I’m a researcher with interests in program synthesis, metaheuristic optimisation,
machine learning, and computational creativity. I’m
especially interested in the study of representations and fitness
landscapes for evolutionary algorithms, genetic programming,
optimisation and graph problems, and interactive evolutionary
computation as a tool in creative workflows. Some further keywords: automatic programming; machine learning;
evolutionary computation; grammatical evolution; art, music and design; regression and
classification; minimum description length; optimisation;
metaheuristics.
As of August 2026, unfortunately I do not have any opportunities to offer in MSc and PhD research. Strong candidates interested in applying to postdoctoral research schemes are encouraged to contact me with an informal email describing overlap of research interests.
Links
I was lucky to be the supervisor, co-supervisor, or mentor of the following excellent researchers who have now finished and moved on to exciting new positions and projects:
- Filipe Assunção worked on grammars and generative graphics, graduated MSc, University of Coimbra, 2015. Moved on to become Lead Research Scientist at OutSystems, Lisbon.
- Loi Van Cao worked on neural networks and other approaches to anomaly detection applied to intrusion detection, graduated PhD, UCD Computer Science, 2018. Moved on to become Lecturer at Le Quy Don University, Vietnam.
- Stefano Mauceri worked on neural networks and other approaches to time series classification, graduated PhD, UCD Business, 2020. Moved on to work in Huawei Ireland.
- Michael Mescal worked on integrating building performance with generative design, graduated PhD, UCD, 2023, co-supervised with Prof. Beth Shotton, UCD. Moved on to work in ATU Architecture.
- Abdul Shahid, post-doc researcher in University of Galway, working on knowledge graphs as part of Polifonia. Moved on to work as a lecturer in National College of Ireland.
- Pushkar Jajoria, was Research Assistant in University of Galway, working on drum patterns and diffusion neural networks, lyrics alignment, and user interfaces for patterns as part of Polifonia. Moved on to pursue PhD research at University of Saarbrucken, Germany.
- Danny Diamond, research MSc student in University of Galway, working on pattern discovery in traditional Irish dance music as part of Polifonia. Co-supervised with Mathieu d’Aquin, LORIA Lab, Université de Lorraine, France. Continuing performance and teaching.
- Róisín (Jiaolin) Luo, PhD researcher in University of Galway working on robustness of neural network models, as part of the Research Ireland Centre for Research Training in AI. Co-supervised with Prof. Colm O’Riordan. Now pursuing postdoctoral research in agent-based systems, deep learning, and climate, with Prof. Karyn Morrissey, School of Business and Economics, University of Galway.
- Fitria Wulandari, PhD student in University of Galway, working on genetic programming and symbolic regression, as part of the SFI Centre for Research Training in AI. Currently seeking postdoctoral research opportunities.
- Vikrant Singh Jamwal Research Assistant in University of Galway, working on data analysis and anomaly detection for optimisation and real-time control of wastewater treatment plants, as part of a project funded by Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. and co-funded by Research Ireland, 2024-2026. Now working as an AI software engineer with Aiton.
Current research team
- Maziar Kanani, PhD student in University of Galway, working on generative music with algorithmic information theory approaches and program synthesis, as part of the SFI D-REAL Centre for Research Training . Co-supervised with Dr. Seán O’Leary, Dublin City University.
- Chloe Dalton, PhD researcher in University of Galway and in Ward & Burke Construction Ltd., working on data science and machine learning for optimisation and real-time control of wastewater treatment plants, as part of a project funded by Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. and co-funded by Research Ireland. Co-supervised with Prof. Eoghan Clifford, Civil Engineering, University of Galway.
- Rory Sweeney, PhD researcher in University of Galway, working on genetic programming for optimisation and real-time control of wastewater treatment plants, as part of a project funded by Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. and co-funded by Research Ireland. Co-supervised with Dr. Takfarinas Saber, School of Computer Science and Prof. Eoghan Clifford, Civil Engineering, University of Galway. Previously Research Assistant on the Insight II Platform project (working on detecting patterns in music) and previously the Polifonia project (working on UIs for exploring patterns in music).
- Ronan Timon, Research Assistant in University of Galway, working on time-series analysis for optimisation and real-time control of wastewater treatment plants, as part of a project funded by Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. and co-funded by Research Ireland.
- Alaz Okudan, PhD researcher in the Centre for Creative Technologies in the College of Arts, University of Galway, working on aesthetics and AI. Co-supervised with Dr. Padraic Killeen, School of English, Media and Creative Arts, University of Galway.
- Joao Duarte, PhD researcher in Dublin City University, working on physically-informed sound synthesis. Co-supervised with Prof. Seán O’Leary, Dublin City University.
Code
This site contains code for some of my projects, and for other
projects code and information is available elsewhere: