Background

William M. Fitzgerald (MSc, BSc) obtained a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science from National University of Ireland Maynooth (N.U.I.M) in Maynooth in 2002 and an Honors Bachelor of Science degree (majoring in Computer Science & Mathematics) also from N.U.I.M in 2000.

He is currently focused on his PhD which has a premise of security policy configuration management. The research is funded by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI): Autonomic Management of Communications Networks and Services PI Cluster Award (04/IN3/I404C) managed by the Waterford Institute of Technology's TSSG group. As a result his PhD environment is primarily located at Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG), however lead supervision on his specialised security area is conducted at UCC. Thus, William is fortunate enough to be positioned in two of Ireland's highly esteemed research institutes.

Previous to this, he had a role as an applied researcher for the Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG) at the Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. As a TSSG applied researcher, William was focused on the security arena within European IST projects such as SecurIST, Daidalos and the PASR initiative. In general he has an interest in all things security related including Malware (Virology, RAT's, Worms, Phyogenetic's). William is also interested in Counter Terrorism Methodologies. Prior to his employment at TSSG, he was employed as an applied security researcher with Ericsson's Systems Expertise Group, Dublin, Ireland. There he researched security of Ad-Hoc networks, reputation based metrics and novel game theoretic approaches to network node cooperation.

Selected Publications:
(1) S. N. Foley, W. M. Fitzgerald : "Semantic Web and Firewall Alignment", First International Workshop on Secure Semantic Web (SSW’08) April 7-12, 2008, Cancun, Mexico, IEEE CS Press
(2) S N. Foley, W. Fitzgerald, S. Bistarelli, B. O'Sullivan, M. O Foghlu" Principles of Secure Network Configuration: Towards a Formal Basis for Self-Configuration", Proceedings of IPOM 2006, 6th IEEE International Workshop on IP Operations and Management, October, 2006

Academic Background

Ph.D. (Expected 2009). Registered UCC PhD student in computer security. Research is funded by SFI Autonomic Management of Communications Networks and Services PI Cluster Award: 04/IN3/I404C managed by TSSG, Waterford Institute of Technology, Co. Waterford, Ireland.

M.Sc. (2002). Honour awarded. Title of research carried out: Performance Analysis of Host Based Routing. Research conducted at 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: Teachers Diploma in Information Communication Technology Skills (2008). This is a two-part diploma course. The first teaches the psychology skills and methods relevant to teaching, While the second provides the understanding on how to actually teach IT skills. Adult Education, Waterford Institute of Technology, Co. Waterford, Ireland.

Professional Courses

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. PhD environment is based primarily at Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG) and is supervised by 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 1994,1995) Trainee Butcher: A.I.B.P., Clogheen Rd., Cahir, Tipperary, Ireland
(Summer 1996-1998) Butcher & Bacon (Brine) Quality Assurance: Oakpark Foods, 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 engage in livestock control and maintenance, machinery and craftsmanship 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 myself as a network analyst and security engineer.

Career Goal in Life

To become a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and to start a world renowned accademic security research group. He would like to research security in the categories of 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 stone masonry work please click the (pdf)