As of my incorporation into the Department of Computer Architecture and Operating Systems of the UAB as a postgraduate student, it is possible to divide my scientific-technical career into the following stages:

Simulation of Parallel Applications (1992-99): Focused on the design and development of simulators of parallel applications. This research main objective was the definition of abstractions for parallel programs, based on characterizing tasks and their dependences. Two main abstractions were developed, at first a simpler one, which was easier to parametrize, and, next, a more complex an accurate one. Using these characterizations, several simulation tools were programmed and used in the context of national and European projects. As part of my Master’s thesis, I was involved in the design and development of some of these simulation applications.

National projects: 4, European: 2

Research work (1995)

International congresses: 3, National: 1, Journal papers: 3

Security in Distributed Systems (2007-12): Focused on the design and development of the FPVA (First Principles Vulnerability Assessment) methodology for the evaluation of vulnerabilities in Grid applications. This methodology clearly defined a set of steps for the assessment of Grid applications vulnerabilities, most of these steps could be automatized or at least supported by specific tools. Jointly with other professors of our group and from the University of Wisconsin, I was involved in the original definition and application of this methodology.

International projects: 2

Master Thesis: 1, Ph.D. Thesis: 1

International congresses: 2, National: 1, Journal papers: 2

Parallel Application Modeling (1999-present): This is my main line of research, aimed at defining high-level performance models for parallel applications. Initially, models were defined for MPI applications with a master-worker and pipeline structure, but later this line has been expanded with the definition of models for memory-intensive OpenMP applications, composed (mix of several structures) applications, applications based on mathematical libraries, distributed data-intensive applications and, finally, applications based on the simulation of agents (ABS) with SPMD structure.

As a result of the work on modeling the performance of ABS parallel systems, we have opened a new line for the definition and implementation of a benchmark for assessing the performance of the parallel simulators generated by well-known platforms, such as FLAME, Repast-HPC or D-Mason. In addition, the knowledge we have gained on this topic has opened new ways of collaboration for optimizing real parallel ABS in the health sciences area (tumor growth and infection spread).

National projects: 12, European: 1

Doctoral Thesis (2006)

Master Thesis: 7, Ph.D. Thesis: 3

International congresses: 17, National: 4, Journal papers: 11

International Presentations: 4

Parallel Applications Tuning Tools (2010-present): Focused on the design and development of tools for automatic tuning and, in some cases, also dynamic tuning of parallel applications. These tools allow the integration of performance models in the form of external components provided by the analyst. For this reason, this research line is tightly coupled with the Parallel Application Modeling one. The two main tools developed totally or partially by our group are Monitoring Analysis and Tuning Environment-MATE (and its highly scalable evolution ELASTIC) and Periscope Tuning Framework-PTF.

National projects: 2, European: 1

Master Thesis: 2

International congresses: 11, Journal papers: 2

Tools: MATE, ELASTIC, PTF

International Presentations: 5

Future goals:

In the Parallel Applications Modeling research line, the main objective is to define performance models for applications developed for large-scale platforms, which are generally also heterogeneous (multiple nodes with multiple processors with multiple cores, plus accelerators). Said models could be aimed at reducing execution time and/or energy consumption and incorporate cognitive computing techniques (machine learning) to face the complexity inherent in heterogeneity.

This objective is closely related to the main objective of the Parallel Applications Tuning Tools research line, which consists of the design and development of tools for large-scale applications that support the integration of the aforementioned models. The development of these research lines has been favored by participation in the European Autotune project, which is why it is considered important to maintain and extend the collaboration established with other research centers.

Finally, based on the work carried out in the modeling of agent-based simulation applications, the objective is to develop real applications in different fields of knowledge (sociology: simulation of pre-Columbian societies, medicine: simulation of growth and tumor treatment), To this end, collaboration agreements have been established with other departments of the UAB itself, private companies and international centers.

Number of six-year research terms granted: 4 Last six-year research term granted: 2013-2019

Number of doctoral theses supervised in the last 10 years: 4

Total Citations: 160 (Researcher ID), 267 (Scopus), 563 (Scholar)

Average Citations per year (2015-2019): 16.8 (Researcher ID), 28.6 (Scopus), 53.4 (Scholar)

Publications in 1st quartile: 3, 2^nd quartile: 6

H-index: 6 (Researcher ID), 8 (Scopus), 13 (Scholar)

Ph.D Thesis Advised

Allande Alvarez, Cesar. Modeling performance degradation in openmp memory bound applications on multicore multisocket systems. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Start: 11/05/2010, end: 12/18/2015. Publications: 3 articles in international conferences, 1 article in national conferences.

Jairo David Serrano Latorre. Vulnerability Assessment for Complex Middleware Interrelationships in Distributed Systems. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Start: 11/27/2009, end: 11/08/2013. Publications: 1 Article in an indexed journal, 2 articles in international conferences, 1 article in a national conference.

Máquez Pérez, Claudio. Definition of a Grid-Hypergraph Load Balancing Approach for Agent Based Applications in HPC Systems. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Start: 12/02/2011, end: 09/22/2017. Publications: 1 Article in an indexed journal, 4 articles in international conferences, 1 article in a national conference.

Guevara Quintero, Jose Alexander. Definition of a Resource Management Strategy for Dymanic Performance Tuning of Complex Applications. Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Start: 03/06/2008, end: 07/21/2010. Publications: 2 articles in international conferences, 1 article in national conferences.

Other Research Merits

Member of program committees of multiple conferences, including ICCS (5 years), CLEI (6 years), ICHPCS, MuCoCoS, and VHPCC.

Reviewer of more than 48 articles in indexed journals, including Future Generation Computer Systems (36 papers), Parallel Computing (3 papers), Journal of Prarallel and Distributed Computing (2 papers) and the Journal of Supercomputing (2 papers).

External reviewer of the Leading Fellows Postdoc Programme in 2019 (Netherlands).