Background
Electronic engineer John Breslin (31) was born in Dublin and grew up in Fanore, Co Clare. He went to school in Lisdoonvarna. Since qualifying, he has held a range of Johnresearch and teaching posts.
His current job is in one of the most exciting areas of computer science – working on the Semantic Web project at the Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI) at NUI Galway. (The Semantic Web is the next generation of the World Wide Web, intended to create much more meaningful connections between pieces of information.)
Among the awards he has collected are a Golden Spider and a Zeddy web award for the online community boards.ie, and a prize paper award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Degrees
BE (Electronics), NUI Galway, 1994 and PhD, NUI Galway, 2002
Career snapshot
He began his career in 1994 with the Power Electronics Research Centre at NUI Galway, where he worked on computer techniques to improve the design of electrical transformers.
From 2000 to 2004, he lectured at the Department of Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway. He taught students in both electronic and computer engineering subjects ranging from radio communications to digital logic.
Currently, he’s a postdoctoral researcher at DERI, researching social networks and community portals on the Semantic Web.
What’s so brilliant about your job?
“I’ve been fascinated by the development of online communities on the Web since I co-founded one of Ireland’s largest community sites (boards.ie) as a hobby in 2000. Boards.ie started life as a single discussion forum with a handful of members, and now spans hundreds of diverse forums with thousands of members.
“My interest has evolved from this part-time hobby to become the focus of my research at DERI: social networking on the Semantic Web.
“The idea of a Semantic Web – a semantically-annotated resource shared by humans and computers – was proposed by the inventor of the current Web, Tim Berners-Lee. It will make it easier for humans to find information than it is with today’s search engines, and will allow computers to automatically process and integrate the information available on the Web.
“The growth of social networking sites since 2003 has been phenomenal, attracting significant publicity and venture capital as a result. These are community sites where users can maintain an online network of friends or associates for social or business purposes: whether you’re looking for a job, reconnecting with old friends, moving to a new area, or dating. “I’m working on developing such a social networking site with an Irish focus, building on my previous experience in online communities.”
What do you like least about your job?
“Deadlines (for papers, proposals and deliverables)! But then again, you have deadlines in nearly all jobs and few people like them.”
How do you spend a typical day?
“My first task each day will be to check email. Typical tasks would include researching and writing technical papers; reviewing and reading other people’s papers; putting together proposals for projects and funding; programming and web development; participating in meetings of clusters and committees; and attending seminars given by researchers on a wide range of topics (a great way to learn quickly about a new area).”
Does your work require a lot of equipment?
“No – just computers!”
Are you a science nerd?
“I am a bit of a technology freak – I spend a lot of free time developing web sites or fiddling with some computer or electronic gadget. My latest home gadget is called the DreamBox. This sounds like a gaming console, but it is actually a satellite receiver.
“You can stream television from it to your PC, record to its hard disk (like Sky+), and download or upload multimedia files through its network connection. This is one of many examples we have of where communications and computing technology is converging (like mobile phones and portable media players).
“I also have a strong interest in the convergence between electronics and the Semantic Web: the World Wide Web Consortium’s CC/PP recommendation, and physical hyperlinks for electronic devices.”
Did science give you a buzz at school?
“In secondary school, I took all available science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), with some outside normal hours. I really enjoyed these subjects, and loved any chance I had to use the single Apple Lisa computer we had in school (not just Pong, but BASIC too)!
“My earliest scientific memory in primary school was making a circuit to turn on and off a light: using a battery, torch bulb and an old switch I cut off from a worn-out electric blanket.”
What has been the highlight of your career to date?
“The highlight of my career has probably been the IEEE prize paper award I and my co-authors received for a journal publication in PELS Transactions in 2000. Each time a publication is accepted for a peer-reviewed journal or conference it is a mini-highlight, because your work has been reviewed by those foremost in your research area and deemed to be worthy of notice by others.”
Want to find out more?
Visit John Breslin’s home page
Check out DERI Galway
