Below is a list of topics for which I am currently looking for PhD students. Some of these topics are quite specific, while others are more open-ended and open to refinement into a specific topic. These should give you an idea of what I am interested in as a basis for further discussion. See also my notes on PhD study for more information.
I'm interested in the applications and foundations of model-driven engineering (MDE). I am also interested in computing education and empirical approaches to software-engineering research.
Applications of MDE
I am interested in the application of MDE principles to, and in particular the development of domain-specific languages for, a diverse range of different and complex domains. Below are some examples, but other application areas are also of interest.
Application of model-driven engineering to agent-based modelling
Agent-based modelling (ABM) has a large amount of technical complexity, but is often used by domain experts who want to develop a dedicated model and simulation, without deep technical knowledge. DSMLs should be able to help here.
Agent-based modelling (ABM) is an interesting domain because it has a large amount of technical complexity, but is often used by domain experts (for example for geo-political or economic applications) who want to develop a dedicated model and simulation, without deep technical knowledge. Developing a stack of new DSLs for use in different applications and domains is, therefore, of immediate benefit to the wider research and development community in a large range of domains.
Some relevant publications are listed below.
2020
Steffen Zschaler and Fiona Polack: A Family of Languages for Trustworthy Agent-Based Simulation. 13th International Conference on Software Language Engineering, 2020.
Distinguished Short Paper Award [pdf][http][bibtex][additional material] Refereed Conference Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Fiona Polack and Steffen Zschaler: Report on Workshop: Planning the Future of Agent Simulation. Artificial Life Journal 26(2), 2020.
[http] Unrefereed Publication, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Optimisation in model-driven engineering
Optimisation is an important technique in a wide range of domains, yet it is still woefully undersupported in MDE. We are currently developing a tool for integrating MDE and optimisation techniques and I am looking for more PhD students to help develop this tool in a number of directions.
Optimisation is an important technique in a wide range of domains, yet it is still woefully undersupported in MDE. We are currently developing a tool for integrating MDE and optimisation techniques and I am looking for more PhD students to help develop this tool in a number of directions, including:
Automatic generation of efficient problem-specific evolution operators (mutators and breeders).
Techniques for scaling search to large models, including automatic generation of efficient encodings and application of copy-on-write techniques.
Applications to large-scale modelling case studies.
Some relevant publications are listed below.
2020
Jens Kosiol, Daniel Strüber, Gabriele Taentzer, and Steffen Zschaler: Graph Consistency as a Graduated Property: Consistency-Sustaining and -Improving Graph Transformations. Proc. Int'l Conf. on Graph Transformations (ICGT'20), 2020.
EASST Best Paper Award [pdf] Refereed Conference Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2019
Alexandru Burdusel and Steffen Zschaler: Towards Scalable Search-Based Model Engineering. 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Model-driven Engineering, co-located with MoDELS'19, 2019.
[pdf] Refereed Workshop Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Alexandru Burdusel and Steffen Zschaler and Stefan John: Automatic Generation of Atomic Consistency Preserving Search Operators for Search-Based Model Engineering.. Technical Report, arXiv:1907.05647 [cs.AI], 2019.
Extended version of MODELS'19 paper. [pdf][http] Unrefereed Publication, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Alexandru Burdusel and Steffen Zschaler and Stefan John: Automatic Generation of Atomic Consistency Preserving Search Operators for Search-Based Model Engineering. IEEE / ACM 22nd International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems (MODELS), 2019.
Acceptance rate: 22% [pdf][bibtex] Refereed Conference Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Stefan John, Alexandru Burdusel, Robert Bill, Daniel Strüber, Gabriele Taentzer, Steffen Zschaler, and Manuel Wimmer: Searching for Optimal Models: Comparing Two Encoding Approaches. 12th International Conference on Model Transformations (ICMT'19), 2019.
[pdf][bibtex][additional material] Refereed Conference Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2018
Alexandru Burdusel, Steffen Zschaler, Daniel Strüber: MDEOptimiser: A Search Based Model Engineering Tool. MODELS'18 tool demonstration track, 2018.
[http][bibtex][additional material] Poster, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Application of model-driven engineering to AI planning
AI planning is a very powerful tool for enabling computers to make decisions about the steps to take to achieve a particular goal. It can benefit from MDE to improve the ways in which AI plan specifications are expressed and created.
AI planning is a very powerful tool for enabling computers to make decisions about the steps to take to achieve a particular goal. Unfortunately, it currently requires all models of environments, problems, and possible solution tactics to be expressed in a very low-level language that is very difficult to use for domain experts with limited technical knowledge. Building a stack of DSLs on top of this low-level language will enable more wide-spread use of AI planning as well as providing opportunities for integrating additional services and external knowledgebases into the planning process.
