Meet the team

• Leon Danon, Director of the Jean Golding Institute

  Leon is a Professor in Infectious Disease Modelling and Data Analytics in the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology. He has a PhD in Statistical Physics of Complex Networks but has been working on epidemiology of infectious diseases since 2004. His work combines mathematics, data science and AI with an understanding of behavioural and biological drivers of disease spread to solve pressing problems in public health. He is Director of Modelling and Data at the Bristol Vaccine centre working with clinicians, immunologists, and statisticians on the epidemiology of vaccine preventable infections.
• Patricia Holley, Institute Manager

  Patty is the Institute Manager. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the Institute. She coordinates the networking and partnership initiatives, manages resources and fosters collaborations. She also has worked as the Academic Engagement Manager at the Alan Turing Institute, supporting the Turing Interest Groups and an initiative to create new methods in data science and AI (TMCF). Patty has worked in research administration and project management for over 14 years. She grew up in Ecuador and worked in the Galapagos Islands studying Nazca Boobies and Waved albatrosses. She completed a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences at Wake Forest University, North Caroline, USA, where she studied the feeding trajectories of Hawaiian albatrosses during the nesting season.
• Isabelle Halton, Turing Liaison Manager (currently on maternity leave)

  Isabelle manages and enhances the partnership between the Alan Turing Institute and the University of Bristol. She works closely with two Turing Academic Liaisons to bridge the gap between the Turing Institute’s goals and highlight research and activity at Bristol which reflect these goals. She is responsible for disseminating relevant information to internal and external networks and supporting staff and students who want to be more involved with Turing activity. The Turing Liaison team run events and networking opportunities for data science and AI communities. Isabelle has worked for the University of Bristol for over 8 years and has predominantly worked in partnerships and project and event management. She previously worked in the Professional Liaison Network in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law and has extensive experience in building relationships and networks, and streamlining activities connecting academics and external organisations.
• Chiara Singh, Research Development Associate

  Chiara joined the Jean Golding Institute in January 2021, where she leads on the development and promotion of the Institute’s interdisciplinary research portfolio, providing strategic and project management support. She has been part of the University of Bristol since 2018, managing operations in Engineering. Chiara holds a degree in Biology from Cardiff University, where her research focused on the impact of climate change on parasites, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, Management and Leadership. She is Editor of the Association of Higher Education Professional's Development Monthly, a newsletter that aims share the knowledge and expertise of the HE community including good practice from around the sector and beyond higher education. A creative collaborator with a commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, Chiara brings a reflective, values-led approach to her work, connecting people, ideas, and communities to help shape a more inclusive research environment.
• Kerry Turcsi, Research Coordinator

  Kerry is the Research Coordinator at the Jean Golding Institute. She helps promote the events hosted by the JGI and assists with the JGI's communication activities. Kerry has a degree in Biology from the University of Bristol and has previously worked in student administration within the University.
• Madlen Williams, Senior Executive Assistant

  Madlen is a Senior Executive Assistant at the Jean Golding Institute. She provides research and administrative support to projects within the institute, as well as working to deliver the JGI’s key services and strategic priorities. She comes from a background in Digital Anthropology with specific interests in socio-technical Worlds, completing Masters research into human-LLM relationships at the University of Bristol in December 2024.
• Elaine Young, Senior Executive Assistant

  Elaine is responsible for reporting, mapping and promoting the impact activities generated by the Jean Golding Institute and data science research groups across the University of Bristol. Elaine has a background in Administration within the University of Bristol and has a degree in Psychology from the University of Cardiff.
• James Thomas, Senior Data Scientist

  James is a Senior Data Scientist at the JGI, leading our team of data scientists. He is interested in Urban Analytics, including electric micromobility, air quality and the vulnerability of people and infrastructure to the effects of climate change. He is also interested in data science education and training, co-organising the JGI Bristol DataViz Group and co-designing the DataFace training programme for schools as part of the Cheltenham Science Festival. He joined the Jean Golding Institute in December 2020, bringing over ten years of experience working in industry on low-carbon energy and net zero projects for Government and organisations in the energy sector, investigating the future decarbonisation of the UK energy supply and project-managing field trials to measure the real world performance of low-carbon heating technologies.
• Will Chapman, Data Scientist

  Will is a Data Scientist at the JGI. His interests are in applying machine learning to medical datasets and stochastic modelling. He has worked on computer vision pipelines to support clinicians in the early detection of rare types of stroke, collaborating with NHS health trusts to ensure patient privacy is safeguarded. He has a PhD in Experimental Psychology and joined the Jean Golding Institute in 2023.
• Pau Erola, Research Software Engineer

  Pau is a Research Software Engineer at the JGI. He currently leads the software engineering training, sharing his knowledge and fostering best practices in data science. With a diverse background in both Computer Engineering and Biomedical Science, he combines technical skills with a deep understanding of scientific principles. He joined the Institute in August 2024 after 8 years of postdoctoral research experience in genetics and cancer epidemiology.
• Evie Grace, Data Scientist

  Evie is a Data Scientist at the JGI. Her interests are in the applications and ethics of computer vision in medical settings, climate informatics, and the pedagogy and communication of data science. She joined the institute in February 2026, coming from an environmental data science background in the Civil Service and the Ecology sector. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Modelling and Data Analysis from the University of Bristol.
• Conor Houghton, Turing Academic Liaison

  Conor is a Reader in the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, interested in linguistics and the brain. Conor is a Turing Fellow and a member of the TReX, the Turing ethics committee.
• Josh Tyler, Data Scientist

  Josh is a Data Scientist at the JGI, joining the team in January 2026. He is driven by the "why and how" of data science, focusing on the underlying mechanics of problem-solving rather than being tied to a single domain. He works across all disciplines, enjoying the challenge of applying simulation and modelling to new subject areas. He brings versatile experience from the Alan Turing Institute and the NHS, where he applied analytical tools to health, environment, and defence challenges. Josh holds a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Bath, where his research led to the discoveries around Seabird Macroevolution.
• Emmanouil Tranos - Turing Academic Liasion

  Emmanouil is currently a Turing Fellow and a Professor of Quantitative Human Geography, specialising primarily on the spatial dimensions of the digital economy.
• Rita Rasteiro, Research Software Engineer

  Rita is a Research Software Engineer at the JGI. She currently leads the ASK-JGI helpdesk team that provides one day of free, expert support to University staff and doctoral students on topics including data science, AI, and software engineering. She has a diverse academic background and worked on multidisciplinary projects with researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including biology, archaeology, and mathematics. Her expertise spans simulation-based modelling and inference, Bayesian statistics, and research software engineering. Rita holds a PhD in Population Genetics and joined the Institute in 2025.
• Benedict Westhenry, Research Software Engineer

  Benedict is a Research Software Engineer at the JGI. His interests are in software engineering and best practices for data science and reproducible research and has diverse experience across both academia and industry. He joined the institute in November 2025 after several years working in software engineering and data science at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.

• Operations Manager - Hannah Berg

  hannah.berg@bristol.ac.uk
• Research Partnership and Engagement Associate - Vicky Jones

  vicky.jones@bristol.ac.uk, +44 117 455 6116 (she/her)
• Research Partnerships & Engagement Associate - Jim Evans

  jim.evans@bristol.ac.uk
• Senior Communications Officer - Amanda Woodman-Hardy

  amanda.woodman-hardy@bristol.ac.uk, (she/her)
• Project Co-ordinator - Julia Cassell

  julia.cassell@bristol.ac.uk, Tel: +441174552629

• Strategic Events Officer - Adele Hulin

  adele.hulin@bristol.ac.uk, +44 (0)117 455 3144 (she/her)
• Executive Assistant - Jocelyn Egginton

  ebih-admin@bristol.ac.uk or ebi-events@bristol.ac.uk
• Executive Assistant - Angus Morrice

  cabot-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk, +44 (0)117 455 4828
• Postgraduate Student Administrator - Karen Smart

  cabot-pgr@bristol.ac.uk
• Senior Research Coordinator (training and development) - Joanne Norris

  joanne.norris@bristol.ac.uk, +44 (0)117 455 4136 (she/her)