Rob studied for a BSc Mathematics and Statistics, at the University of Reading. Thereafter, having particularly enjoyed the statistics side of his degree, he stayed on at Reading to study for a genetics-based Statistics PhD. When looking for work, he followed up an advertisement on the mailing list Allstat for a position as a quantitative analyst at Smartodds, a fledgling start-up statistical consultancy which undertook statistical research and provided sports modelling services in the betting sector. After working for a little more than four years at Smartodds, he started up his own company, Global Sports Statistics.