Vivek is interested in complex systems and feedback loops (traffic jams, spontaneous lane formation in pedestrians, etc). Specifically, he is interested in projects that deal with the detection of emergent phenomena, and inducing emergent phenomena in multi-agent systems. This usually entails working with decentralized systems and distributed algorithms. Distributed problem solving and adaptation (e.g., cooperative maze solving) is also a topic of interest. Most experimentation in this area is done using multi-agent systems, so a thorough grounding in these concepts is essential (the student should have taken Rem Collier’s Agents module). Programming of agent systems can be done in any one of many languages (e.g. Java, Python, Elixir/Erlang, NetLogo, Lisp, etc), so the student should be fairly fluent in at least one programming language and comfortable with problem solving. Typically, a project will consist of building up an agent system, implementing a known phenomena to verify that the agent system works correctly, and then adding functionality or behaviour depending on the specific problem chosen. Background information for the problems chosen will be found in research papers that will be identified at the beginning of the project. For more information or queries, please contact Vivek at vivek.nallur@ucd.ie