Using high-performance computing to support society

Derek Groen’s research focuses on how high-performance computing (HPC) can help solve real-world problems. He studies how large computer systems and advanced models can be used to support decision-makers in situations where fast and reliable information is needed.

An example of his work is a collaboration with UNHCR, where he helped develop a model that estimates how many people might return to Ukraine if a peace agreement were reached. Earlier, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the development of a forecasting model that supported hospitals in West London with planning intensive-care capacity. In both cases, HPC made it possible to run large and complex simulations quickly enough to be useful.

To support these kinds of applications, Groen initiated and led the development of the SEAVEA toolkit. This toolkit helps researchers speed up the build of models and run them more efficiently. It also provides methods to help understand how reliable the results are. This is important when the outcomes are used in areas such as public health, humanitarian support, or planning for natural disasters.

Overall, Groen aims to make advanced computing more accessible and more reliable for real-world use. His work shows how HPC can contribute to better and more informed decisions on issues such as migration, disaster response and health care.

Research and teaching at the Informatics Institute

At the UvA’s Informatics Institute, Groen will strengthen the university’s role in European HPC  projects and support researchers and students who work with supercomputers. His research will focus on developing real-world applications more quickly and more responsibly. These applications may be mechanistic simulation models and AI-based applications.

He currently supervises several student projects that use the self-developed Flee migration model to study how natural disasters may influence population movements. In his teaching role, he will contribute to student supervision and share his expertise in HPC, simulation, and methods that make models more robust and trustworthy.

Career

Derek Groen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a Master’s degree in Grid Computing and a PhD in Computational Astrophysics from the UvA. After a postdoctoral position at University College London, he joined Brunel University London, where he has been a Reader since 2021. He has led three UNHCR-funded grants and was Technical Manager for the European VECMA and SEAVEA projects. He also served as Brunel’s PI for the HiDALGO project and is currently PI for the HOMEPOT project. Groen has contributed to more than 60 journal publications and is the General Chair of the International Conference on Computational Science. His work has been featured in major British media outlets and international broadcasts.