This week we talk to Callum (or Cally to his friends) who’s our QA Team Lead. Before landing at Mendeley he worked in publishing but in his student days he actually used to be a lifeguard. Do tell us more…

“It was probably the most boring job I’ve had, the only time I got to save anyone was when a lady got cramp during aqua aerobics – not exactly Baywatch!”

What made you apply for a job at Mendeley?
I was already working in the industry and liked how Mendeley was disrupting the marketplace

When you started working here, were things like you expected?
I expected a lot more people and processes in place – it’s a real testament to the talent and ambition of people here that we can achieve so much with so few people compared with the big players in the marketplace.

Have things changed in Mendeley since you started working here?
Kaizen is an important principle here, so things are always changing.

What’s the best thing about coming to work at Mendeley?
We get a hackday every month to experiment with new technologies and products.

Who would be invited to your perfect dinner party?
Four of my close friends and Oscar Wilde.  We would have a great laugh.

What is the one website you can’t live without?
slashdot.org  – for the pithy comments

When you were growing up, what did you want to be?
A train driver

What book are you reading at the moment and why?
For work(ish) I am reading ‘Programming Collective Intelligence’ and for pleasure I’m reading ‘Racing through the dark’, the autobiography of cyclist David Millar

What would you change about the world if you could change one thing?
Free college/university education for everyone

What was the first record you ever bought?  
Bad by Michael Jackson (on cassette)

Favourite food/drink?
Croissants dunked into coffee

Your greatest vice?
I drink far too much coffee in the afternoon

Favourite place in the world?
Saint Julienne en Beauchene (a tiny picturesque village in southern France)

Three things you would put in Room 101
Walking slowly in crowded places, crocs (the shoes), tomato ketchup

Now for a serious one worthy of the Mendeley vision: If you could give unlimited funding and resources to one area of research, what would it be and why?
I want to research decision theory in more detail.  I try to use some aspects real options pricing when prioritizing work, but learning more about the theory is something I would love to do – and actually understanding the Black-Scholes model would be nice 🙂