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Summary
I am committed and passionate about teaching, and experienced in a broad array of subjects in computing, mathematics, hybrid systems, complex networks, collective dynamics and intelligence, distributed bio-inspired intelligence, self-organisation, multi-agent systems, synchronisation, data science, research methods, scientific writing and communication, team work, and creativity. In recognition to the excellence of my teaching activities, I am accredited as Fellow of The Higher Education Academy of the UK.
I have been the supervisor of 10 PhD students (5 finished), 21 MSc students, and 31 last-year undergraduate projects, and mentor for more than 350 people. A list of selected research projects under my supervision is at the following link.
In my classes, I use non-traditional teaching methods and encourage critical thinking and ‘neurolearning’ (you cannot learnt it, if you do not feel it). I also practice ‘neuroworking’, because you can only work, if you feel what you are doing.
Testimonials of some of my satisfied students are available at the following link. Details on my teaching philosophy are at the following link.
Teaching experience
At the University of Wolverhampton:
Developer and course leader of the master course “Data Science” (7CS034) within the new MSc in Data Science and MSc in Artificial Intelligence. School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, UK.
Developer and course leader of the master course “Research Methods” (7CS043) within the new MSc in Data Science and MSc in Artificial Intelligence. School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, UK.
At The University of Manchester:
Co-developer and course leader of the postgraduate course “Creativity in Research” (COMP80992) for the Centre for Doctoral Training in Computer Science. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. It was the first postgraduate taught course with these features in the UK.
Developer and course leader of the undergraduate 3rd-year course “Advanced Algorithms II” (COMP36212). Especially, for the module “Complex Networks and Collective Behaviour”, a cutting-edge topic that challenges and inspires computer science students. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. This course had content that had never been taught in The University of Manchester, and it was one of the first (probably the first) undergraduate taught modules in the UK dedicated to models, structural properties, algorithms and evolution of complex networks, synchronisation in complex dynamical networks, swarming and flocking algorithms, self-organisation, self-organised criticality and other dynamical processes over complex networks.
“First Year Team Project Course” (COMP10120). Lab coordinator, contributor to workshops and evaluator of students’ presentations and work over the whole year (semesters 1 and 2). School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. This was an inquiry-based learning course and was considered crucial for the School of Computer Science, and required a wide range of interaction with the students. It covered team work, ethics, intellectual property, programming, software engineering, web development/design, databases, and technical writing and communication.
“Mathematical Techniques for Computer Science” (COMP11120). Examples classes coordinator. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. This course covered discrete mathematics, probability, calculus, analysis, logics, linear algebra.
Tutorial classes to first-year undergraduate students under the inquiry-based learning course “First Year Team Project” (COMP10120). Lecturer to a group, personal tutor/mentor. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. In these tutorials, we discussed a wide range of topics of computer science and engineering, including: team work, ethics at work, intellectual property, professional issues, programming, use of Latex, web development and design, databases, and scientific writing and communication.
Tutorials to second-year undergraduate students. One-to-one meetings, personal tutor/mentor. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. We covered career development, employability, job seeking, course issues, and students’ well-being and performance.
“Research Methods and Professional Skills” (COMP60990). School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. One-to-one tutorials, personal tutor/mentor plus marking, MSc project supervisor.
“Third Year Project Laboratory” (COMP30030, COMP30040). One-to-one weekly tutorials, 3rd-year project supervisor, personal tutor/mentor plus marking. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. Most of my undergraduate students develop research projects related to neuronal networks in the human brain, collective dynamics/intelligence, synchronisation, Alan Turing’s morphogenesis, complex networks, dynamical systems analysis, automated verification, formal methods of computer science, hybrid dynamical systems, and swarming and flocking algorithms. They were always amongst the best projects in the School of Computer Science, and three of them were awarded the AT&T Prize for the best final-year undergraduate project.
Other institutions:
Contributor to the design of the new undergraduate course "Research Methods" within the new Programme of Data Science. Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Campus Ensenada, Baja California, México, 2022.
Mentor, supervisor and teaching assistant recruitment and organisation committee. The Neuromatch Academy. This is an online School for Computational Neuroscience. Organisers: University of Pennsylvania, UC Irvine, Queen’s University (Canada), PennState University, University of Minnesota, IEEE Brain Initiative.
Invited lectures within the 3rd-year and 4th-year undergraduate courses: “Measurement and Instrumentation Systems” and “Industrial Automation and Instrumentation”. Tecnun – School of Engineering, Universidad de Navarra.
Postgraduate course “Control of discontinuous dynamical systems: from equations to practice”. Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, México.
Research workshops and seminars of control and dynamical systems, nonlinear systems, dissipativity theory, hybrid dynamical systems, switched and discontinuous systems, sliding-mode-based control, artificial intelligence, complex systems, brain networks, computational neuroscience, formal methods, automated verification, cyber-physical systems, Turing's morphogenesis, creativity, and equality, diversity and inclusion. More details are in the following link.
Leadership, administration and management teaching roles
Director of the MSc Programme in Advanced in Computer Science and Information Technology (IT) Management. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK. This was a joint programme between the School (now Department) of Computer Science and the Alliance Manchester Business School.
Director (within the School of Computer Science in Manchester) of the newly-created MSc in Data Science. This MSc programme, led by the School of Social Sciences within The University of Manchester, additionally involves the School of Environment, Education and Development, the Alliance Manchester Business School, the School of Mathematics and the School of Computer Science.
Manager of the Postgraduate Research Programme in Computer Science. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, UK.
Contribution to the design of the PhD Programme in Industrial Mathematics within the Mexican Institute of Petroleum, Mexico.
As a long-standing PhD external examiner.
PhD internal examiner. End of 1st-year interview panel for 14 PhD students at the School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester.
MSc Examiner. School of Computer Science, The University of Manchester, and School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, UK. I have examined 39 MSc students within the MSc Programme in Advanced Computer Science and MSc in Advanced Computer Science and IT Management (Manchester) and MSc Programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (Wolverhampton).