My Academic CV

This page primarily provides a summary of my B.Sc. and Ph.D. studies. I was an associate lecturer for 6 years at UCLan until 2019, teaching advanced database systems, primarily focused on Oracle 11g.

Ph.D. Computing

My Ph.D was completed in October 2010, at UCLan and involved research into "the Application of Modular and Contextualised Ontology in Query Expansions for Information Retrieval".  The main areas of examination and literature review included:

• Structural and semantic heterogeneity in database schema.
• Data, information and knowledge integration and interoperability:
  • Federated database system approaches.
  • Mediator-wrapper architectures.
  • Information brokering.
  • Grid computing.
• Ontology theory, types and modelling - including:
  • Ontology development approaches.
  • Modular ontology development - to support query contexts.
  • Languages and tools.
• World Wide Web and Semantic Web:
  • XML.
  • RDF and RDF Schema.
  • OWL
  • Web of Linked Data.
• Information retrieval - including search engines, vector space model and precision & recall.
• Development of a semantics-based search tool called SemSeT - using Jena API toolkit.
• Development of ontology-based query expansion algorithms.
• Query experiments based on interrogation of TREC WT2G document collection.
• Testing of term relevance weighting approaches.
• Evaluation of query expansion and term weight outcomes.

See also Semantic Web page for further information.

B.Sc. Hons (ISD)

1st class B.Sc. Hons in Information Systems Design - awarded July 2003.  Modules completed:

• Program Design and Implementation.
• Problem-Solving for Computing.
• PC Internals.
• Web Application Development.
• Introduction to Systems Analysis & Design.
• Communication Skills and Integrative Case Study.
• Software Development.
• Human Factors in Systems Analysis.
• Rapid Application Development (RAD) - including DSDM.
• Database Systems - including use of Oracle 8i.
• Human-Computer Interaction.
• Integrative Case Study for Information Systems Design.
• Java Programming.
• System Concepts.
• Advanced Database Systems - including use of Oracle 8i.
• Multimedia Design.
• Degree Project - included the development of an online computing store: Saturn Online.

Other Studies

• ACBSI: Associate of the Chartered Building Societies Institute: qualified July 1976.
• HND: Higher National Diploma in Business Studies - awarded June 1972, North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Stoke-on-Trent (now Staffordshire University).
• IT Advanced Diploma: City & Guilds level III in Word Processing, Relational Database Methods & Programming, Spreadsheet Methods - awarded June 2000, Runshaw College, Leyland.
• Certificate in Computer Technology: NCFE Certificate in computer installation and upgrades - awarded June 2000, Runshaw College, Leyland.