---
 title: "Hi!"
 slug: "about"
 ---
 
 

 {{<avatar src="/images/profile.webp">}}

 My name is Joe, and I am a software developer with a Ph.D. in theoretical physics.

 Currently I work as a contractor for [Microsoft Quantum](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum)
 where I develop custom algorithms and software for simulating [Majorana-based topological qubits][qubits].
 I also improve the tools used by simulation engineers to take advantage of the

 high-performance (classical) computing infrastructure available to us.

 
 Outside of work I like to spend as much time as possible in the mountains.
 
 [qubits]: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/quantum/2018/09/06/developing-a-topological-qubit/
 
 ### Selected Projects
 Here's a not-so-random list of software projects that I've been involved with.

 {{<logo href="https://kwant-project.org" src="/images/logos/kwant.webp">}}

 [**Kwant**](https://kwant-project.org) is a Python package for simulating quantum transport in nanodevices.
 It has been used in [hundreds of research projects](https://scholar.google.nl/scholar?cites=9330311747089024535&scisbd=1)
 all over the world, as well as a teaching aid in [courses](http://tiny.cc/topocm) on condensed matter physics.
 

 {{<logo href="https://github.com/python-adaptive/adaptive" src="/images/logos/adaptive.webp">}}

 [**Adaptive**](https://github.com/python-adaptive/adaptive) is a library of algorithms

 for adaptively sampling mathematical functions, and seamlessly integrates with the Jupyter notebook.

 It has been used in [cutting edge](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1806.02801.pdf)
 quantum transport simulations.
 

 {{<logo href="https://github.com/zesje/zesje" src="/images/logos/zesje.webp">}}

 [**Zesje**](https://github.com/zesje/zesje)

 is a web app for grading exams. Born out of necessity while administering exams

 to hundreds of undergrads, it's now used in several departments
 at Delft University of Technology.
 

 {{<logo href="https://github.com/simonmichael/hledger" src="/images/logos/haskell.webp">}}

 [**hledger**](https://github.com/simonmichael/hledger)
 is accounting software that uses plain text files to store transactions.
 Contributing to this mature codebase has been particularly helpful in learning Haskell.

 {{<logo href="https://github.com/jupyter/jupyter-sphinx" src="/images/logos/jupyter.webp">}}

 [**jupyter-sphinx**](https://github.com/jupyter/jupyter-sphinx)
 is a plugin for [Sphinx](https://www.sphinx-doc.org) that executes code snippets in
 documentation pages and embeds the output.

 
 ### What do I do for fun?
 

 When I'm not coding I'm probably up a mountain, in the climbing gym (though not since COVID!)
 or playing [designer board games][bgg]. If I'm reading it's probably anything by Ted Chiang.
 I relax by cross-stitching video game pixel art.
 
 I will also (very) sporadically [blog]({{<relref "posts" >}}) about stuff I find interesting.

 Since moving to Canada I've also been watching a lot of NHL hockey (go Bruins).

 
 [bgg]: https://boardgamegeek.com/plays/thumbs/user/jbweston/subtype/All