Fiona Polack

Senior Lecturer
Department of Computer Science, University of York

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

Recent publications

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

Research

• Engineering nature-inspired systems
• Modelling, simulation, and validation of complex systems
• Modelling and metamodelling
• Software engineering, eg. for security, with formality
• Formal and integrated software specification

Member of NSC research 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) Awarded September 2005.
• Nuno Amalio, Formal software engineering, (with S. Stepney), Awarded February 2007.
• Dimitrios Kolovos, Model consistency and composition, 2005-07 (with R. F. Paige)), Awarded December 2008.
• Xiaocheng Ge, Engineering secure databases, 2002-07 (with R. F. Paige), Awarded December 2008.

Current Research Supervision

• Andrew Weeks, Non-standard computation, 2005-8 (with S. Stepney)
• Louis Rose, Model driven engineering, 2007-10 (with R. F. Paige)
• Malihe Tabatabaie, 2007-10 (with R. F. Paige)
• Nurulhuda Mohd Azmi, artificial immune systems 2008-11 (with J. Timmis)
• 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

Other Research Matters

• 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:
  • Introduction to Computer Systems (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)

Administrative responsibilities

Current and Recent Administrative responsibilities

• Elected member, University Senate (to 2009)
• Member, Special Cases Committee
• Member, University Court (to 2009)
• Member, Student Skills Implementation Group (to 2009)
• Member, Senate Review Group (to 2009)

Examining

• 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)

• 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.
• Internal PhD Assessor: Nicholas Drivalos, 2006-09.
• Internal PhD Assessor: Linling Sun, 2008-11.

Current Degree Course External Examiner