communications
