Curriculum Vitae
Rey Joseph Nieto
Contact
- Academic email: zo23232 (at) alumni (dot) bristol (dot) ac (dot) uk
- Personal email: rj (at) rjnieto (dot) com
Profile
I am studying for an MSc in Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy at University College London (UCL). I hold a First Class Honours BSc in Mathematics from the University of Bristol and currently teach mathematics and information technology at Bulacan State University. My research interests are in computational algebraic topology, persistent homology, and topology-informed computation, with a particular interest in the stability of measurements derived from images. I am also undertaking structured independent study in dynamical systems, functional analysis, and measure theory and probability.
Before returning to formal study in mathematics, I worked for many years in public affairs, journalism, broadcasting, technical writing, and strategic communications, including roles in government, national media, and digital publishing.
Education
MSc Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy
University College London (UCL)
September 2026–Present
My focus is the path from scientific and technical evidence to policy design, institutional implementation, and public communication, particularly in science and engineering advice, emerging-technology governance, risk, and responsible AI policy in the Philippines.
BSc Mathematics
University of Bristol
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
September 2023–June 2026 · First Class Honours
Final-year work focused on topological data analysis, applied machine learning, and computer vision. Selected marks included Mathematical Programming (94%), Combinatorics (93%), Artificial Intelligence (92%), and Analysis (90%). Alongside the mathematics programme, I completed a 40-credit first-year unit in Economics.
Final-year project: Computational Stability of Cubical Homology: Orthogonal Controls for Fault Isolation in Retinal Diagnostics (final paper mark: 90%). Developed a topology-informed framework for measuring acquisition stability and exploring a fault-isolation heuristic in digital images. Used a computable but conservative stability bound for the cubical-persistence model and built a parallelised Python pipeline to test simulated mechanical and radiometric degradations in retinal images.
Experience
Instructor (Mathematics and Information Technology)
Bulacan State University
2026–Present
Teach Mathematics in the Modern World and Living in the IT Era to undergraduate biology students. Develop original lecture notes, exercises, and supplementary materials covering mathematical reasoning, quantitative literacy, computing, online safety, and emerging technologies, with examples drawn from biology, health, and data analysis.
Mathematical Programming Demonstrator
University of Bristol
2025–2026
Supported second-year mathematics students in computational problem-solving, numerical methods, debugging, and Python programming. Helped students translate mathematical ideas into working computational implementations.
Television Host
People’s Television Network
2024
Hosted the PTV-4 Pre-SONA Special with RJ Nieto, interviewing Cabinet officials regarding government programmes, policy implementation, and departmental performance.
Columnist
Manila Bulletin
2019–2023
Wrote the weekly opinion column Thinking Pinoy, covering government, politics, public policy, and socioeconomic affairs.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Thinking Pinoy
2015–2023
Founded and managed a digital public-affairs platform with more than two million followers across its social-media channels. Directed editorial work and produced commentary on governance, economic policy, foreign affairs, and national political developments.
Television Host and Commentator
SMNI News
2020–2022
Hosted a weekday current-affairs programme featuring policy analysis and interviews with government officials, public figures, and subject-matter specialists.
Radio Programme Co-host
Aliw Broadcasting Corporation
2017–2020
Provided political and public-policy analysis on Karambola, a daily current-affairs programme broadcast on DWIZ 882 AM.
Head of Strategic Communications (Content)
Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs
2017
Developed content and digital communication materials for the Department’s outreach to overseas Filipino workers. Helped present government policies, programmes, and consular information in accessible formats and supported engagement with the Filipino diaspora.
News Reporter
Sun.Star Davao
2009–2010
Conducted field reporting and interviews and wrote daily news and feature stories on government, community affairs, and other matters of public interest.
Selected public service and professional engagements
Project Lead
PPEniTP Initiative
2020–2021
Coordinated a civic initiative that distributed more than PHP 25 million worth of personal protective equipment to over 100 public and private hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Worked with donors, partner organisations, beneficiary institutions, and distribution teams.
Guest Lecturer
San Miguel Corporation Campus ED
2021
Delivered lecture-workshops on digital research for multimedia platforms to journalism and communication students at universities in Bulacan.
Guest Speaker
Armed Forces of the Philippines
2020
Delivered training to Media and Civil Affairs Group personnel on digital communications, social-media engagement, crisis messaging, community relations, and responsible public communication.
Guest Speaker
AboitizPower
2017
Presented digital communication and audience-engagement strategies to the company’s marketing and communications personnel.
Other professional experience
Proposal Writer
Ability with Innovation LLC, Dubai, UAE
2012–2015
Prepared technical and commercial proposals for government, supranational, and energy-sector clients. Edited colleagues’ work, helped train new members of the proposal team, coordinated input from subject-matter specialists, and supported regulatory compliance.
Freelance Technical Writer and Editor
oDesk and other platforms
2010–2015
Completed research, technical writing, editing, and digital-content assignments for more than 30 clients in North America, Europe, and Australia.
Skills
- Mathematical background: Analysis and metric spaces, linear algebra and linear models, probability and statistics, optimisation, combinatorics, group theory, logic, mathematical modelling, applied algebraic topology, and category-theoretic methods for filtrations and persistent homology
- Statistical machine learning and image analysis: Artificial intelligence, linear classification, feature standardisation, stratified cross-validation, computer vision, controlled ablation studies, and model evaluation
- Programming and scientific computing: Python, R, NumPy, SciPy, scikit-learn, OpenCV, GUDHI, Matplotlib, parallel processing, computational experimentation, and data visualisation
- Technical publishing and reproducibility: LaTeX, Quarto, Markdown, Git and GitHub, reproducible research workflows, and technical documentation
- Teaching and research: Curriculum and lecture-note development, mathematical exposition, literature review, and undergraduate instruction
- Communications: Public affairs, journalism, broadcasting, interviewing, editorial work, public speaking, and digital communications
- Programme delivery: Stakeholder engagement, proposal development, team training, and project coordination
Additional information
- Languages: English (fluent), Tagalog (fluent), Cebuano (elementary), and German (elementary)