Author Archives: admin

Nov 2007 Appointed PI, TRIL Technology Platform Strand

Myself and Prof. Paddy Nixon are the two new Co-Principal Investigators into the TRIL Technology Platform Strand with a team of about 7 currently based in Engineering. TRIL represents a total investment by Intel and the IDA of around $30 million in the Technology Research for Independent Living Centre (TRIL). In the coming months we will be having a series of events to highlight our research to the Technology Platform Strand team and for them to showcase their impressive work to us here in the SRG and CSI.

Past News Item http://www.ucd.ie/news/feb07/020107_ageing_research.html

Oct 2007 Dagstuhl Seminar Invitation

I have been invited to attend a Dagstuhl Seminar in May of 2008 on Graph Drawing with Applications to Bioinformatics and Social Sciences. This is a very timely event for me, as I am working with a number of grad students, namely Mike Bennett, Mike Farrugia and Eamon Phelan on just these two areas. In addition Brendan Sheehan MSc, one of my grad students, has been developing the research and method behind CellTransformer: A Tool to Generate Reaction Networks through Graph Transformation. The timing is a little tight as I need to fly to Australia shortly afterwards where I’m the Late Breaking Results Co-Chair for Pervasive 2008, the Sixth International Conference on Pervasive Computing.

I’m looking forward to hearing about work in both Bioinformatics and the Social Sciences and any new techniques and applications that are emerging.

To quote to organisers!

“Automated graph drawing deals with the layout of relational data arising from computer science (data base design, data mining, software engineering), and other sciences such as bioinformatics (metabolic networks, protein-protein interaction), business informatics (business process models), and criminalistics (social networks, phone-call graphs). In mathematical terms, such relational data are modeled as graphs or more general structures such as hypergraphs, clustered graphs, or compound graphs. Graph drawing communicates the relational information through diagrams drawn in the plane. The main objective is to display the data in a meaningful fashion, that is, in a way that shows well the underlying structures, and that often depends on the application domain.

In this seminar, we will to focus on graph drawing in two important application domains: bioinformatics (metabolic pathways, regulatory networks, protein-protein interaction) and social sciences and criminalistics (case information diagrams, phone-call graphs). In both application domains, the underlying information is usually stored in large data bases constituting a huge and complex graph, but only a suitable fraction of this graph is visualized and the exploration of the underlying graph is guided by the user. Thus, the user becomes a central actor that triggers dynamic updates of the displayed graph and its layout. The support of application-specific update functionality in conjunction with high quality graph layout is essential in order to gain user acceptance in the targeted application areas.”

Oct 2007 Three Open Postdoc Posts

3 postdoctoral research positions available in:

* wireless sensor networks
* software engineering for autonomic systems
* enterprise systems engineering

Systems Research Group
School of Computer Science and Informatics
UCD Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

The group
=========

UCD’s Systems Research Group conducts world-recognised research in
software and systems engineering, with particular emphasis on
pervasive computing, autonomic communications, software development of
dependable systems, complex systems visualisation and embedded systems
design. SRG is unique in spanning the range of systems disciplines
from hardware and programming up to mathematical modeling and
analysis, and places great emphasis on collaborative research that
leverages this expertise. The group is accommodated within UCD’s
Complex and Adaptive Systems Laboratory (CASL, http://casl.ucd.ie/), a
groundbraking facility that brings together researchers in computer
science, mathematics, bioinformatics, physical and earth sciences to
conduct researech in a highly cross-disciplinary environment. SRG
currently consists of five academic staff, three postdoctoral
researchers and around 30 graduate students (almost all fully-funded)
studying both full- and part-time for advanced degrees. The group has
a current grant portfolio worth over EUR3.5M and a publication output
of over 30 papers per year in world-leading conferences and journals.

As part of its on-going research programme, SRG has vacancies for
three talented and well-motivated postdoctoral researchers to help
drive the group’s evolution. Suitable candidates will have a
successful academic record to doctoral level, together with a
portfolio of internationally peer-reviewed conference and journal
publications and evidence of significant future potential in
research. Furthermore they will be expected to engage broadly in the
development of the group, the supervision of graduate students and
other activities.

Salaries for all three posts will be in the range EUR37,886 –
EUR46,043 depending on qualifications and experience. All posts are of
two years’ durattion with the possibility of extension, and will be
probational for the first 12 months.

The positions
=============

Postdoctoral researcher in wireless sensor networks
—————————————————

The successful candidate will conduct and manage research in the area
of wireless sensor networks embedded into the built environment,
providing advanced sensor and actuator capabilities within built
artefacts. This will take place within the framework of a large-scale
collaboration managed by Cork Institute of Technology and including
several other Irish universities and public bodies, which will also
fund two studentships in the area. A track record of research in one
or more of pervasive computing, network analysis, embedded systems
development and systems architecture are essential, as is a
willingness to learn and work in a variety of new areas. Further
particulars can be obtained from Dr Simon Dobson
(simon.dobson@ucd.ie).

Postdoctoral researcher in software engineering for autonomic systems
———————————————————————

The successful candidate will work in conjunction with LERO, the Irish
Software Engineering Research Centre (http://www.lero.ie) to conduct
research into improving the principles and practice of engineering
autonomic systems — self-managing, self-optimising, self-healing and
so forth. Current interests include programming languages and
approaches, middleware, complex systems visualisation, and
mathematical models of software engineering, and a track record in one
or more of these areas are essential. The researcher will join a team
including an exisiting postdoc and four fully-funded graduate
students. Further particulars can be obtained from Dr Aaron Quigley
(aaron.quigley@ucd.ie).

Postdoctoral researcher in enterprise systems engineering
———————————————————

The successful candidate will work in collaboration with Oracle
Ireland Ltd on the development of improved models and techniques for
diagnosing, predicting and managing faults and failures within
large-scale distributed software systems. A track record in one or
more of distributed systems, autonomic computing, dependable systems,
fault-tolerance and fault analysis are essential. Further particulars
may be obtained from Prof Paddy Nixon (paddy.nixon@ucd.ie).

To apply
========

Please direct expressions of interest (including short CV) to the
contact individual named above for the specific post of
interest. Applications will be accepted until all posts are filled.

CASL Logo

Oct 2007 European Patent Office Invention Filed

As part of my role as an IBM CAS Visiting Scientist I work with Extreme Blue groups during the summer period. Three of my former UCD honours student Keith, Cheryl and Darin have ended up on Extreme Blue. I consider it to be an exceptional opportunity for any grad to understand and experience industrial R&D. My involvement with Extreme Blue is a collaboration and often results in invention disclosures and from time to time a patent is filed. One such patent for a mobile recommendation invention was recently filed in Europe and we expect a follow up international application in the months to come.

Oct 2007 Tom Holland starts as IRCSET funded postgrad

I would like to welcome Tom Holland who recently started his Ph.D. with the Systems Research Group in the UCD Complex and Adaptive Systems Laboratory under my supervision with Prof. Paddy Nixon. Tom is starting his research in the area of richly sensorised pervasive computing environments. Tom has received a full scholarship from the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). He is already busy at work on the course work component of his structured PhD program, a small Ubisense location project and we have had initial contacts with an industrial partner for collaboration on his research. Tom completed his B.Sc. in Internet Computing at the University of Hull in 2006 and previously spent 3 years in commercial development roles with digital agencies in Newcastle Upon Tyne and most recently with Acknowledgement Ltd. in London. Welcome to the SRG Tom and your first paper deadline is April for UbiComp 2008!

Sept 2007 CellTransformer: A Tool to Generate Reaction Networks through Graph Transformation

Brendan Sheehan MSc, one of the PhD scholars I supervise is off to The Eighth International Conference on Systems Biology, Long Beach California Oct 1-6, 2007. He is attending various tutorials and presenting a poster on his research, namely: “CellTransformer: A Tool to Generate Reaction Networks through Graph Transformation“

ICSB 2007

Abstract:
Rule-based models provide a declarative means to construct a computational model of biological systems. Rules specify how the model can evolve over time by transforming the underlying data or model into its next state. Most rule-based systems operate on strings. Graph transformation systems (GTS) can provide a more direct and intuitive description of many kinds of biological data such as protein-interaction data and data relating to cell-signalling pathways. Here we implement the GTS based formalism defined by Blinov et al to help generate molecular reactions based on rules that describe interactions between protein domains. We use the GTS tool AGG to implement the tool as a plugin for the forthcoming version of CellDesigner.
by Sheehan and Quigley.

Sept 2007 Masterclass in Software Architecture

Next week along with a few invited software architecture leaders and members of UK and Irish academia I am attending an IBM Masterclass. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to learn more about this area due to my work with Lero, the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre.

Grady Booch Software Architecture Masterclass 13th and 14th September 2007 Royal Academy of Engineering, London

The objectives include:
• Sharing participant understanding of the state of the art
• Exploring opportunities for research
• Identifying curriculum needs and ways of meeting them
• Exploring opportunities for collaborative initiatives
• Strengthening relationships between academia and IBM

Following a keynote from IBM Fellow Grady Booch, participants will break out into a succession of affinity groups to share understanding and experience, and discuss further initiatives.

Aug 2007 ODCSSS research internship

[ ODCSSS Feed ]

Over the past 12 weeks we have had 24 students from around the world working on 12 research projects in DCU and 12 projects in UCD. The site involved two directors, myself and Dr. Gabriel Muntean in DCU along with 24 supervisors and dozens of mentors and postgraduate students. The experience for the students was a very good one and the research outcomes are still being distilled into research publication (5+ so far) along with follow on research projects.

ODCSSS is an SFI funded Undergraduate Research Experience and Knowledge Award that we were awarded through a competitive grant process in late 2006. This site lasts for 3 years and the grant supported the intake in 2007 and will do so again in 2008 and 2009. We hope the theme for 2008 will grow out of our experience, projects, students and mentors from 2007. While running this site was a lot of work, the opportunity to see undergraduate students engaging in computer science research is invaluable for them and for the further development of 4th level Ireland.

Friday the 24th of August saw the final research day for the DCU-UCD ODCSSS UREKA research site. This event held at DCU attracted over 60 people and was of great interest to all. Starting with a prize giving ceremony and introductions the day progressed to the main research event which was held as a research poster session. The event finished with a certificate presentation to all 24 students who participated in this years research internship. Other events from this day included a tour and a social event see [ ODCSSS Feed ].

An email from the SFI came out today to announce the calls for other people to apply for a UREKA grant. I’m including it here in case any academic in Ireland would like to talk to us about our experience in developing and running a UREKA site.

From the SFI:
Proposals for the 2008 Undergraduate Research Experience and Knowledge Award (UREKA) are now invited.
Application submission deadline for UREKA Sites and International Exchange Programme is 1pm on Friday, October 26th 2007
Application submission deadline for UREKA Supplements: 1pm on Friday, 25th January 2008

Aug 2007 Session Chair P2P 2007

Having Daniel Cutting as a PhD student brought me into the area of peer to peer computing. Building on my own background in systems research this exposure brought a new found interest in overlay networks and a renewed interest in distributed systems. We published a paper at Peer to Peer 2006 and based on this and conference interactions I was invited onto the program committee for P2P 2007, the Seveth IEEE International Conference on Peer-to-Peer Computing in Galway Ireland. I’m looking forward to this conference as we have recently had two P2P journal papers accepted and two of my new graduate students in the SRG in UCD will be looking into P2P research as part of their Pervasive Computing studies. It’s nice to be involved in an evolving and expanding research area, going from strength to strength, with broader application and research.

Aug 2007 Peer to Peer Journal Papers [Daniel Cutting]

Computer Journal

Along with Daniel Cutting and Bjorn Landfeldt we have recently had two Journal papers accepted. Daniel was my first PhD student who submitted his thesis on Implicit Group Messaging on P2P network in June of 2007.

The first paper “Special interest messaging with SPICE” will be published by The Computer Journal.

“The Computer Journal publishes research papers in a full range of subject areas, as well as regular feature articles and occasional themed issues to enable readers to easily access information outside their direct area of research. The journal provides a complete overview of developments in the field of Computer Science.” This paper presents what we feel is a new and novel form of mass group communication. Will this form of group communication take off? It’s difficult to say but clearly we will break away from just consumer directed information seeking which is limited and is bound to change.

The second paper “SPICE: Scalable P2P Implicit Group Messaging” has been accepted for publication in The Journal of Computer Communication’s Special issue on Foundation of Peer-to-Peer Computing.

“Computer Communications is an peer-reviewed international journal for those involved in designing and building the data communications systems of the future. It provides engineers, researchers, and consultants and systems managers in academia and industry with state-of-the-art papers on practical developments in computer- and tele-communications technology.” This paper shows how a decentralised peer to peer solution can support Implicit Group Messaging in a scaleable and global manner. The work in this paper shows that new and novel forms of group communication can be facilitated by peer to peer networks with little strain in the network. A range of comprehensive and interesting “fairness” measures are presented and are used to show that the approach taken is fair both locally and globally.

ComCom logo