Michael Kirley


I am a Professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems and Co-Director of the Melbourne Centre for Data Science.

Contact details

  • Room 8.318, Melbourne Connect, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton
  • Email: mkirley@unimelb.edu.au

Research Interests

My primary area of expertise is positioned at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science, with a strong emphasis on evolutionary computation. I have made a significant contribution to research focused on the design of data-driven algorithms for optimisation and decision-making. Beyond established boundaries and discipline norms, I collaborate with both industry and university partners to find innovative solutions for complex social-technological problems.

I am an Associate Editor for the leading journal IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation.

Current ARC funded projects

  • ARC DP240103054 (2024 - 2026). A modelling framework for designing more sustainable urban freight systems. CIs: Thompson, R., Kirley, M., Zhang. L. and Sabri, S.
  • IH210100051 (2022 - 2027). ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Digital Bioprocess Development.
    • 5-year collaborative program, with contributions from all industry partners (cash and in kind), including $5 million from the Australian Research Council.
    • The Hub Director is Prof Sally Gras.
    • I am the lead Chief Investigator (replacement position) for the Digital Processing project with industry partner, Patheon Biologics.
  • IC200100009 (2021 - 2026). ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Optimisation Technologies, Integrated Methodologies, and Applications (OPTIMA).
    • 5-year collaborative program, with contributions from all industry partners (cash and in kind), including $4.86 million from the Australian Research Council.
    • The Centre Director is Prof Kate Smith-Miles.
    • I am a Chief Investigator in OPTIMA.

Previous ARC funded projects

  • ARC DP180101215 (2018 - 2021). A computational theory of strategic deception. CIs: Smith, W., Sonenberg, L. and Kirley, M. (PIs: Dignum, F. and Kuhn, G.)
  • ARC DP160102231 (2016 - 2019). Co-evolution of cooperation, mindreading, and morality. CIs: Kashima,Y., Kirley, M., Howes, P. and Laham, S.
  • ARC DP130100845 (2013 - 2016). Co-evolutionary dynamics of cultural and social structure. CIs: Kashima, Y., Robins, G. and Kirley, M.
  • ARC DP0664674 (2006 - 2009). Evolutionary algorithms for global grids. CI: Kirley, M.

Publications

PhD student supervision

Current students

  • Hanan Alsouly. (co-supervisor Dr Mario Andres Munoz Acosta)
  • Helani Wickramaarachchilage. (co-supervisor Dr Fjalar de Haan)
  • Craig Lewis. (co-supervisors A/Prof Jen Overbeck, Prof Geoff Martin)
  • Jalal Abdolahi. (primary supervisor Dr Ellie Hajizadeh)
  • Elle Pattenden. (primary supervisor Prof Yoshi Kashima)
  • Pengyuan Ding. (primary supervisor Dr Ellie Hajizadeh)
  • Yige Song. (co-supervisors Dr Eduardo Oliveira, Dr Pauline Thompson)
  • Behzad Moradi. (co-supervisor Dr Mario Andres Munoz Acosta)
  • Paul Ou. (co-supervisor Dr Abel Armas Cervantes)

Completed students

  • Dan Herring. (completed 2022). Dynamic Multi-objective Optimisation using Evolutionary Algorithms
  • Yuan Sun. (completed 2018). Algorithm selection for continuous optimization problems.
  • Camilo Cruz Gambardella. (completed 2018). Evolving Pareto-optimal architectural form.
  • Burkhard von der Osten. (completed 2017). Intelligent decision-making in coupled socio-ecological systems.
  • Maryam Varmazyar. (completed 2014). Response measurement damage identification using Evolutionary Algorithms.
  • Mario Andres Munoz Acosta. (completed 2013). Automatic selection of algorithms for continuous optimization problems.
  • Mani Abedini. (completed 2013). Towards high-dimensional classification using genetic based machine learning.
  • Jens Pfau. (completed 2013). Computational models of cultural dynamics.
  • Raymond Chiong. (completed 2012). Promoting cooperation in multi-player evolutionary games.
  • Golriz Rezaei. (completed 2011). Enhanced social learning via trust and reputation mechanism in multi-agent systems.
  • Rob Moss. (completed 2008). A clockwork kidney: hierarchical dynamical networks to model emergent dynamics in the kidney.
  • Md. Rafiul Hassan. (completed 2007). Hybrid HMM and soft computing modeling with applications to time series analysis.

Links