Fiona Polack

Fiona Polack / +44 1904 325337 / fiona@cs.york.ac.uk

Senior Lecturer
Department of Computer Science, University of York

Fellow, Higher Education Academy (formerly Institute of Teaching and Learning).

A not-always-up-to-date copy of my CV is avialable in pdf (University format).

Research

Engineering nature-inspired and complex systems: see here for a recent summary of potential doctoral projects in this area.
Simulating complex scientific systems
Modelling, simulation, and validation of complex systems
Modelling and metamodelling
Model-driven software engineering
Formal and integrated software specification

Member of NSC research group, affiliate of the Enterprise Systems group, and Security, Modelling and Quantum teams or interest groups. Participant in York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis.

Current & recent collaborations and Grants

CoSMoS (Complex systems modelling and simulation infrastructure), led by Prof. Stepney (PI York), York, Prof. Peter Welch (PI Kent), with co-investigators Dr Fred barnes (Computer Science, Kent), Prof. Andy Tyrrell (Electronics, York), Prof. Jon Timmis (Computer Science and Electronic, York) and Prof. Christopher Alexander (architecture); and collaborators Dr Jim Bown (Abertay) and Prof. Alan Winfield (UWE). EPSRC grants EP/E053505/1 and EP/E049419/1, http://www.cosmos-research.org/

EPSRC grant EP/E053505/1, 2007-10, supporting capacity building in modelling and simulation techniques for complex systems.

TUNA (Theory Underpinning Nanite Assemblers), in collaboration with Prof. P. Welch, Kent; Prof. S. Schneider and Dr. H. Treharne, Surrey; Profs. Stepney (PI) and Woodcock and Dr Cavalcanti, York.

EPSRC grant EP/C516966/1, 2004-5, supporting a feasibility study on the engineering of emergent systems.

Rigorous information systems development, in collaboration with Prof. R. Laleau, Paris-12 Fontainebleau et IIE-CNAM, Paris (UML extensions, formality):

EPSRC grant 006R02664, 2003-6, supporting the Prof. Laleau as a visiting researcher (3 months over 3 years).

International Conference on Unconventional Computation 2006, with Susan Stepney (PI) and Jon Timmis:

EPSRC grant EP/D076420/1: costs related to running of conference, particularly of invited speakers. March 06 to Feb 07.

Research Degrees Supervised

Thitima (Jill) Srivatanakul, Methods for security, 2001-04 (with Prof. J. A. Clark) PhD awarded September 2005.
Nuno Amalio, Formal software engineering, (with S. Stepney), PhD awarded February 2007.
Dimitrios Kolovos, Model consistency and composition, 2005-07 (with R. F. Paige)), PhD awarded December 2008.
Xiaocheng Ge, Engineering secure databases, 2002-07 (with R. F. Paige), PhD awarded December 2008.
Louis Rose, Model driven engineering, 2007-10 (with R. F. Paige), PhD awarded 2011.

Current Research Supervision

Andrew Weeks, Non-standard computation, 2005-8 (with S. Stepney): submitted March 2010: referred and resubmitted (ongoing).
Malihe Tabatabaie, 2007-10 (with R. F. Paige): submitted summer 2011: referred (ongoing)
Nurulhuda Mohd Azmi, artificial immune systems 2008-11 (with J. Timmis: extension to 2012)
Teodor Ghetiu, Modelling and simulation (CoSMoS project), 2008-11 (with Dr Jim Bown, Abertay)
Asmiza Abdul Sani, model driven approaches and formal methods (with R. Paige) 2009-12
James Williams, model transformation (with R. Paige) 2010-2013
Paul Taylor, autonomous adaptation of business processes (EngD, BT sponsored) 2011-15

Other Research Matters

Chair, CoSMoS Special Session, ICECCS Conference, 2010
Member, Programme Committee, ICARIS Conference, 2010
Member, Programme Committee, ICARIS Conference, 2009
Member, Programme Committee, CEC Conference, 2009
Member, Programme Committee, CPA Conference, 2008
Member, Programme Committee, SPC Security in Pervasive Computing Conference, 2006
Member, Progamme Committee, International Conference of Z and B users (formally Z User Meeting), 2000-2005
Member, Progamme Committee, ICFEM International Conference on Formal Engineering Methods, 2005
IIE-CNAM Chercheur invitee, 1999 and 2001

Teaching

Computer Science Undergraduates:
- Skill, Knowledge and Independent Learning (2010-11, with 3 others: SKIL)
- Introduction to Computer Systems (To 2009, ICS)
- Modelling and System Design (To 2008, MSD)
- Metamodelling and Language Design (To 2007, MLD, with Dr R.F. Paige)
- Computer Science Writing(To 2005-06 and with Prof. H. Petrie from 2007-08)
Computer Science Masters:
- Emergence (EME, with Prof. Susan Stepney, MScNC)
- Design of Information Systems (2010-11: DIS)

Administrative responsibilities

As well as the following, I am one of about 50 University Harrassment Advisers (first-contacts for staff and students who think that they may be victims of harrassment).

Current and Recent Administrative responsibilities

Member, University Special Cases Committee
Co-ordinator for postgraduates who teach, Department of Computer Science (2010 onwards)
Member, University Promotions Committee (2010-11)
Elected member, University Senate (to 2009)
Member, University Promotions Committee: teaching sub-committee (2009-10)
Member, University Court (to 2009)
Member, University Student Skills Implementation Group (to 2009)
Member, University Senate Review Group (to 2009)

Examining

External Examiner, Research Degrees

External PhD Examiner, I. Wood, Teesside, UK, 2003 (Pass)
External MSc Examiner, G. Ravalli, Swinburne, Australia, 2003 (Referred)
External PhD Examiner, Chien-An Chen, Open, UK, 2007 (Pass)
External PhD Examiner, Martin Robbins, Aberystwyth, 2009 (Referred)
External PhD Examiner, Gavin Smith, University of South Australia, 2011

Internal Examiner, Research Degrees

Internal MSc Assessor: Yang Liu, 2003-4 (Pass).
Internal MSc Assessor: Hong (Alex) Lin, 2003-4 (Pass).
Internal MSc Assessor: Angela Freitas, 2004-5 (Distinction).
Internal PhD Assessor: Raman Ramsin, 2003-5 (Pass).
Internal PhD Assessor: Mohd Syazwan Abdullah, 2003-5 (Pass).
Internal PhD Assessor: Kester Clegg, 2005-8 (Pass).
Internal PhD Assessor: Paul Andrews, 2005-8 (Pass).
Internal PhD Assessor: Nicholas Drivalos Matragkas, 2006-11 (pass).
Internal MSc Assessor: Richard Greaves, 2010-11 (pass).

TAP (Internal Examiner), Research Degrees ongoing

Internal PhD Assessor: Linling Sun, 2008-11.
Internal PhD Assessor: Daniel Mayo, 2010-13.
Internal PhD Assessor: Xiaohu Liu (Electronics), 2010-13.
Internal PhD Assessor: Rafidah Pakir Mohamad, 2011-14.
Internal PhD Assessor: Masoumeh Taromirad, 2011-14.
Internal PhD Assessor: Alan Millard, 2011-14.

Current Degree Course External Examiner

none

Selected Recent Administrative responsibilities

Departmental lead, undergraduate and postraduate modular revision of all taught degrees, 2007-10.
Chairman, Board of Studies in Computer Science 2001-2004
External Examiner, BSc in Software Engineering, Westminster, 2006-2009
External Examiner, MSc in Information Systems, TASMAC India/University of Wales, 2008-termination of franchise, March 2010
External Examiner, MSc in Computer Science, Aberystwyth, 2000-2004
External Examiner, University of Wales BSc in Computer Science, franchised to A. de Nebrija, Madrid, 1998-2003