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Research Interests
My PhD is focused on data mining and machine learning for bioinformatics and medical applications.
In particular, at the moment I am working on the application of Bayesian Networks to learn gene regulatory networks from multiple types and sets of data. As part of this research, I collaborate closely with
biologists at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands on the use of muscular dystrophy gene expression data and experts in Biosemantics at Erasmus University, Rotterdam (Netherlands) on the use of literature and text-based data sources.
More detail on my research to date can be found on the Research page and a list of my publications can be found here.
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Background
I obtained my first degree from the University of Bath in Mathematics (First Class Honours) in July 2002.
After graduating I worked for QinetiQ for three and a half years. QinetiQ is formerly the UK MOD's research arm (DERA), now privatised, it is the largest science and technology company in Europe. Simply put if you can think of anything to do with scientific research,
they probably do it! For example, they are responsible for the development of radar, and inventions such as thermal imaging, carbon fibre, and LCD screens.
I was involved in machine learning and data mining at QinetiQ and my research there was focused on
inductive logic programming (ILP) for a wide range of machine learning problems, such as increasing
intelligence in autonomous systems and high-level
image processing using picture grammars.
Pursuing a PhD had been one of my goals for a while whilst developing my research skills at QinetiQ. In March 2006 I decided to
join the Centre for Intelligent Data Analysis (CIDA) group at Brunel in order to research for my PhD full-time. Whilst I am still continuing in the data mining/machine learning field, I
am excited to be looking at new techniques and new applications in the bioinformatics and medical domains.
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Other interests
I enjoy travelling to new places and countries, learning new languages, although that could probably be better described
as "going on holiday". I try to keep fit and aside from regular 'body combat' classes (basically jumping and kicking and punching the air in time to music!)
I regularly take part in half-marathons and long distance races – I am currently in training for a local half marathon.
I am also attempting to learn to surf. Having invested in a wetsuit, and hopefully soon in a board as well, I spend holidays in Devon and Cornwall improving and having fun :-)
And I like to put on the calories I burn off with all this exercise by cooking (and subsequently eating!) good food.
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