I am a postgraduate research student currently undertaking a PhD in the Web Engineering Group within the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of Sydney.

My main research interest is in improving the quality of learning outcomes using technology. More specifically, my research focuses on developing an ePortfolio system – called dotFOLIO – that supports life-long learning.

I have previously worked in the IT industry as a software engineer, and have worked on a number of projects for varying business applications. The projects include proprietary project governance systems, Capital Markets CRC intelligent information systems, and Open Source personal learning and development systems.

I returned to University to pursue a PhD in software engineering during the IT downturn that resulted from the dotcom crash. People thought I was nuts going back to uni to obtain a higher degree in an area that was lacking job opportunities. Well three years later I have almost completed my degree, and the IT industry is starting to pick up again… I still have faith in the industry.

Apart from sitting behind a computer and hacking away at a keyboard, I also enjoy an active lifestyle. I used to play club rugby for SUFC Colts, until injury forced me to look at other ways to keep fit. I now enjoy running, playing golf, rock climbing, and going to the gym.

I have been fortunate enough to be well travelled. I have lived in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and have visited UK, Ireland, Austria, Italy, China, Thailand, USA and Hawaii. When I have the time and money, I will set my sights on exploring South America and the rest of Europe.

I have met and fallen in love with the perfect girl. Her name is Kimmy Tran, and we’ve been together for almost two years. We share the same passions and dreams, and I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

The following is my SimilarMinds personality profile:

Trait snapshot: clean, likes large parties, outgoing, makes friends easily, optimistic, positive, social, high self control, traditional, assertive, rarely irritated, self revealing, open, finisher, high self concept, controlling, rarely worries, tough, likes to stand out, does not like to be alone, semi neat freak, fearless, dominant, trusting, organized, resolute, strong, practical, craves attention, adventurous, hard working, respects authority, brutally honest, realist, altruistic.

Other information about me such as my height, weight, nationality and age can be summed up in the following barcode:

This page only covers a byte size chunk of my life, but I intend to cover most of it in my blog, for the purpose of keeping my friends and family that are scattered across the globe up-to-date with my life.

Lecturer’s perspective




Kim’s presentation




Karsten’s presentation


Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

We had a couple of guest speakers in for the EBUS 3003::E-Business System Design course on Wednesday. I was the unit co-ordinator and lecturer for the course in 2004. I was filling in for Rafael whilst he was away doing other things off-campus. I didn’t have a digital camera last year, so I was not able to take a photo of the lecture theatre from the lecturer’s perspective behind the lectern. Not everyone gets the opportunity to stand up in front of a large audience and rattle on for an hour or two, and I regret not taking a photo to capture the experience back then. So I made up for it this year and snapped one at the start of the lecture (which is why there is a big gap in the middle of the audience).

Rafael introduced industry guest speakers into the course a couple years ago. I have also helped to bring some quality speakers to the course. Last year with the help of Microsoft we were able to have Richard Ang the CIO of NineMSN to present some of the things they are doing with Internet technologies. We also had Simon Wild the CTO of Xylogy in to give a talk on project management. He came back this year to give another talk, this time on project governance.

On Wednesday we managed to have Kim Tran, a systems manager from Procter & Gamble, give a talk on sales automation, supply chain management and interactive marketing. As well as Karsten Kumpf, a business services manager from Tibco Software Inc.

We are very fortunate enough to have people from industry that are willing to give up some time from their busy work schedule, and to talk to students about their experiences in industry, as well as the latest trends in industry. There really aren’t that many courses at University that offer such a program, and I see this connection with industry as one of our strengths of the School of Electrical & Information Engineering, at the University of Sydney.

Kimmy and Nick at the 2005 Graduation Dinner

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

Here I am with my beautiful girlfriend Kimmy at the 2005 Graduation Dinner.

We both turned up for Ernie’s big MIT Sloan award. He made a bit of a spectacle by kissing the prize giver not once, not twice, but three times on each cheek! The picture came out blurred, which is why I can’t share it.

Dorian and Rafael at the 2005 Graduation Dinner

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

Here is Rafael (my PhD superviser) and his partner Dorian at the 2005 Graduation Dinner.

Fiona and Ernie at the 2005 Graduation Dinner

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

Kimmy and I were seated next to Ernie and his lovely partner Fiona. Ernie was clearly happy to be at the Graduation Dinner to collect his prize for best Advanced Web Engineering project… clearly he was smashed.

Ash’s Mexican farewell dinner

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

Congratulations to my mate Bennett (pictured eating what looks like a Chimichanga)! He was co-author of “BAFF Augments Certain Th1-Associated Inflammatory Responses“, which was recently accepted to be published in the Journal of Immunology.

Abstract: B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF; BLyS) is a critical regulator of B cell maturation and survival, and its overexpression in BAFF transgenic (Tg) mice results in the development of autoimmune disorders. BAFF also affects T cell function through binding to one of the BAFF receptors, BAFF-R. Using BAFF Tg mice, we examined a typical Th1-mediated response, the cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, and found a much greater degree of paw swelling and inflammation than in control mice. Importantly, delayed-type hypersensitivity scores correlated directly with BAFF levels in serum. Conversely, in a Th2-mediated model of allergic airway inflammation, BAFF Tg mice were largely protected and showed markedly reduced Ag-specific T cell proliferation and eosinophil infiltration associated with the airways. Thus, local and/or systemically distributed BAFF affects Th1 and Th2 responses and impacts on the course of some T cell-mediated inflammatory reactions. Our results are consistent with the idea that BAFF augments T cell as well as B cell responses, particularly Th1-type responses. Results in BAFF Tg mice may reflect the situation in certain autoimmune patients or virally infected individuals, because BAFF levels in blood are comparable.

Sans Souci

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

Here I am with my girlfriend Kimmy. This photo was taken at Sans Souci, Sydney, just before Clout’s wedding reception dinner at the Sailing club.

Pier

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

I thought I’ll share this picture, as it helps me to escape from the frustrations of my PhD… serenity now!

Flinders Street Railway Station

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

On a recent trip to Melbourne, I was able to snap the City Circle Tram in front of Flinders Street railway station, both are icons of a bygone era.

Just across the road in stark contrast is Federation Square, a complex of distinctive, modern buildings, an irregular piazza, and an atrium.

The Bride and Groom

Originally uploaded by ncarroll.

Now that I’ve got my blog up and running, I can now dig up some pictures to blog about.

I’ll start with this one, taken on 15th January, 2005, of my mate Stephen with his lovely wife Sarah. This was taken at their wedding reception at Sans Souci.