| My main research interests are computer architecture, especially understanding
industry trends and how to exploit change (e.g., when new form factors
become viable), and bioinformatics.
|
See more about Raspberry Pi on my research pages. |
I’ve written two novels, each with a different take on climate change, and third that’s
a SciFi parody of recent US politics:
I also regularly contribute to the Thought Leader section of Mail & Guardian.
I also occasionally write for The Conversation and
Daily Maverick (type my name into the search box – I do not have an author page at DM).
In November 2021, I stood for Makana Council for Makana Citizens Front in Ward 4 and won the highest number of votes in any ward
and was elected as a proportional representative candidate.
Projects and Student Opportunities
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I have a project called Crayon? What’s that about? Check it out.
I am also starting to investigate use of architecture simulation ideas to make it
easier to learn about and develop operating systems. Watch this space for more
detail. A textbook is in progress based on these ideas; initial draft
here.
The simulation part is in the pracs at this stage – more will go into
the next version of the book.
|
See my publications for
more detail.
I am also working on improved models of transcription factor binding specificity, and am
interested generally in sites of interest in the genome, such as those associated with
long non-coding RNAs. My latest project: population regulomics – exploring
differences in gene regulation within and between human populations (in collaboration
with researchers in H3Africa).
I also dabbled in epidemiology in the wake of Covid-19. Since everyone is an epidemiologist
these days, I thought I might as well do some actual research in the field.
I have some hints for potential
graduate students, especially those from outside Rhodes.
Publications
My work in Bioinformatics builds on time when I was at
the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland up
to the end of 2011, and I have had collaborations since with University of the
Witwatersrand. My archictecture work is entering a new phase
where I look into on alternatives to general purpose programming on graphics
programming units (GPGPU).
See a list of outputs here.
- CSc201
- CSc202
- Honours
- MSc Bioinformatics (last taught 2017)
Past lives
- Editor-in-Chief of
South African Computer Journal:
June 2012 – July 2022
- Research Officer, Institute for
Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland
- Senior Lecturer and IT Programmes director, School of IT and
Electrical Engineering, University of Queensland
- Associate Professor, Department of Computer
Science, University of the Witwatersrand
- sabbaticals: University of Michigan, Stanford
University
I’ve also campaigned for various causes:
- member of my university’ sexual violence task team (one of many authors of
it’s 2016 report)
- promoting active citizenship in the post-apartheid era
including chairing our local residents’
association
- candidate for Agang SA in 2014
(number 18 on the national list, number 2 on the Eastern Cape provincial list)
- Greens candidate in a city (Brisbane) and state (Queensland) election while I lived in Australia;
I also managed to campaigns that dramatically increased the Greens vote, a precursor for wins after I left
- taking on climate change denial
- taking on AIDS denial
- supporting press freedom and freedom of protest in the apartheid era
- reducing the space where smokers can annoy others and put their health
at risk
