Dr Fiona Polack YCCSA/Computer Science I am interested in the engineering and use of simulations of complex systems (as well as a range of computer science issues relating to the design of complex systems). In complex systems simulation, I work on development and validation (fitness for purpose) of agent simulations for biological systems, based on collaboration between laboratory scientists and computer scientists. I aim to extend this work, and would consider supervision of collaborative simulation research using any modelling approach, and potentially in any area of complex systems research. I am particularly interested in progressing the modelling and simulation of prostate cell division and differentiation, with a view to modelling cancer neogenesis: work started last year with Norman Maitland's YCR Cancer Lab. We have been seeking funding to take this research further: currently there is a complete design, and an incomplete prototype, of the first phase of cell modelling. There next phase involves tying down the biological parametrisation and completing the basic simulation. This will be followed by introduction of mutation and heritability. The completed simulation will be used to explore how scenarios from laboratory research can arise from the natural mutability and heritability processes of cell differentiation and division. I would also be interested in new simulation collaborations in relation to immune system functions, disease and intervention. It would be interesting to relate the cell level modelling to appropriate immunological research. Research in complex systems simulation gives rise to a wide range of interesting questions, over and above the scientific questions that we attempt to address through simulation. Technical issues relate to the modelling of complex parallel systems, the mapping of models to parallel computer platforms, the verification of complex simulations (is the code and design technically accurate?), and the demonstration of fitness for purpose. In the scientific domain, there are questions about how hypotheses are developed for, and from, simulation exercises; how to understand, express, and work with the limitations of simulation; how to manage the process of expert input to collaborative simulation. Doctoral research could focus on any aspect or related set of aspects of this area. Computer programming is needed, but there are many competent PhD students and researchers who can offer advice and support - the programming language and platform can be selected to suit the interest and ability of the researcher. Any project that I supervise must take the engineering of the simulation seriously: this is necessary to ascertain the fitness-for-purpose of the simulation and results. At least an outline understanding of the CoSMoS (Complex Systems Modelling and Simulation) process is necessary. Teodor Ghetiu, a final-year RS, is researching validation - fitness for purpose - of simulations, and can provide useful insight into the problems and benefits of this approach to simulation, whilst members of Jon Timmis's immune modelling group have extensive experience of the practical use of collaborative simulation. Publications relating to simulation can be found on the CoSMoS project website, http://www.cosmos-research.org/ A fairly complete list of my publications is available at http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/~fiona/PUBS/recent.html -------- Completed PhDs: 1. Thitima (Jill) Srivatanakul, Methods for security, 2001-04 (with Prof. J. A. Clark) PhD awarded September 2005. 2. Nuno Amalio, Formal software engineering, (with S. Stepney), PhD awarded February 2007. 3. Dimitrios Kolovos, Model consistency and composition, 2005-07 (with R. F. Paige)), PhD awarded December 2008. 4. Xiaocheng Ge, Engineering secure databases, 2002-07 (with R. F. Paige), PhD awarded December 2008. 5. Louis Rose, Model driven engineering, 2007-10 (with R. F. Paige), PhD awarded October 2011. 6. Andrew Weeks, Non-standard computation, 2005-8 (with S. Stepney): submitted March 2010: referred and resubmitted September 2011. 7. Malihe Tabatabaie, 2007-10 (with R. F. Paige): submitted summer 2011: referred and resubmitted December 2011 In addition to the above, I have 4 current PhD students and one EngD student, and am assessor (TAP lead) for 6 current PhDs, 5 completed PhDs, and 4 completed MScs. I have been external examiner for 4 doctoral examinations and one MSc (including two overseas).