Staff Profile

About me

I am currently working as a Research Associate in Machine Learning with the Microsystems Research Group, as part of the EPSRC Project: Scalability Oriented Novel Networks of Event Triggered Systems (SONNETS). Our goal is to discover, analyse, and create new Machine Learning (ML) models and explore how we can apply event-triggered paradigms, especially within particular interesting fields like finance.

Outside of SONNETS, I am exploring the design of ML models using formal models like Petri nets to further understand the causality effects and event-driven mechanisms of how an ML model makes it's prediction(s) and how it trains. Additionally, I am also assisting with the teaching of the EEE3027 labs for both Semester 1 on Integrated Circuit Design and Semester 2 on Embedded Systems.

Qualifications

• 2023: Achieved a Doctor of Philosopher Degree (PhD) in Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (EECE) at Newcastle University. Thesis title: "Automated Synthesis of Speed-independent Circuits using Distributed Finite State Machines".
• 2018: Achieved a Bachelors of Science (BSc) Degree in Computer Science with Industrial Placement at Newcastle University. Dissertation title: "A modelling language tool that investigates and demonstrates Set-nets".

Current Position(s)

• Research Associate in Machine Learning, Microsystems Research Group, Newcastle University, Feb 2024 to present

Previous Position(s)

• Research Assistant, School of Engineering, Microsystems Research Group, Newcastle University, Oct 2023 to Jan 2024.
• School ICT Assistant, Newcastle University IT Service, School of Engineering (Formerly in Chemical Engineering & Advanced Materials (CEAM) Department), Newcastle University, Aug 2016 to Aug 2017.
• Infrastructure Specialist Assistant, Newcastle University IT Service, Infrastructure Systems Group, Newcastle University, Feb 2017 to Apr 2017.
• Voluntary ICT Practitioner, Acorn Computer Recyling, Aug 2012 to Sep 2012.

Research Interests

• Formal modelling (in particular Finite State Machines, Petri nets, etc.).
• Design of distributed systems.
• Design of asynchronous systems.
• Machine learning algorithms and models.
• Computer-aided design tools.

• Article

  • Chan A, Sokolov D, Khomenko V, Lloyd D, Yakovlev A. Burst Automaton: Framework for Speed-Independent Synthesis using Burst-Mode Specifications. IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems (TCAD) 2022, 42(5), 1560-1573.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Squires-Parkin H, Chan A, Shafik R, Wheeldon A, Yakovlev A. Asynchronous Design of a Bitwise Elimination Argmax via High-Level Modeling in GraphRack. In: 29th IEEE International Symposium on Asynchronous Circuits and Systems (ASYNC). 2025, Portland, OR, USA: IEEE.
  • Chan A, Wheeldon A, Shafik R, Yakovlev A. Design of Event-Driven Tsetlin Machines Using Safe Petri Nets. In: International Conference on Applications and Theory of Petri Nets and Concurrency. 2024, Geneva, Switzerland: Springer, Cham.
  • Chan A, Sokolov D, Khomenko V, Yakovlev A. Bridging the Design Methodologies of Burst-Mode Specifications and Signal Transition Graphs. In: 29th Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASP-DAC). 2024, Incheon, Republic of Korea: IEEE.
  • Chan A, Sokolov D, Khomenko V, Yakovlev A. Formal Modelling of Burst-Mode Specifications in a Distributed Environment. In: Forum on Specification & Design Languages (FDL). 2022, Linz, Austria: IEEE.
  • Chan A, Sokolov D, Khomenko V, Lloyd D, Yakovlev A. Synthesis of SI Circuits from Burst-Mode Specifications. In: Design, Automation & Test in Europe Conference & Exhibition (DATE 2021). 2021, Grenoble, France: IEEE.