About Glyn
I’m a physicist and engineer working at Loughborough University. I have a passion for educating the next generation of students in STEM subjects and I love creating practical and experimental courses.
I started off my own studies in electronic engineering then moved on to do a PhD in physics. Before moving into my current role, I worked on designing new ways to improve medical imaging. I was particularly keen on ways to investigate brain function. Now I work in the physics teaching labs supporting the education of undergraduate students. I am currently interested in blending active and passive learning methods for developing scientists who are creative in designing their own methods for probing nature. I am also interested in the role that a sense of ownership as well as identity have on student engagement.
Outside of work, I enjoy practical hands-on projects as well as playing badminton, going to the cinema and the piano.
Work Experience
Technical Tutor
Loughborough University 2017-now
I support the learning and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate-taught laboratory practical sessions and project work in the Physics Laboratories. I am predominantly based in STEMLab and is the lead for the physical sciences and optics laboratories.
Research Fellow
University of Nottingham 2015-2017
My work focused on trying to understand the sources of noise in EEG-fMRI and improving the quality of the data obtainable, using novel software and hardware based solutions. I was involved in the development of novel devices and software for monitoring the motion of subjects undergoing MRI.
Resident Tutor
University of Nottingham 2013-2017
In both Sherwood Hall and Florence Boot Hall I worked as part of team to provide a safe and sociable environment for undergraduate residents.
Laboratory Instructor
University of Nottingham 2010-2014
Supervised and assessed laboratory work of 2nd year undergraduate students within the School of Physics and Astronomy.
Education
PhD Physics
University of Nottingham, UK | 2015
Title: EEG-fMRI: Novel Methods for Gradient Artefact Correction
The aim of my studies was to improve the quality of the data acquired from simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and Electroencephalography (EEG) studies.
Click to download a copy of thesis: Thesis_GSpencer_Final
MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Loughborough University, UK | 2010
Select modules include: Bioelectricity, Circuit Theory and Digital Signal Processing.
Final year project: develop an affordable system for counting cell cultures grown on Petri dishes.
Skills
Languages
Technical Skills and Domain Knowledge
Communication Skills:
Presentation Skills
- Contributed to regular group meetings throughout PhD and research career
- Contributed to/delivered 9 presentations at 5 international and 2 national conferences
- Delivered 2 academic seminars and 1 training course at the University of Nottingham
Written
- Training materials
- Multiple academic reports
- PhD thesis
- Grant applications (awarded a total of £127,638)
- Currently drafting four academic articles for publication
- Published two short stories
Supervision
- 3 PhD students
- 2 masters students
- Countless 2nd year undergraduate physics students
- 1 A-level physics student
Interpersonal
- Liaising with researchers, industry and stakeholders regarding projects
- Hosting and entertaining VIP guests and students at formal hall events
- Engaging children and young persons with communication difficulties
Outreach
- A-level introductions to physics
- Exhibitor at British Science Festival 2012
- Brain Matters 2013 (University of Nottingham public event)
- The Royal Society’s Summer Science Festival 2013
Publications
EH Bhuiyan, GS Spencer, PM Glover and R Bowtell (2017) Tracking head movement inside an MR scanner using voltages induced in coils by time-varying gradients, Annual Meeting of ISMRM, Hawaii, USA
JA Smith, GS Spencer, R Bowtell, PA Gowland, PM Glover (2017) A Novel Position and Orientation Sensor for MRI, Annual Meeting of ISMRM, Hawaii, USA
LI Bischoff , JA Smith , OE Mougin , GS Spencer , K Aphiwatthanasumet , PA Gowland , and RW Bowtell (2017) Relating external magnetic field changes to head movement using motion and field cameras, Annual Meeting of ISMRM, Hawaii, USA
GS Spencer, MEH Chowdhury, KJ Mullinger, R Bowtell (2016) Detecting visual evoked responses in simultaneous EEG-fMRI using Reference Layer Artefact Subtraction (RLAS), Annual Meeting of ISMRM, Singapore
MEH Chowdhury , KJ Mullinger, GS Spencer, R Bowtell (2015) Removing the Gradient Artefact Caused by 3D EPI in Simultaneous EEG-fMRI Experiments Using a Gradient Model Fit, Annual Meeting of ISMRM, Toronto, Canada
GS Spencer, KJ Mullinger and R Bowtell (2014) Difference Model Subtraction: a new method for removing residual gradient artefacts in EEG-fMRI, Annual Meeting of OHBM, Hamburg, Germany
GS Spencer, KJ Mullinger, A Peters and R Bowtell (2013) Simultaneous EEG-fMRI: Removing the Gradient Artefact using High Temporal Resolution Gradient Models, Annual Meeting of OHBM, Seattle, USA
GS Spencer, KJ Mullinger, A Peters, and R Bowtell (2012) Modelling and Removing the Gradient Artefact using a Gradient Model Fit (GMF), Annual Meeting of ISMRM, Melbourne, Australia
GS Spencer, KJ Mullinger, A Peters, and R Bowtell (2012) Modelling and Removing the Gradient Artefact using a Gradient Model Fit (GMF), British Chapter Postgraduate Symposium of ISMRM, Bristol, UK
Gallery
A selection of MRI images of myself
