I am a computational social scientist, engineer, and systems researcher. I work in several aspects of modelling the dynamics of organisational, economic and social systems. I am interested in the link between micro-level rules, structural interdependence and macro-level outcomes in a variety of settings (e.g., organisational dynamics, industry evolution, competitive spatial location, agricultural markets). I am also interested in the use of computational models for better policy design (policy modelling).

RN [Mental Health & General], Community Mental Health Nurse (Cert.)
PG Cert. Ed
BA(Joint Hons.) Computing and Philosophy
PG(Dip.) Collaboration on Psychosocial Education [COPE]
MRES. e-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning

As of my incorporation into the Department of Computer Architecture and Operating Systems of the UAB as a postgraduate student, it is possible to divide my scientific-technical career into the following stages:

Simulation of Parallel Applications (1992-99): Focused on the design and development of simulators of parallel applications. This research main objective was the definition of abstractions for parallel programs, based on characterizing tasks and their dependences. Two main abstractions were developed, at first a simpler one, which was easier to parametrize, and, next, a more complex an accurate one. Using these characterizations, several simulation tools were programmed and used in the context of national and European projects. As part of my Master’s thesis, I was involved in the design and development of some of these simulation applications.

National projects: 4, European: 2

International conferences: 3, National: 1, Journal papers: 3

Security in Distributed Systems (2007-12): Focused on the design and development of the FPVA (First Principles Vulnerability Assessment) methodology for the evaluation of vulnerabilities in Grid applications. This methodology clearly defined a set of steps for the assessment of Grid applications vulnerabilities, most of these steps could be automatized or at least supported by specific tools. Jointly with other professors of our group and from the University of Wisconsin, I was involved in the original definition and application of this methodology.

International projects: 2

Master Thesis: 1, Ph.D. Thesis: 1

International conferences: 2, National: 1, Journal papers: 2

Parallel Application Modeling (1999-present): This is my main line of research, aimed at defining high-level performance models for parallel applications. Initially, models were defined for MPI applications with a master-worker and pipeline structure, but later this line has been expanded with the definition of models for memory-intensive OpenMP applications, composed (mix of several structures) applications, applications based on mathematical libraries, distributed data-intensive applications and, finally, applications based on the simulation of agents (ABS) with SPMD structure.

As a result of the work on modeling the performance of ABS parallel systems, we have opened a new line for the definition and implementation of a benchmark for assessing the performance of the parallel simulators generated by well-known platforms, such as FLAME, Repast-HPC or D-Mason. In addition, the knowledge we have gained on this topic has opened new ways of collaboration for optimizing real parallel ABS in the health sciences area (tumor growth and infection spread).

National projects: 12, European: 1

International conferences: 17, National: 4, Journal papers: 11

International Presentations: 4

Parallel Applications Tuning Tools (2010-present): Focused on the design and development of tools for automatic tuning and, in some cases, also dynamic tuning of parallel applications. These tools allow the integration of performance models in the form of external components provided by the analyst. For this reason, this research line is tightly coupled with the Parallel Application Modeling one. The two main tools developed totally or partially by our group are Monitoring Analysis and Tuning Environment-MATE (and its highly scalable evolution ELASTIC) and Periscope Tuning Framework-PTF.

National projects: 2, European: 1

International conferences: 11, Journal papers: 2

Tools: MATE, ELASTIC, PTF

International Presentations: 5

Dr. Andreu Moreno Vendrell got the BS degree in Telecommunications Engineering in 1995 and the PhD in Telecommunications Engineering in 2000, both from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain). Since 2005 his research is related to parallel and distributed computing. His main interests are focused on high performance parallel applications, automatic performance analysis and dynamic tuning, and agent based simulation systems. He has been involved in the definition of performance models for automatic and dynamic performance tuning and in the development of a new benchmark for agent based frameworks. He is lecturer at the Escola Universitària Salesiana de Sarrià, associated college of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He is IEEE member.