Research associate · Imperial College London

Daniel O'Hanlon

I am a research scientist using machine learning, statistical modelling, and high-performance computing to study complex scientific systems; from particle physics at the Large Hadron Collider to dynamical models in computational biology.

View all projects GitHub

Biology

NumPyro · JAX

Valinor

Hierarchical bayesian models to discover genetic interactions with CRISPR double knock-out data

Computing

Types · Python

Typegeist

Phantom types for robust hierarchical Bayesian models.

Biology

NumPyro · PyTorch

Cell motility

Bayesian inference via Markov chain Monte Carlo and simulation-based inference for cell motility from live-cell imaging.

Selected work

Biology

NumPyro · Python

brioche

Bayesian tests for set enrichment

JAX · GPU · Python

yeet

GPU accelerated self-propelled vertex models in JAX.

JAX · GPU · Python

SSA

GPU accelerated stochastic simulation in JAX.

OpenMP · C++

Mimiq

Fast pairwise mutual information.

Physics

Visualisation · Javascript

squareDalitzVis

Visualisation between conventional and square transformations

Gaussian Processes · Python

AmpAnGP

Gaussian processes for efficiency and background distributions

Bayesian · Python

Glasnost

Bayesian and maximum likelihood mass fits

Detectors · Simulation · Python

ParametricVELO

Fast simulation of the LHCb upgrade VELO detector

Optics · Python

MagicWindow

Laplacian magic window caustic mesh generation

Hardware

IPU · C++

congenial-octo-fiesta

Parallel Goodman & Weare MCMC sampling on Graphcore IPU hardware

GPU · IPU · TensorFlow · C++

IPU4HEP

Kalman filters on GPUs and Graphcore IPUs

LIDAR · Python

hlds_lidar

HLDS lidar asyncio interface

pico_water

Automated plant watering with Raspberry Pi Pico

Electronics · Python

Isaac

Software and breakout PCB designs for Osram multispectral sensors.

Optimisation

JAX · Python

crossover

Speaker driver crossover optimisation in JAX

CP-SAT · Python

wadjet

Electronics stripboard component placement optimisation with CP-SAT

LIDAR · Python

limao

Local projected sunlight intensities from LIDAR

Computer stuff

Blender · Python

ah-hideous

Ray-traced histograms in Blender

PyTorch · Python

birdCam

Bird feeder webcam dashboard and classification model.

Docker · AWS · Python

Scrum

Live TFL tube occupancy estimation and containerised web app.

Rust

Sim2DLD

Lidar simulation in 2D for optimising SLAM algorithms.

Selected publications

Fast mutual information estimation for single cell transcriptomics with MIMIQ

O'Hanlon, et al.

biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.10.717770v1

Accelerated information-theory metrics for gene regulation, with application to gene rewiring in COVID-19.

Phantom types for robust hierarchical models with typegeist

O'Hanlon

arxiv:2510.26726 (2025)

A type system for probabilistic programming languages that enables verifiable information flow in hierarchical Bayesian models.

No Country for Old Frameworks? Vertex Models and Their Ongoing Reinvention to Study Tissue Dynamics

Brinas-Pascual, et al.

Biophysica 2024, 4(4), 586-603

Review of vertex models for tissue modelling.

A Comparison of CPU and GPU Implementations for the LHCb Experiment Run 3 Trigger

R. Aaij, et al.

Comput. Softw. Big Sci. 6, 1, (2022)

Benchmarks of CPU and GPU implementations of the first state of the LHCb high-level trigger.

Efficient description of experimental effects in amplitude analyses

Mathad, et al.

J. Instrum. 16 (2021) 06, P06016

Neural network and Gaussian-process models to describe experimental effects with limited calibration data. Used in the discovery of a novel four-quark state.

Studying the potential of Graphcore IPUs for applications in Particle Physics

Ram, et al.

Comput Softw Big Sci 5, 8 (2021)

The first publication exploring Graphcore IPU AI accelerators for scientific applications, and comparing this with GPU implementation. Established areas where these hold a performance or efficiency advantage over conventional HPC and GPUs.

Observation of several sources of CP violation in B⁺ → π⁺π⁺π⁻ decays

LHCb Collaboration

Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 031801 (2020)

The first observation of a novel charge-parity symmetry violation phenomenon in hadronic interference effects. Selected as an `Editor's suggestion', and to feature in the American Physical Society magazine `Physics viewpoints'.

Amplitude analysis of the B⁺ → π⁺π⁺π⁻ decay

LHCb Collaboration

Phys. Rev. D 101, 012006 (2020)

Three multi-dimensional quantum-mechanical amplitude models used to quantify the the nature of charge-parity symmetry violation in this decay. Selected as an `Editor's suggestion'.

Report from WG4 : Opportunities in Flavour Physics at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC

LHCb Collaboration

CERN Yellow Rep. 7 (2019) 867-1158

Sensitivity projects of flavour physics parameters for the High-Luminosity LHC

Laura++: A Dalitz plot fitter

Back, et al.

Comp. Phys. Comm. 231 (2018) 198-242

Decay amplitude analysis inference package. Used and extended by numerous experimental and theoretical groups as a reference implementation of three-body decay amplitudes, and for the discovery of several novel bound states.

Observations of Λ_b⁰ → Λ K⁺π⁻ and Λ_b⁰ → Λ K⁺K⁻ decays, and searches for other Λ_b⁰ and Ξ_b⁰ decays to Λ h⁺h⁻

LHCb Collaboration

JHEP 1605 (2016) 081}

The first measurement of charge-parity symmetry violation in three-body beauty baryon decays.

Contact

dpohanlon@proton.me

PGP key

Daniel O'Hanlon

Valinor

Typegeist

Cell motility

Biology

brioche

yeet

SSA

Mimiq

Physics

squareDalitzVis

AmpAnGP

Glasnost

ParametricVELO

MagicWindow

Hardware

congenial-octo-fiesta

IPU4HEP

hlds_lidar

pico_water

Isaac

Optimisation

crossover

wadjet

limao

Computer stuff

ah-hideous

birdCam

Scrum

Sim2DLD

Fast mutual information estimation for single cell transcriptomics with MIMIQ

Phantom types for robust hierarchical models with typegeist

No Country for Old Frameworks? Vertex Models and Their Ongoing Reinvention to Study Tissue Dynamics

A Comparison of CPU and GPU Implementations for the LHCb Experiment Run 3 Trigger

Efficient description of experimental effects in amplitude analyses

Studying the potential of Graphcore IPUs for applications in Particle Physics

Observation of several sources of CP violation in B+ → π+π+π− decays

Amplitude analysis of the B+ → π+π+π− decay

Report from WG4 : Opportunities in Flavour Physics at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC

Laura++: A Dalitz plot fitter

Observations of Λb0 → Λ K+π− and Λb0 → Λ K+K− decays, and searches for other Λb0 and Ξb0 decays to Λ h+h−

Observation of several sources of CP violation in B⁺ → π⁺π⁺π⁻ decays

Amplitude analysis of the B⁺ → π⁺π⁺π⁻ decay

Observations of Λ_b⁰ → Λ K⁺π⁻ and Λ_b⁰ → Λ K⁺K⁻ decays, and searches for other Λ_b⁰ and Ξ_b⁰ decays to Λ h⁺h⁻