COMPOS Team

Our team is a mix of professionals, academics and educators with a broad range of experience.

Staff

A head shot of Vlad wearing a white bow tie, formal shirt and grey waistcoat, he is looking straight ahead, smiling slightly

Vlad Chernov

Lead Tutor

Vlad Chernov is an educator, having completed undergraduate studies in Applied Physics and Maths at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), followed by a Masters programme in Aerodynamics. Vlad started teaching Physics and Maths in 2006 in Moscow before moving to the UK. Vlad taught Physics and Further Maths to secondary school students and was the head teacher of Algorithmics UK - an online school teaching programming (Python and Scratch). Vlad joined Alex to launch COMPOS in 2021 and is delighted to be a key part of the team, delivering regular webinars and supporting our tutors.

Clara Gonsalves

Assistant Coordinator

Having studied Physics at the University of Nottingham, Clara is not only a proud member of the COMPOS Team but also works in Outreach for the University of Oxford Department of Physics. Clara works closely with schools, helping to encourage young students to study Physics at a higher level and supporting schools to deliver COMPOS Tuition through our Schools Pilot.

Dr Rachael Hawkins

Academic Coordinator and Programme DSL

Rachael Hawkins is a physicist, teacher, and project manager. She decided aged 11 years old that she would be an astrophysicist and became the first person in her family to attend university, joining Imperial College to study for her MSci Physics and then Queen Mary, London where she earned her PhD in Brane Cosmology. As well as teaching, Rachael has also worked for the Institute of Physics, as a consultant and teacher trainer for STEM Learning, and as Head of Services for a national charity. She project manages the operations of the COMPOS programme and plays a pivotal role in the smooth running of the programme, working closely with students, tutors and schools alike. Rachael is passionate about helping individual students to grow in their learning and understanding, and in supporting students historically underrepresented in STEM.

Nicky Jaggar-Ryan (on maternity leave)

Business and Outreach Coordinator

Having spent more than a decade in event management within the third sector, Nicky was delighted to recently join the COMPOS Team and to help raise awareness of the opportunities the programme presents to students. Being a passionate advocate of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Nicky works to promote the programme far and wide, encouraging students from lots of different backgrounds to participate in the programme and working with philanthropists to support that mission.

Jackie Jordan

Programme Administrator

Jackie Jordan is the administrator for COMPOS and she plays an integral role in data management for the programme. She was born and bred in Oxford and, having worked at the University since 1999, she certainly knows her way around.
Jackie is an experienced administrator, with 30 years plus experience in higher education administration.

Suzanne McInroy

Business and Outreach Coordinator (maternity cover)

With 15 years of experience in communications and marketing for universities in the United States, Suzanne is excited to join the COMPOS team as a maternity cover for Nicky Jaggar-Ryan. In addition to work experience, Suzanne has completed courses in higher education leadership and is passionate about increasing access to university.

Anthony Quinlan

Outreach Administrator

Anthony has been a tutor and member of the assignments working group with the COMPOS programme, and recently joined the team as the Outreach Administrator. He has previously worked in both further and higher education as a teacher. Outside of work, Anthony is a volunteer with the Institute of Physics and helps run outreach events in the London and South East region.