Find Academic Supervisors

Michael HaythorpeView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Graph Theory
• Numerical Optimisation
• Computational Mathematics
• +2 more

Michael Haythorpe is a Senior Lecturer at Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering, specialising in computational mathematics, graph theory, numerical optimisation, and algorithm development. He has been with the university since 2011, after completing his PhD in Mathematics at the University of South Australia in 2010. His research focuses on: Designing efficient algorithms for NP-complete problems Theoretical advances in graph theory and complexity theory Heuristic development for computational optimisation Recent research trends include domination problems in graphs, crossing number calculations for small graphs, and mixed-integer programming for fixture scheduling. His work bridges theoretical mathematics and practical algorithmic solutions. Scientific awards and grants : AustMS Lift-off Fellowship (2010) Executive Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence (2017) Defence Grant: AI4DM (2020-2022) Multiple student-nominated teaching awards (2021-2022) Early career recognitions for conference presentations (2008-2010) Teaching roles include coordination of Master of Science (Mathematics) and lecturing in Engineering Mathematics and Mathematics 1A/B courses. He prioritises conceptual understanding over procedural learning.

• Graph Drawing
• Information Visualization
• Visual Analytics
• +3 more

Professor Seokhee Hong is a distinguished academic at the School of Computer Science, The University of Sydney. With prestigious appointments including an ARC Future Fellowship (2013-2016) and Humboldt Fellowship (2013-2014), she has emerged as a leading researcher in graph drawing and visual analytics. Her research focuses on developing scalable algorithms for information visualization of massive complex networks, with applications spanning security analytics, computational biology, and software engineering. Key contributions include the creation of open-source visual analytics software GEOMI and foundational work in 2.5D graph visualization. 2013-2016: ARC Future Fellowship 2008-2012: ARC Research Fellowship 2013-2014: Humboldt Fellowship Recent publications demonstrate her ongoing innovation in graph drawing algorithms, network fairness, and computational geometry. She has served on editorial boards of key journals and as program chair for major conferences in her field. 2006: CORE Chris Wallace Award 2012: Eureka Prize Finalist Multiple Graph Drawing Competition wins Her work bridges theoretical algorithm development with practical applications, addressing challenges in biological network analysis, dynamic graph visualization, and cluster-preserving layouts. With over 140 publications and significant research funding, she continues to shape network visualization research.

David WoodView profile

Professor

• Discrete Mathematics
• Theoretical Computer Science
• Graph Theory
• +7 more

David Wood is a Professor in the School of Mathematics at Monash University, Australia, and Deputy Director of the Mathematical Research Institute MATRIX. His research focuses on discrete mathematics, theoretical computer science, graph theory, and combinatorial geometry. He leads major research projects funded by the Australian Research Council, including studies on sparse networks, extremal graph theory, and graph coloring. Wood has held leadership roles such as President of the Combinatorial Mathematics Society of Australasia (2014–2016). He is an Editor-in-Chief of the Electronic Journal of Combinatorics and co-editor of MATRIX Annals . His work spans over 224 publications, emphasizing structural graph theory, graph products, and extremal problems. Notable contributions include advancements in clustered coloring, product structure theorems, and the resolution of conjectures like the clustered Hadwiger conjecture. Awarded the Australian Mathematical Society Fellowship (2016), Wood’s research also explores graph drawing, poset dimension, and applications of combinatorial geometry. His projects often involve collaborations with international experts, pushing boundaries in theoretical and algorithmic aspects of graph theory.

Matthias FresacherView profile

Lecturer

• Abstract Algebra
• Semigroups and Monoids
• Diagram Monoids
• +4 more

Matthias Fresacher is a PhD candidate in Pure Mathematics at Western Sydney University under Assoc. Prof. James East, researching diagram monoids and their generalizations. He holds a Master's and Bachelor's from the University of Adelaide, with an exchange at the National University of Singapore. His academic roles include Lecturer at Western Sydney, tutor at UTS, and Indigenous academic mentor at the University of Adelaide. Education: PhD (Pure Mathematics), Western Sydney University (2022–ongoing) MPhil (Pure Mathematics), University of Adelaide (2019–2021) Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences (Advanced), University of Adelaide (2016–2018) Exchange at National University of Singapore (2018) Research Interests: Abstract algebra, semigroups/monoids, diagram monoids, category theory, algorithms, and interdisciplinary collaborations. His publications span theoretical mathematics and applied computing, with recent focus on categorical representations and diagram monoid properties. He has received awards including the AustMS Bernhard Neumann Prize and AAG Gordon Preston Prize. Active in teaching, supervision, and academic leadership, he co-founded the Association of Australian Mathematics Students (AAMS) and serves on various committees.

• Group Theory
• Combinatorics
• Representation Theory
• +6 more

Donald Taylor is an Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney. His primary research focuses on computational algebra, specifically in group theory, combinatorics, and representation theory. He has contributed to studies involving unitary reflection groups, Lie algebras, and geometric group actions. Education BSc (Hons) from Monash University (1967) MSc from Monash University (1968) DPhil from University of Oxford (1972) His work spans permutation groups, finite groups, and non-associative algebras arising from Lie algebras. Recent publications (up to 2024) demonstrate his ongoing engagement in group-theoretic research and computational algebra methods. Key collaborations include contributions to graph theory and pedagogical approaches in science education. While no explicit awards are documented, his research has been supported by grants such as the 2005 joint venture with Dancer E and Weber N.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Visualization
• Optimization Systems
• +3 more

Assoc. Prof. Michael Wybrow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Centred Computing at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology. His research focuses on visual interfaces for AI explainability, constraint-based optimization, and interactive visualization, with applications in healthcare, energy systems, and decision-making. He holds a PhD from Monash University (2008) and a Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne (2003). Wybrow has received notable awards, including the Australasian Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation (2009) and the IEEE InfoVis 2015 Best Paper Award. He leads industry projects on chemical plant layout optimization and Bayesian network reasoning, and serves as Director of Work Integrated Learning, overseeing Monash's industry placement programs. Wybrow has developed influential software tools like libavoid and Dunnart, contributing to both academia and industry. His teaching includes creating the ENG1003 course for engineering students, emphasizing app development and software engineering. Over $2.25M in competitive and industry grants fund his research, with collaborations spanning healthcare, energy, and visualization domains. Recent projects include optimizing LNG plant layouts with Woodside Energy, developing near-real-time healthcare dashboards for Eastern Health, and improving causal reasoning through Bayesian networks. Wybrow's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in healthcare and sustainable energy.

• Computational Algebra
• Group Theory
• Unitary Reflection Groups
• +3 more

Associate Professor Don Taylor is an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on computational algebra, particularly with applications in Magma software, and includes work on classical groups, groups of Lie type, unitary reflection groups, and groups acting on graphs and geometries. He holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and has contributed to significant publications in algebra and group theory. Educations: BSc (Hons) in Mathematics, Monash University, 1967 MSc in Mathematics, Monash University, 1968 DPhil in Mathematics, University of Oxford, 1972 Research Interests: Computational algebra with Magma Unitary reflection groups and their properties Classical and Lie-type groups Group actions on graphs and geometric structures Publications Trends: His work spans foundational research in group theory, including reflection groups, computational methods, and interdisciplinary applications such as graph symmetry and science education. Recent contributions address subgroup structures in finite groups, while earlier works explored octonion algebras and educational strategies for professional programs. Grants and Collaborations: 2005: Collaborated on an AMSI-funded project with Professors Dancer and Weber. Labs/Teams: No specific labs or teams are listed in the provided materials.

Tim DwyerView profile

Professor

• Information Visualization
• Visual Analytics
• Network Visualization
• +7 more

Tim Dwyer is a Professor of Data Visualization and Immersive Analytics at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology, Department of Human Centred Computing. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney (2005) and has extensive industry experience, including roles at Microsoft Research and Microsoft Corporation. His research focuses on information visualization, network visualization, and immersive analytics, leveraging emerging technologies like AR/VR to enhance data analysis. He leads the Immersive Analytics Lab and has advised numerous PhD students. Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Sydney (2005) Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours), University of Melbourne (2001) Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne (1995) Research Interests: Tim's work spans information visualization, network visualization, and immersive analytics. He explores how technologies like augmented and virtual reality can transform data analysis. Key areas include network layout optimization, novel data representations, and interaction design. His Immersive Analytics Lab pioneers projects such as Immersive Analytics (book) and the IATK toolkit. Article Trends: Recent work emphasizes immersive analytics applications (e.g., forensic autopsy in mixed reality), network visualization techniques (e.g., torus wrapping), and human-computer interaction challenges in AR/VR. His research bridges theoretical foundations (e.g., graph proofs) and practical tools (e.g., visualization toolkits). Awards: IEEE InfoVis 2015 Best Paper Award IEEE InfoVis 2016 Honorable Mention Advising & Grants: Current PhD students include Benjamin Lee and Kun-Ting Chen. He leads projects funded by CSIRO, Australian Research Council, and industry collaborations. Notable grants include 'Australian Research for Global Power System Transformation' and 'Immersive Analytics CRC'. Labs & Teams: Director of the Immersive Analytics Lab, collaborating with global researchers on projects like IATK (Immersive Analytics Toolkit) and Immersive Human-Centred Computational Analytics. Active in IEEE VIS conferences as a chair and organizer.

• Differential Geometry
• Riemannian Geometry
• Lie Groups
• +3 more

Dr. Yuri Nikolayevsky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at La Trobe University, Australia. He leads the Geometry Research Group, which includes A/Prof Grant Cairns and current/former students. His research focuses on differential geometry, Lie groups, homogeneous spaces, and topological graph theory. He holds a MSc from Kharkov and a PhD from Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) universities. He leads a weekly geometry seminar (GY seminar) and has secured an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant (2013-2019) titled 'Symmetries in real and complex geometry.' His work spans geometric analysis, with notable contributions to Einstein manifolds, geodesic orbit spaces, Killing tensors, and graph-theoretic problems. Nikolayevsky is fluent in Russian and contributes to the geometry community through collaborative research and academic leadership. His research interests include curvature properties of manifolds, algebraic structures in geometry, and the interplay between discrete mathematics and geometric spaces. Recent publications explore topics such as weakly Einstein Lie groups, quadratic Killing tensors, and Lorentz nilmanifolds, reflecting his expertise in both pure geometry and interdisciplinary applications.

Helen PurchaseView profile

Professor

• Graph Drawing
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Data Visualization
• +3 more

Professor Helen Purchase is a Full Professor in the Department of Human Centred Computing at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology. She holds leadership roles as Director of the Data Visualisation and Immersive Analytics lab and Director of Education for the HCC Department. Previously, she held senior roles at the University of Glasgow (2001-2022) and University of Queensland (1995-2001), receiving multiple teaching awards including Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2015). Her academic journey includes a PhD from Cambridge University (1992), MPhil in Computer Speech and Language Processing (Cambridge), and undergraduate studies at Rhodes University, South Africa. Research focuses on human understanding of visual stimuli, pioneering empirical studies in graph drawing usability since 1995. Key contributions include foundational work on mental map preservation in dynamic graphs, evaluation frameworks for visualization effectiveness, and development of PeerWise platform for student-generated assessments. Her 2012 textbook Experimental Human-Computer Interaction remains a key reference in empirical HCI research. Core research areas: Graph Visualization, HCI Methodology, Educational Technology Notable collaborations: Multi-university projects on 3D visualization, pandemic healthcare systems, and multivariate network analysis Lab leadership: Data Visualisation and Immersive Analytics lab at Monash Active in curriculum development, she introduced pioneering HCI courses at University of Queensland and expanded postgraduate programs at Glasgow. Current research explores 3D graph perspectives, cognitive effects of visual bundling, and pandemic-era telemedicine interfaces.

Andre van RenssenView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Computational Geometry
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Graph Theory
• +3 more

Dr. Andre van Renssen is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Computer Science, University of Sydney, where he has been working since 2018. He is a member of the Sydney Algorithms and Computing Theory (SACT) research group, contributing to both research and teaching in theoretical computer science. Dr. van Renssen earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carleton University in Canada. His academic journey has focused on computational geometry and algorithms research with applications to real-world network problems. His primary research focuses on geometric networks, particularly network construction, augmentation, and routing algorithms. He designs efficient algorithms for finding shortest paths through various networks - from computer communications to transportation systems - while accounting for dynamic constraints like traffic congestion and obstacles. His work considers time-varying conditions where the optimal route might change based on time of day or unexpected closures, aiming to optimize network performance without requiring additional physical infrastructure. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on computational geometry problems, particularly related to spanners, routing algorithms in constrained environments, Voronoi diagrams, and geometric optimization. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, with research already influencing technologies like Google Maps' navigation functionality. Awarded Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project grant in 2024 for "Algorithms for Future-Proof Networks" Dr. van Renssen supervises research students including Zijin HUANG (working on "Utilisation of Realistic Input Models and the Computation of Their Input Parameters") and Shuei SAKAGUCHI (working on "Geometric Spanner Networks and Local Routing Algorithms"). His teaching portfolio includes advanced courses in data structures, algorithms, and computational geometry across undergraduate and graduate levels. He is actively involved in the international computational geometry research community, collaborating with researchers worldwide on geometric network problems that have both theoretical significance and practical applications.

• Graph Theory
• Combinatorics
• Mathematical Analysis
• +2 more

Alex Newcombe serves as a Lecturer in the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University, where he also holds a Research Staff position with the Centre for Defence Engineering Research and Training. His academic profile shows strong connections between theoretical mathematics and practical defense applications. His educational background includes: PhD in Mathematics from Flinders University (2019) Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Mathematics from Flinders University (2015) Newcombe's research centers on graph theory and combinatorics, with particular expertise in domination problems, crossing numbers, and Cartesian graph products. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in defense and geolocation systems through collaborations with the Centre for Defence Research and Training. His publications demonstrate sophisticated approaches to complex graph structures using methods like cross-entropy optimization and binary programming formulations. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on domination variants and graph product structures. His work shows increasing sophistication in handling complex graph problems with applications to network security and optimization. The publications span specialized mathematics journals including Entropy, Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing, and Ars Mathematica Contemporanea. His notable achievements include: Vice Chancellor's Award for Doctoral Thesis Excellence (2019) Participation in the Artificial Intelligence for Decision Making Initiative through the Defence Innovation Partnership (2020-2022) Newcombe teaches several engineering mathematics courses including ENGR2711 Engineering Mathematics, MATH3703 Optimisation, and ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics. His research grants indicate strong institutional support for his work at the intersection of theoretical mathematics and defense applications. The Centre for Defence Engineering Research and Training serves as his primary research hub, facilitating collaborations between academic mathematics and practical defense challenges. His research activities are centered at the Tonsley campus of Flinders University, working within the College of Science and Engineering's research ecosystem. The Centre for Defence Engineering Research and Training provides the institutional framework for his defense-related collaborations, connecting mathematical theory with real-world security applications.