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Hi, I am a Professor in the Department of Computer Science in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. These web pages tell you a bit about my work. I hope you find them useful, but if you want further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

                              Dr. Albert Burger, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK        

Research
Teaching
Admin
Research

Initially working on transaction models and concurrency control in parallel and distributed database systems, I moved into biomedical informatics in the mid 90’s. Since then my focus has been on biomedical atlases. I spent a considerable amount of time seconded to the MRC Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh, working on the Edinburgh Mouse Atlas Project (EMAP), where I focused on issues related to the mouse embryo anatomy ontology and the use of semantic technologies for the integration of distributed atlasing systems.  More recently this has led to my involvement in the international Human Cell Atlas endeavour, specifically the creation of the Gut Cell Atlas. My research now focuses on the computational aspects of developing a Common Coordinate Framework for the Gut Cell Atlas. 

For further information on grants and publications, please follow the links in the navigation panel. 

Teaching

My teaching experience started as an MSc and PhD student, when I taught introductory programming courses, initially at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and then at the University of Edinburgh. Since joining Heriot-Watt University as an academic I have taught at the UG and PG level, primarily in the areas of semantic web technologies and database systems, plus some courses in object-oriented software development and bioinformatics. 

Currently, like many of my colleagues around the world, I have shifted to delivering my courses online, which is both challenging and interesting. No doubt this will have a significant impact on how we teach at universities, even after the current coronavirus crisis has ended. 

Admin

Like all academics I make contributions to the administrative activities in the department, ranging from a number of MSc Program Directorships to more senior roles as Deputy Head and then Head of the Department of Computer Science. 

From Academic Year 2020/2021 I will be Year Director for our final year undergraduate and our final year MEng in Software Engineering students. 

Now the hardness of this world slowly grinds your dreams away
Makin’ a fool’s joke out of the promises we make
And what once seemed black and white turns to so many shades of gray
We lose ourselves in work to do and bills to pay
And it’s a ride, ride, ride, and there ain’t much cover

(from Bruce Springsteen, Blood Brothers)