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Michael Lones

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Michael Lones

Professor, Doctor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2745-9896

  • Riccarton

    EH14 4AS Edinburgh

    United Kingdom

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

I'm happy to supervise students within any of my areas of interest, which include generative AI, machine learning, bio-inspired computing, optimisation, and applications in medicine and security.

20132026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research interests

Personal web site

I have over 25 years of experience in AI, specialising in machine learning and optimisation. My journey began with bio-inspired computing, and my interests have since expanded to encompass a broad spectrum of modern AI, integrating both theoretical and practical aspects.

Currently, my work focuses on the dependability of AI systems. This includes designing robust AI systems, understanding their limitations, and improving AI practice to enhance system reliability. My research has been applied across various domains, notably in medicine, where I contributed to the clinical translation of tools for Parkinson’s disease management, and in cybersecurity, where I work on problems in network and device security.

Drawing from these experiences, I am committed to sharing knowledge about AI practice and regularly share insights through talks and my Substack, Fetch Decode Execute.

Biography

I am a Professor in the Department of Computer Science, and also a member of the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics. I have MEng and PhD degrees from the University of York, awarded in 1999 and 2003 respectively.

Following my PhD, I held an ERCIM Fellowship at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. I then worked for 8 years as a Research Associate and then Research Fellow at the University of York, before moving to Heriot-Watt University in 2013.

I am an Associate Editor of BioSystems, and am on the editorial board of Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines. I am a Senior Member of the IEEE, and a member of the IEEE Technical Committee on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering.

At Heriot-Watt, I am the convenor for the Intelligent Systems research theme and on the board of the Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies. I've also held senior teaching roles in my department, including chairing the boards of studies and examiners.

For publications before 2013, please see my entry in the University of York research repository.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  2. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education

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  • Best Paper Award

    Elshimy, H. (Recipient), Zantout, H. (Recipient), Lones, M. A. (Recipient) & Elgayar, N. (Recipient), Feb 2025

    Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

    File

  • Humies Gold Award

    Lones, M. A. (Recipient), Alty, J. E. (Recipient), Cosgrove, J. (Recipient), Duggan-Carter, P. (Recipient), Jamieson, S. (Recipient), Naylor, R. F. (Recipient), Turner, A. J. (Recipient) & Smith, S. L. (Recipient), Jul 2018

    Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)