Application of model-driven engineering to robotics
Robotics is a domain with particular challenges in expressing the complex physical structure and control requirements of robots as well as their adaptations at a high level while maintaining the ability to translate this into low-level constructions that can be used successfully to control and manage a robot.
Robotics is a domain with particular challenges in expressing the complex physical structure and control requirements of robots as well as their adaptations at a high level while maintaining the ability to translate this into low-level constructions that can be used successfully to control and manage a robot. I am particularly interested in how this might lead to self-aware and adaptive robot control in the face of changes in the environment or the robot's structure (e.g., through mechanical faults).
Some relevant publications are listed below.
2019
S.M.Hadi Sadati, S. Elnaz Naghibi, Ali Shiva, Brendan Michael, Ludovic Renson, Matthew Howard, Caleb D. Rucker, Kaspar Althoefer, Thrishantha Nanayakkara, Steffen Zschaler, Christos Bergeles, Helmut Hauser, and Ian D. Walker: TMTDyn: A Matlab Package for Modeling and Control of Hybrid Rigid-Continuum Robots Based on Discretized Lumped System and Reduced Order Models. International Journal of Robotics Research (to be published), 2019.
[pdf] Refereed Journal Article, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
S.M.Hadi Sadati, Steffen Zschaler, and Christos Bergeles: A MatLab-Internal DSL for Modelling Hybrid Rigid–Continuum Robots with TMTDyn. 6th International Workshop on Model-driven Robot Software Engineering, co-located with MoDELS'19, 2019.
[pdf] Refereed Workshop Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2018
S.M.Hadi Sadati, S. E. Naghibi, A. Shiva, Steffen Zschaler, H. Hauser, I. Walker, K. Althoefer and T. Nanayakkara: AutoTMTDyn: A Matlab Software Package to Drive TMT Lagrange Dynamics of Series Rigid- and Continuum-link
Mechanisms. IROS 2018 Soft Robotic Modeling and Control: Bringing Together Articulated Soft Robots and Soft-Bodied Robots, Madrid, Spain, 2018.
[pdf] Refereed Workshop Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Foundations of MDE
Foundations of MDE I am interested in include the use of graph transformations for verification and modularity.
Modularity in domain-specific languages
In prior work, we have developed methods for soundly composing DSLs whose semantics are provided operationally using graph-rewriting rules. I am looking for PhD students developing tool and automated verification support on top of this.
In prior work with Francisco Duran from the University of Malaga we have developed methods for soundly composing DSLs whose semantics are provided operationally using graph-rewriting rules. While the underlying formal machinery has been worked out quite well, substantial research and development is still required to realise tool support that can make this formal approach applicable in practical settings. This would make for an ideal PhD topic combining hands-on tool development with a sound formal underpinning.
Some relevant publications are listed below.
2019
Francisco Durán, Robert Heinrich, Diego Pérez-Palacín, Carolyn Talcott, and Steffen Zschaler: Composing Model-Based Analysis Tools. Dagstuhl Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 11, pp. 97-116. Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik, Dagstuhl Publishing, 2019.
[http] Unrefereed Publication, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity, Non-functional Properties Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2017
Francisco Durán, Antonio Moreno-Delgado, Fernando Orejas, and Steffen Zschaler: Amalgamation of Domain Specific Languages with Behaviour. Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming, 86(1): 208--235, Jan. 2017, 2017.
[pdf][http][bibtex] Refereed Journal Article, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity, Non-functional Properties Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2014
Antonio Moreno-Delgado, Francisco Durán, Steffen Zschaler, and Javier Troya: Modular DSLs for flexible analysis: An e-Motions reimplementation of Palladio. Proc. ECMFA 2014, 2014.
[pdf (The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com.)][http][bibtex] Refereed Conference Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity, Non-functional Properties Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2013
Steffen Zschaler and Francisco Durán: Verifiable Modularisation of DSMLs. MODULARITY: aosd'13, 13th Int'l Conf. on Aspect-Oriented Software Development, 2013.
[pdf] Poster, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Francisco Durán, Fernando Orejas, and Steffen Zschaler: Behaviour Protection in Modular Rule-Based System Specifications. Recent Trends in Algebraic Development Techniques: Revised Selected Papers WADT. Springer LNCS 7841, pp. 24--49, 2013.
[pdf ((c) Springer-Verlag)][http][bibtex] Refereed Book Chapter, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Javier Troya, Antonio Vallecillo, Francisco Durán, and Steffen Zschaler: Model-Driven Performance Analysis of Rule-Based Domain Specific Visual Models. Information and Software Technology 55(1):88--110, January 2013, 2013.
[http][bibtex] Refereed Journal Article, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Non-functional Properties Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2012
Francisco Duran, Steffen Zschaler, and Javier Troya: On the Reusable Specification of Non-functional Properties in DSLs. Proc. 5th Int'l Conf. on Software Language Engineering (SLE 2012), LNCS vol. 7745, pp. 332--351, Springer, 2012.
Acceptance rate: 32% [pdf (The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com.)][slides][http][bibtex][additional material] Refereed Conference Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity, Non-functional Properties Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Sound reuse of model transformations
We have previously identified fundamental problems in the reuse of model transformations. This PhD project aims to develop a reuse mechanism that takes model and transformation semantics into account for transformation reuse.
In joint work with Rick Salay and Marsha Chechik from the University of Toronto, we have identified fundamental problems in the reuse of model transformations. In particular, we have identified the lack of semantic information as a major barrier to sound reuse of model transformations. This PhD project aims to develop a reuse mechanism that takes model and transformation semantics into account for transformation reuse.
Some relevant publications are listed below.
2019
Francisco Durán, Robert Heinrich, Diego Pérez-Palacín, Carolyn Talcott, and Steffen Zschaler: Composing Model-Based Analysis Tools. Dagstuhl Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 11, pp. 97-116. Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Informatik, Dagstuhl Publishing, 2019.
[http] Unrefereed Publication, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity, Non-functional Properties Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2017
Francisco Durán, Antonio Moreno-Delgado, Fernando Orejas, and Steffen Zschaler: Amalgamation of Domain Specific Languages with Behaviour. Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming, 86(1): 208--235, Jan. 2017, 2017.
[pdf][http][bibtex] Refereed Journal Article, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity, Non-functional Properties Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2016
Rick Salay, Steffen Zschaler, and Marsha Chechik: Correct Reuse of Transformations is Hard to Guarantee. 9th International Conference on Model Transformations (ICMT'16), 2016.
[slides][http][bibtex] Refereed Conference Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development, Modularity Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2015
Rick Salay, Steffen Zschaler, and Marsha Chechik: Transformation reuse: What is the intent?. Proc. 4th Workshop on the Analysis of Model Transformations (AMT'15), 2015.
[pdf][http] Refereed Workshop Paper, research areas: Model-Driven Development Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Computer Science Education
I'm looking for PhD students to support my research in computer-science education.
Understanding how students learn to program
We have been doing some initial work using qualitative studies to improve our understanding of how students learn programming. More work is needed in this area and I am looking for PhD students to help with this work.
We have been doing some initial work using qualitative studies to improve our understanding of how students learn programming. More work is needed in this area and I am looking for PhD students to help with this work.
Some relevant publications are listed below.
2019
Lucy Yeomans, Steffen Zschaler, and Kelly Coate: Transformative and Troublesome? Students’ and Professional programmers’ perspectives on difficult concepts in programming. ACM Transactions on Computing Education (TOCE) 19(3), 2019.
[pdf][http] Refereed Journal Article, research areas: Teaching Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2016
Lucy Yeomans, Steffen Zschaler, and Kelly Coate: Identifying the challenges of learning programming at undergraduate level: A Threshold Concept approach. Executive summary report of project findings, 2016.
[pdf] Unrefereed Publication, research areas: Teaching Research contribution: Writing contribution:
Automated assessment of programming tasks
We are developing Nexus, an on-line platform for the automated assessment of programming assignments. I look for PhD students who want to help develop the platform and assessment / feedback technology and want to help develop empirical evaluations of the platform and approach.
We are developing Nexus, an on-line platform for the automated assessment of programming (and potentially other) assignments. I look for PhD students who want to help develop the platform and assessment / feedback technology and want to help develop empirical evaluations of the platform and approach. I am also interested in topics in the wider area, such as efficient and effective creation of new assignments (including testing and quality assurance), prevention of plagiarism, etc.
Some relevant publications are listed below.
2018
Steffen Zschaler, Sam White, Kyle Hodgetts, and Martin Chapman: Modularity for Automated Assessment: A Design-Space Exploration. Workshop Software Engineering für E-Learning-Systeme (SEELS), GI-Tagung "Software Engineering 2018", 2018.
[pdf][http] Refereed Workshop Paper, research areas: Modularity, Teaching Research contribution: Writing contribution:
2017
Steffen Zschaler, Martin Chapman, Sam White, Kyle Hodgetts, John Armstrong: NEXUS: A flexible platform for automated assessment and feedback. 11th Excellence in Teaching Conference, London, 2017. Poster, research areas: Teaching Research contribution: Writing contribution:
