William M. Fitzgerald (M.Sc, B.Sc (Hons))
PhD Student
Cork Constraint Computation Centre,
Computer Science Department,
University College Cork,
Cork, Ireland.

Background

In 2002, William M. Fitzgerald (M.Sc., B.Sc.) obtained a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from National University of Ireland Maynooth (N.U.I.M). He also has an Honors Bachelor of Science degree (majoring in Computer Science & Mathematics) awarded by N.U.I.M in 2000.

William is persuing a Ph.D. in the area of Computer Security at University College Cork (UCC). His research focus is Network Access Control using Semantic Web Techinques. This research (academic year 4) is sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under the "Federated, Autonomic Management of End-to-end Communication Services" (FAME) project, grant number 08/SRC/I1403. The first 3 years of his Ph.D. research was funded again by SFI under the "Autonomic Management of Communication Networks and Services" (AMCNS) project, grant number 04/IN3/I404C.  Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) was the project consortium lead for both SFI projects. As a result William was awarded a 3 year Ph.D. internship at (WIT) in collaboration with (UCC). His forth and final year of his Ph.D.  research is located at University College Cork.

William is currently a member of the Cork Constraint Computation Centre (4C) and was previously a member of the Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG), both of whom are two of Ireland's highly respected research groups.

Previous to embarking on the road of hi Ph.D. research, he had a role as an applied researcher within TSSG at the Waterford Institute of Technology. While there, William was focused on the security arena within European IST projects such as SecurIST, Daidalos and the PASR initiative (proposal stage). On a national level he played a role in proposal writing the security aspects of a successfully funded Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund Technology Development project called VidAs a system for controlled distribution of legal video content within a telecom operator's network using the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) paradigm (CFTD/07/203).

He also held a short term contract at Ericsson Applied Research Laboratories Ireland as a Junior Research Scientist & Software Engineer. At Ericssons, his research involved: "Reputation & Cooperation in Ad-Hoc Networks" and "Ericsson's OSS Security Architecture".

In general, he has an interest in all things security including Malware (Virology, RAT's, Worms, Phyogenetic's). William is also interested in Counter Terrorism Methodologies.

Further details of previous research experience can be found at: (pdf)

Academic Background

Ph.D. (Expected 2010). PhD student in computer security at University College Cork. Research in years 1-3 was funded by SFI AMCNS PI Cluster . Research for year 4 is funded by the the SFI FAME cluster

M.Sc. (2002). "Performance Analysis of Host Based Routing", N.U.I. Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

B.Sc. (2000). Second class, Grade one. Joint Honours Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, N.U.I. Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

BSc Subjects in Computer Science: Computer Networks, Programming Paradigms, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Computer Architectures, Software Engineering, Databases, Distributed Systems, Formal Methods, Automated Reasoning, Parallel Processing, Computer Vision, Complexity Theory, Operating Systems ,Theoretical Computer Science, Neural Networks etc.

Course also covered: Mathematics (3 years), Physics (2 years), and Chemistry (1 year)

JEB/EDI Teachers Diploma in Information Technology (2008). Diploma is composed of:

• JEB/EDI Level 3 Certificate in Education Principles and Practice (Formerly JEB/EDI Certificate in the Principles of Teaching and Training)
• JEB/EDI Level 3 Certificate in Education Practice: ICT Skills (Formerly JEB/EDI Teacher Trainer Certificate in IT Skills)

Additional Certification

Occupational First Aid Certificate including Defibrillator Training in accordance with the safety, health and welfare at work act 1993, (2007).

Fire Warden Training (2007).

Heanet: Secure IPSec Workshop (2004).

European Computer Driving Licence (EDCL), (2000). TechStore Training, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Irish FAS Construction Site Safe Pass (2002)

Career History

Computer Engineering Related:
(June 2006 - present) PhD Student (Full-time): Funded By Science Foundation Irelands Autonomics programme. Year 4 PhD environment is based at University College Cork. Years 1-3 was primarily based at Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG). My primary advisor is Dr. Simon Foley, University College Cork. Secondary TSSG supervisor is Mr. Mícheál Ó Foghlú .
(2004- June 2006) Applied Researcher: Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG), Waterford Institute of Technology, Cork Rd., Co. Waterford, Ireland.
(2003-2004) Ericsson Researcher: Ericsson R&D Ireland, Radio House, Belfield Office Park, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4, Ireland.
(2000-2003) Research Postgraduate Laboratory Demonstrator: Computer Science Department, N.U.I. Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
(2000: 4 month contract) Software Engineer: Computer Science Department, N.U.I. Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Other Forms of Employment:
(March-Sept 2004) Formworks and Steel Fixing: Balinamore Formworks, Balinamore Leitrim, Ireland
(Summer 2002) Grade-A labour: MOSTON Construction, Dublin, Ireland
(Summer 1999) Grade-A labour: I.C.D.S. Building Contractors, Dublin, Ireland
(Summer 1996-1998) Butcher & Bacon (Brine) Quality Assurance: Oakpark Foods, Clogheen Rd., Cahir, Tipperary, Ireland
(Summer 1994,1995) Trainee Butcher: A.I.B.P., Clogheen Rd., Cahir, Tipperary, Ireland
(Part time 1997-2001) Farm Contracting(Silage, Harvest, Bale Labour): John O’Connor , Lisava House, Cahir, Tipperary, Ireland

Non-Academic Background

On a non-academic view point, he has obtained a trainee butchering certificate from FAS having worked in food industry AIBP (beef) and Oak Park Foods (pork & Bacon) during summer and other educational holidays. Having an agricultural background has enabled him to care for livestock, work with machinery and practice various craftsmanships such as block/stone laying, welding etc. It is this background that has motivated his academic research and future goals, as he wants to achieve equal status on an academic level too. Fully committed his current interests lie in becoming a lecturer and also moulding himself as a network analyst and security engineer.

Career Goal in Life

To work with world renowned security professionals and to contribute in a positive way to the field of computer security. He would like to research security accross several domains namely academic, industrial and military.

Miscellaneous

Stone Masonry
William doesn't just spend his time researching the scientific and computing world! He spends most of his spare time doing physical work too such as farming and building.
To see some of his very first (self-taught) stone masonry work please click the (pdf)