Dr Chris Barran
Senior Web Systems Developer & Portal Development Group Leader
Technical Services
Telephone: (0114) 22 21193
email : c.d.barran@sheffield.ac.uk
Responsibilities
- Oversee and plan the work of the portal team
- Install, configure and maintain server software to support development and deployment of web services; inluding the university website, MUSE, myChat, Webmail and Java Applications
- Support and advise team, department and staff in other departments on development of web services
- Full life cycle development of computer information systems to the specification agreed
- Contribute to the evaluation of project requests to determine their feasibility and value to the University
- Evaluate and recommend new technologies for application development and deployment.
Biography
I've been at the University for 19 years, man and boy. I started in 1988 in the Department of Ceramics Glasses and Polymers (now Engineering Materials) as an Undergraduate progressing to a PhD as a Mega Death Technician between 1991 and 1997.
I joined the Department of Corporate Information around 1996 as a temp working on programme structures, for the then new, Oracle Education System, while I was writing up my PhD. Keen to retain such a talented individual, I was offered a job in the newly formed Department of Corporate Information and Computing Services as the Deputy Smart Card Assistant in July 1996. Not sure how I could be the deputy and the assistant at the same time, but shortly after, I was seconded to work on Management Information and the dreaded departmental plans.
A year later having declined to continue my secondment I drifted into the Special Projects Team (Internet Technologies) to do 'interesting stuff'. After many years of doing 'interesting stuff' and a great restructuring, I am the portal group leader in the development team.
Outside of work, my current obsession is climbing, but I also enjoy running, swimming, hill walking, cycling, film and playing guitar, but not all at the same time.