Projects

We have worked on projects in areas ranging from bioinformatics and computational biology to systems chemistry, ecology, and economics. Here are some examples of the kinds of projects we have provided computational solutions or writing services to:

• Origin of life: We have implemented a novel combinatorial model of chemical evolution, performed stochastic simulations with it, and analyzed it for the emergence of self-maintaining structures known as autocatalytic sets. The results were recently published in the scientific journal Life.
  [A collaboration with Dist. Prof. Mike Steel (University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand) and Dr. Stuart Kauffman (Institute for Systems Biology, Seatlle, WA, USA).]
  
  
• Snooker statistics: Snooker rankings follow a mathematical pattern known as a power law, as we have shown in a recent publication in the scientific journal Stats.
  
  
• Evolution of robustness: Using a cellular automaton model, we showed how robustness and modularity can evolve in developmental systems. This work was published in the scientific journal Evolution & Development.
  [A collaboration that started as part of an independent research fellowship at the Konrad Lorenz Institute, Klosterneuburg, Austria.]
  
  
• Popular science writing: Over the years we have written numerous popular science articles related to various mathematical themes for Plus magazine, and provided contributions to several other online outlets such as Orbiter magazine, The Naked Scientists, and NPR 13.7, among others.
  
  
• Spatial ecology: We were responsible for the initial creation, and involved in the further development, of the ecospat R package containing various methods for spatial ecology analyses.
  [A collaboration with the ecospat group at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.]
  
  
• Queuing theory: After implementing a stochastic simulation model, we showed how a machine learning technique known as a genetic algorithm can generate improved solutions for a customer assignment problem.
  [A collaboration with the Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.]