chrisduran.eu

A short bio

Heya, my name is Chris Duran and this is my blog. I am a 20-something (more something-then-20 now) blogger, PhD student (in Bioinformatics), cognivitist, online business entrepreneur, snowboarder, longboarder (the surfing kind), IT geek and Dr. Who addict.

I started my foray into business when I started up an Internet Café and Web Design Studio called dotZero with two partners, Alborz Fallah and Nick Schoonens, in 2004. During this time, I also finished off my undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science majoring in Computer Science and Evolutionary Biology).

I moved to Oxford, UK in 2005, where I worked as a Bioinformatician for the Medical Research Council in Harwell, Oxfordshire until I returned to Australia in early 2007. I was awarded an industry scholarship in 2007 and I’ve been studying for a PhD in Bioinformatics at the University of Queensland since 2007.

In 2009, I started a website called WiFi in Australia. It is a collection of user-generated, user-controlled maps for WiFi hotspots across Australia. It is a spinoff from Wifi in UK, which is a brilliant idea started by Neil Cocker that I thought Australians could benefit from.

Also in 2009, I started Cognicology in tandem with Alborz Fallah. It’s a resource to share the techniques and personal habits that we have gained over the years in the hope that others may develop a positive and stronger self, for greater personal and professional success

A list of things about me

• I am in a constant state self-improvement
• I am a never-ending optimist
• I surf a 9′6″ longboard called Patrick Swayze
• My favourite author is Neil Gaiman
• Of all the countries I’ve been to, Bulgaria is my favourite
• I spend my days reading for a PhD in Bioinformatics at UQ
• Chicken is my least-favourite food
• I love all kinds of Sci-Fi…
• …but have never watched an episode of Star Trek
• I think Python is the best language ever…
• …but am way more proficient at Java

Filed under: Uncategorized by Chris