Topics in Modelling, Simulation and Optimization
- Instructor:
Prof. Rahul Simha
- Office Hours:
TBA
- Class Time/Place: TBA
- Prerequisites:
A first course in probability/modeling such as
E0-240 or E1-223. Although we will cover some biological applications,
no prior knowledge other than elementary high-school biology is needed.
- Course description:
This course will cover a variety of topics in the related areas
of modelling, simulation and optimization. Topics include:
modeling of networks, power-laws in networks, small-world
networks, boolean networks, complex dynamics, simulation optimization.
Applications to networks and biological systems will also be discussed.
Students will be expected to present papers and complete a
project.
- Possible Textbook:
Complexity: the Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and
Chaos. Mitchell Waldrop. Simon and Schuster, 1992 (paperback).
- Additional (optional, recommended) books:
- Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age. Duncan Watts.
Norton Press, 2003 (paperback).
- At Home in the Universe. Stuart Kauffman.
Oxford University Press (paperback).
- Introduction to Artificial Life. Christoph Adami.
Telos Publishing.
- Topics: (subject to change)
- Small-world and power-law networks. Applications in computer
and biological networks.
- Percolations and phase transitions.
- Boolean networks: models, attractors, types of boolean networks,
applications.
- Complexity: complex systems, order and chaos, applications in
economics, biological systems, cellular automata, dynamics of complex
systems.
- Network comparisons: graph isomorphism heuristics, motif detection.
- Wireless networks: coverage and connectivity problems.
- Simulation: discrete and continuous simulation, simulation
optimization techniques.
- List of papers (subject to change)
- Schedule
- Coursework