Me
Professional Bio
I’m Colin Garvey, a Senior Systems Architect and self-taught technology enthusiast who has a knack for applying software engineering and computer science principles to solve business problems. Since my youth, I’ve been an avid computer enthusiast and programmer, and one of my first full books I read was titled “HTML in 24 hours”. This same passion fortunately landed me at Genentech, at the IT Service Desk where I gained a broad familiarity and expertise with many parts of the Biotechnology industry.
After losing two people very close to me to cancer, I grew an emphatic enthusiasm for using technology to solve scientific problems that ultimately help patients who need it most. I was recruited to join the Research and Early Development IT to do application support for many interesting applications including the PK Modeling and Simulation Cluster, and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
Eventually, my interests and skillset evolved to focus on building as opposed to fixing things, so I expressed an interest for engineering and architecture. During my tenure here, some notable achievements include overhauling networking, desktop computing, and automation in various labs, designing the IT architecture from the ground up to support the large scale data needs of CryoEM, and working on building out our High Performance Computing Clusters.
In my spare time, I enjoy artisanal coffee, photography, powerlifting, cooking, spending time with my wife and our new golden retriever puppy, and traveling the world. COVID has restricted most of these activities, but I recently broke a personal record by deadlifting 500 pounds.
Development Plan
As a pragmatist, I like to blend theoretical and academic learning with hands-on experimentation. This year’s development emphasis will be around refining my skill with algorithms, containerization technologies, influence and presentation skills.
- Deliver 2 presentations per quarter to continue to refine my public speaking and presentation skills
- Complete Computer Science Bachelors of Arts Degree at UC Berkeley. I would like to note that this has been a slow, yet steady progression due to the concurrent full-time work obligation.
- Complete remaining units at San Mateo Community College District (Skyline / CSM)
- Transfer into UC Berkeley in Fall of 2022
- Complete BA Computer Science by 2024/2025
- Gain experience working with Kubernetes and containerization frameworks by adopting AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service.
- Planned Reading for 2021:
- The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven S. Skiena
- Algorithms by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne
- Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change by Joseph Grenny