Senior Lecturer in Computer Science
I have been a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Computer Science since 1999.
My PhD and subsequent research has primarily been in the area of databases, with focused interests in novel data models (eg NoSQL) for Big Data and in database teaching and learning.
I also participate in reach-out with external companies, having worked on Knowledge Transfer projects with a number of companies and SMEs in the North East of England.
My main teaching lies in the area of databases but I have also taught a number of other subjects during my time at Sunderland, including C# Programming, Foundations of Computer Science, Information Systems, Networking, Computer Hardware and Operating Systems. I also lead all MSc projects in Computing and Engineering at the University of Sunderland and its off-campus partners. I am also programme leader for the MSc in Computing, the MSc in IT Management and the newly created MSc's in Data Science and Cybersecurity.
Teaching and supervision
Programme Leader:
Module Leader:
- Master's Project
- Advanced Databases
- Web Information Systems for Business
Teaching:
- Database Driven Information Systems
- Principles of Digital and Technology Solutions (Data strand)
- Undergraduate placement tutor
- Postgraduate Master's project supervisor
Research interests for potential research students
Databases for Big Data and Data Science.
Research
My PhD and subsequent research has primarily been in the area of databases, with focused interests in novel data models (eg NoSQL) for Big Data and Data Science and database pedagogy.
I am currently Director of Studies for one PhD in the area of database security, and co-supervisor for a PhD in noisy web data learning.
I have successfully supervised one PhD in the area of data privacy, and one Professional Doctorate in the area of high performance computing and learning and teaching.
I am currently a member of the steering committees for the British International Conference on Databases and the Workshops on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases.
I have extensive expertise in reach-out with external companies, having worked on Knowledge Transfer projects with a number of companies and SMEs in the North East of England. The last three projects I have worked on with Orchidsoft, Imprint Creative Print Solutions and Cellular Solutions have all been rated as Outstanding.
Publications
Article
McGarry, Kenneth, Nelson, David and Ashton, Mark (2020) A method to explore the connectivity patterns of proteins and drugs for identifying disease communities. SN Computer Science, 137. ISSN 2661-8907
Omran, Esraa, Nelson, David and M. Roumani, Ali (2017) A Comparative Study to the Semantics of Ontology Chain-Based Data Access Control versus Conventional Methods in Healthcare Applications. Computer and Information Science, 10 (4). p. 1. ISSN 1913-8989
Omran, Esraa, Grandison, Tyrone, Nelson, David and Bokma, Albert (2013) A Comparative Analysis of Chain-Based Access Control and Role-Based Access Control in the Healthcare Domain. International Journal of Information Security and Privacy, 7 (3). pp. 36-52. ISSN 1930-1650
Warrender, Robert, Tindle, John and Nelson, David (2013) Evaluating the Use of Virtual Machines in High Performance Clusters. International Journal of Advanced Computer Technology, 2 (5). pp. 25-30. ISSN 2319-7900
Nelson, David and Eddahir, Fatimazahra (2010) Review of contributions to the teaching, learning and assessment of databases (TLAD) workshops. ITALICS, 9 (1). pp. 78-86. ISSN 1473-7507
Omran, Esraa, Grandison, Tyrone E, Abu-Almaati, Shereed, Bokma, Albert and Nelson, David (2010) Healthcare chains - enabling application and data privacy controls for healthcare information systems. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 160. pp. 879-883. ISSN 0926-9630
Omran, Esraa, Bokma, Albert, Abu-Almaati, Shereed and Nelson, David (2009) Implementation of a chain ontology based approach in the health care sector. Journal of Digital Information Management, 7 (5). pp. 270-275. ISSN 0972-7272
Book Section
Onyancha, Julius, Plekhanova, Valentina and Nelson, David (2018) Learning Noise in Web Data Prior to Elimination. In: Transactions on Engineering Technologies: 25th World Congress on Engineering (WCE 2017). Springer. ISBN 9789811307461
Onyancha, Julius, Plekhanova, Valentina and Nelson, David (2017) Noise Web Data Learning from a Web User Profile: Position Paper. In: , Lecture Notes in Engineering and Computer Science: Proceedings of The World Congress on Engineering 2017 Volume II. IAENG, pp. 608-611. ISBN 9789881404831
James, Anne, Nelson, David, Davison, Karen, Cooper, Richard and Monger, Alasdair (2009) Ideas in Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases: A Communication of the 7th International Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases (TLAD 2009). In: Dataspace: The Final Frontier 26th British National Conference on Databases, BNCOD 26, Birmingham, 2009. Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (5588). Springer Verlag,, pp. 213-224. ISBN 978-3-642-02842-7
Conference or Workshop Item
Dagg, Lynne and Nelson, David (2024) An Investigation into Student Awareness of, and Attitudes to, use of Generative AI tools in their Educational Development. In: TPEA 36th Annual Conference Facing the future: Are we ready for change?, 2 - 3 July 2024, Manchester, UK. (Unpublished)
Nelson, David, McGarry, Kenneth and Proud, Mark (2023) USING ORACLE QUERY PLAN FOR AUTOMATED ASSESSMENT OF SQL. In: 17th International Technology, Education and Development Conference, 6-8 March 2023, Valencia, Spain.
