Neil Pilgrim
About Neil Pilgrim
Neil Pilgrim is a developer with extensive experience in open source projects, particularly with the Zulip team-chat project, where he has served as a mentor and project lead. He has a strong academic background in physics and engineering, having earned a PhD from the University of Leeds and contributed to numerous publications in semiconductor physics.
Work at Zulip
Neil Pilgrim has been a developer at the Zulip open source project since 2017. He has contributed extensively to various aspects of the project, including the Python components and the zulip-terminal project, where he serves as project lead. His responsibilities include reviewing, contributing, and merging code. Since joining, he has authored over 900 merged commits across multiple Zulip projects, demonstrating his active involvement in the development process. Additionally, he has participated as a Google Summer of Code Mentor for three consecutive years, mentoring students in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Education and Expertise
Neil Pilgrim holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics and Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Leeds, which he completed from 1999 to 2003. He also studied Theoretical Physics at Durham University, earning an MSci (Hons) from 1995 to 1999. Furthering his education, he obtained a Certificate in Counselling Skills from the University of Aberdeen between 2013 and 2015. His academic background is complemented by his expertise in semiconductor physics, evidenced by his co-authorship of over 25 publications in the field.
Background
Neil Pilgrim has a diverse professional background that includes significant roles in academia and open source development. He worked at the University of Aberdeen in various capacities, including Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Course Coordinator, from 2004 to 2010. He also served as a Part-time Teaching Fellow for a year. Prior to his time at the University of Aberdeen, he was an Evening Supervisor at the University of Leeds from 2002 to 2004. His experience spans both educational and technical domains, providing a strong foundation for his current role in software development.
Contributions to Open Source Projects
Neil Pilgrim has made substantial contributions to the Zulip open source project, particularly in the Python aspects and various repositories, including the server and Python API. His work includes expanding a PhD Monte Carlo semiconductor device simulation to support multiple material systems and additional physical phenomena. He has developed skills in testing approaches such as unittest, pytest, travis, and mypy, which enhance the reliability and quality of the code he works on. His volunteer work at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI) for over two years further demonstrates his commitment to community engagement and education.