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My research is primarily rooted in distributed systems, ranging from loosely coupled peer-to-peer networks and tightly coupled distributed state machines. I have a deep interest in research involving internet scale systems and I also have real world experience in designing, developing, and deploying these systems.
Specific research topics include organization and coordination (membership and churn), multimedia delivery via overlay network multicast, distributed database systems, replicated state machines, and context-graph based systems.
My recent research involves scaling and replication for a large distributed database system (Amazon SimpleDB). My doctoral research involves the creation of algorithms for formation of multicast trees by way of approximating the degree-bounded minimum spanning tree problem. This includes research of both theoretical concerns and practical applications.
I also have a strong interest improving computer science instruction through the integration of innovative technology in the classroom. Through this work, I created the CascadeLMS project, and continually update this system to enhance the capabilities of the system for long range assessment.
2004-2007 Ph.D. Computer Science and Engineering, University of Cincinnati Thesis: Efficient Group Communication and the Degree-bounded Shortest Path Problem Advised by Dr. Fred S. Annexstein
2002-2004: M.S. Computer Science, Northern Kentucky University Thesis: Dynamic Data Reorganization in a Distributed Database System Advised by Dr. James Hauser
1997-2000: B.S. Computer Science, Xavier University Advised by Dr. Gary Lewandowski
Fall 2007: Visiting Assistant Professor, Miami University 2005-2007: Visiting Instructor Full time faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Systems Analysis. Teaching responsibility for 6 to 9 credit hours per semester. Creation of a new Computer Science elective course, “Enterprise Application Architecture,” offered at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Fall 2007: CSA174, Fundamentals of Programming and Problem Solving (3 sections & course coordinator for 3 campuses)
Spring 2007: CSA470j/570j, Enterprise Application Architecture and CSA174
Fall 2006: CSA174 and CSA274 Data Abstraction and Data Structures
Summer 2006: CSA470j/570j
Spring 2006: CSA274 and CSA141 Personal Computer Applications
Fall 2005: CSA174 and CSA274 (2 sections)
2006 – Present : Maintainer of CascadeLMS installation at Miami University
2001: Adjunct Instructor, Southern Ohio College
April 2009 – present, Senior Software Development Engineer, Amazon.com December 2007-March 2009, Software Development Engineer, Amazon.com Software developer for Amazon.com’s Amazon Web Services SimpleDB (http://aws.amazon.com/SimpleDB) project. Responsible for developing distributed systems components, including group communication components, geographic distribution components, and the core data replication engine and algorithms.
2003-2005, Senior Consultant, Cardinal Solutions Group Primary responsibilities include providing consulting services for clients with an emphasis on architecting and developing enterprise Java solutions. Additional responsibilities include developing and delivering both internal and external technology training (Tapestry, UML, Java 101-Basics, 201-Web Technologies, 301-Java Enterprise Edition). Primary clients: Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Johnson & Johnson) and The Kroger Company.
1999-2003, Analyst (Systems) in Software Architecture, Convergys Corporation Member of the Sprint PCS business unit software architecture team, focusing on advanced software design problems, prototypes, and technology selection. In this capacity I held major design responsibilities and led teams of up to 20 individuals for the duration of large feature development projects. I developed a prototype of a next generation billing platform for ubiquitous 802.11x wireless network service offerings. This software was designed and built around open source technologies and showcased jointly by Convergys and Intel at the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecom World trade show – Geneva, Switzerland – September, 2003.