Onyancha, Julius, Plekhanova, Valentina and Nelson, David (2017) Noise Web Data Learning from a Web User Profile: Position Paper. In: WCE 2017, 5-7 Jul 2017, London, UK.
Byrne, B, Nelson, David and Jayakumar, R (2017) Big Data Technology - Can We Abandon the Teaching of Normalisation? In: 9th annual International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, 3-5 Jul 2017, Barcelona, Spain.
Rujirapapipat, Suthinan, McGarry, Kenneth and Nelson, David (2016) Bioinformatic analysis using complex networks and clustering proteins involved with Alzheimer's disease. In: 16th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI-2016, 7-9 Sep 2016, Lancaster University.
Warrender, Robert, Tindle, John and Nelson, David (2013) Development of a Virtual Cluster. In: The 2013 International Conference on High Performance Computing & Simulation, 1 - 5 Jul 2013, Helsinki, Finland.
Warrender, Robert, Tindle, John and Nelson, David (2013) Job Scheduling in a High Performance Computing Environment. In: The 2013 International Conference on High Performance Computing & Simulation, 1 - 5 Jul 2013, Helsinki, Finland.
Nelson, David and Jayakumar, R (2012) A Ten-Year Review of Workshops on the Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases. In: 10th International Workshop on the Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases, 09 Jul 2012, University of Hertfordshire.
Bokma, Albert, Garfield, Sheila, Nelson, David, Omran, Esraa and Corcho, Oscar (2012) Cerif4Datasets (C4D) Utilising Semantics for the Discovery and Exploration of Datasets in Research. In: EuroCRIS 2012, 6 Jun 2012, Prague.
Warrender, Robert, Nelson, David and Tindle, John (2012) Virtual Cluster to Enhance Student Experience within a Teaching Environment. In: STEM Annual Conference 2012 - Aiming for excellence in STEM learning and teaching, 12 - 13 Apr 2012, Imperial College and The Royal Geographical Society London , England, SW7 2AZ.
Nelson, David, Monger, Alasdair and Boisvert, C (2011) Assessment in database modules; panel discussion. In: TLAD 11: HE Academy Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases, 11 Jul 2011, Manchester, UK.. (Unpublished)
Nelson, David and Scott, Jonathan (2010) A relational algebra tutor. In: TLAD 2010: 8th International Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases, 28 Jun 2010, Dundee, UK.. (Unpublished)
Ball, Les and Nelson, David (2010) A Disciplinary Commons for Database Teaching. In: TLAD'10: 8th Higher Education Academy Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases, 28 Jun 2010, Dundee, UK. (Unpublished)
Irving, Philip and Nelson, David (2006) A Survey of Risk Assessment for Corporate Networks. In: Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on IS Management, Leadership and Governance, July 2006.
Nelson, David, Rossiter, Brian Nicholas and Heather, Michael (2006) A Natural Basis for Interoperability. In: Interoperability for Enterprise, Software and Applications Conference, Bordeaux.
Stirk, Susan, Liu, Xian, Nelson, David and Stobart, Simon (2005) Managing Schema Versions in Object-Oriented Databases. In: Advances in Databases and Information Systems: Ninth East-European Conference on Advances in Databases and Information Systems.
Stirk, Susan, Nelson, David and Hull, Alison (2005) Development of a Model and Prototype for Reflecting Central Repository Updates to Original Semi-structured Data Sources. In: 22nd British National Conference on Databases: Workshops and Posters.
Stirk, Susan, Liu, Xian, Nelson, David and Stobart, Simon (2004) A Nested Matrix Model of Schema Versioning in Object-Oriented Databases. In: CSITeA-04, Third International Conference on Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, e-Business and Applications.
Nelson, David, Rossiter, Brian Nicholas, Stirk, Susan and Warrender, Robert (2004) A Comparison of the Product Model and the Third Manifesto. In: 8th World Multiconference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics.
Stirk, Susan, Nelson, David, Green, Caron and Patience, Sue (2003) An Evaluation of a Diverse Database Teaching Curriculum and the Impact of Research. In: LTSN-ICS Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases Workshop, Coventry.
Nelson, David, Rossiter, Brian Nicholas and Heather, Michael (2003) Formalising Types with Ultimate Closure for Midleware Tools in Information Systems. In: Fifth International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems.
Nelson, David, Rossiter, Brian Nicholas and Heather, Michael (2001) A Universal Technique for Relating Heterogeneous Data Models. In: Third International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems.
Book
Nelson, David and Leimich, Petra, eds. (2010) TLAD'10: Proceedings of the 8th Higher Education Academy Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases. Higher Education Academy Subject Network for Information and Computer Sciences, Dundee, UK.. ISBN 97809565220009
Nelson, David and James, Anne, eds. (2009) TLAD'09: Proceedings of the 7th Higher Education Academy Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases. Higher Education Academy Subject Network for Information and Computer Sciences, Birmingham, UK.. ISBN 9780955967672
Nelson, David and Green, Caron, eds. (2008) TLAD'08: Proceedings of the 6th Higher Education Academy Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases. Higher Education Academy Subject Network for Information and Computer Sciences, Cardiff, UK.. ISBN 9780955967610
- Databases
- Novel data models (eg NoSQL) for Big Data
- Teaching and learning of databases
- Member of The British Computer Society
- Chartered IT Professional
- Chartered Engineer (Engineering Council UK)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy