Dr Thomas Spriggs

Meet Thomas. After completing a PhD and an MPhys degree at Herts, he went on to work for maritime experts Lloyds List Intelligence as a Data Scientist.

Feeling at home

Thomas spent nine years at Herts, studying first for his MPhys (Hons) Astrophysics degree before completing a PhD in Astrophysics. Thomas says that in that time, he grew into a ‘self-driven individual’ who could offer novel solutions to complex problems. Thomas adds, ‘My PhD allowed me to manage a long-term project, that provided great lessons in time management, opportunities for public speaking, whilst allowing me to ultimately contribute to our current understandings of the universe.’

Thomas says he felt ‘right at home’ when he visited Herts before applying and was impressed by our campuses and Bayfordbury Observatory. ‘I’ll always fondly remember working at the Observatory, getting hands-on experience with an amazing array of both old and new telescopes, whilst observing incredible interstellar objects and amazing views of the lunar surface.’

‘University was a wonderful place to meet like-minded people who shared my passion for astrophysics. I got on well with many in my class and have met many a great lifelong friend though both my courses and extra-curricular activities.’

His career and next steps

Thomas has been working for the maritime insight company Lloyds List Intelligence (LLI) since 2021. He started as a Data Analyst before being promoted to Senior Data Analyst, working with customers across the world to provide insight and risk analysis on seaborne trade. Thomas hopes to continue his work with the LLI Data Science team and has ambitions to progress to a Chief Technical Officer role.

Thomas’ MPhys and PhD required data analysis, research, and communication skills, and completing these qualifications prepared him well for his current role. Thomas adds, ‘Data analysis benefits from the enjoyment and research of the subject of interest. Learning all the nuances of a particular subject, in my case maritime, will lead to overall enjoyment and enrich your ability to answer complex questions. It also helps you develop models that enhance how we handle data.’

‘I occasionally write and contribute to Lloyds List articles that focus on current affairs, assisting the Lloyds List editorial team with insights on how certain organisations within the world of shipping try to avoid sanctions through AIS spoofing or GPS jamming. I have provided comments for The Times newspaper, as they often report on such topics.’

Thomas says, ‘University was the best choice I ever made. It was not the easiest path, nor the simplest, but I received all the support and experience that I needed to make the next step in my life and will always look back fondly on my time at Herts. The lessons learnt and friends made will always make university a unique experience, a place to develop and find yourself.’