My Research

Fellowships / Research Grants

  • Nasa / New Mexico Spacegrant Fellowship, 2008-2009

  • IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Walter J. Karplus Research Grant, Summer 2009

Research

  • Algorithm: software assurance and quality (current), evolutionary computing, genetic algorithm, genetic programming, and agent-based optimization algorithm.

  • High Performance computing: parallel programming and distributed computing.

Publications

Journals
    1. Bui, T., T. Nguyen, C. Patel, and K. Phan, "An Ant-Based Algorithm for Coloring Graphs," Journal of Discrete Applied Mathematics, Vol. 156(2), 2008, pp. 190 --- 200. [pdf] [abstract]

    2. Smith, J and T. Nguyen, "Autonomous and cooperative robotic behavior based on fuzzy logic and genetic programming," Integrated Computer-Aided Engineering, Vol. 14(2), 2007, pp. 141 --- 159. [pdf] [abstract]
      Conference Proceedings
        1. Bui, T., T. Nguyen, and J. Rizzo, “Parallel Shared Memory Strategies for Ant-Based Optimization Algorithms”, Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO) (in press), 2009. [pdf , supplemental data, ppt] Best Paper in the Ant Colony Optimization and Swarm Intelligence track

        2. Forrest, S., W. Weimer, T. Nguyen, and C. Le Goues, “A Genetic Programming Approach to Automated Software Repair”, Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO) (in press), 2009. [pdf | updated version] Best Paper in the Genetic Programming track

        3. Weimer, W., T. Nguyen, C. Le Goues, and S. Forrest, “Automatically Finding Patches Using Genetic Programming”, International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE) (in press), 2009. [pdf] ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper and Manfred Paul Award for Excellence in Software: Theory and Practice

        4. Smith, J and T. Nguyen, "Fuzzy decision trees for planning and autonomous control of a coordinated team of UAVs," Proc. International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 6567, 2007. [pdf] [abstract]

        5. Smith, J and T. Nguyen, "Genetic program based data mining of fuzzy decision trees and methods of improving convergence and reducing bloat," Proc. International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 6570, 2007. [pdf] [abstract]

        6. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Guiding Genetic Program Based Data Mining Using Fuzzy Rules," Proc. 7th International Conference for Intelligent Data Engineering and Automated Learning (IDEAL), 4224, 2006, pp. 1337 --- 1345. [pdf] [abstract]

        7. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Evolutionary Data Mining Approach to Creating Digital Logic," Proc. 3rd International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics (ICINCO), 2006, pp. 107 --- 113. [pdf]

        8. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Fuzzy Logic Based UAV Allocation and Coordination," Proc. 3rd International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics (ICINCO), 2006, pp. 9 --- 18. [pdf] Best Paper 
          Also appears in Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics, Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, Vol. 15(2), 2008, pp. 81 --- 94. [abstract]

        9. Bui, T and T. Nguyen, "An Agent-Based Algorithm for Generalized Graph Colorings," Proc. 8th Annual Conference on Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO), 2006, pp. 19 --- 26. [pdf, ppt] [abstract]
          Erdős number: 4 (through Thang N. Bui).

        10. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Fuzzy Logic Based Resource Manager for a Team of UAVs," Proc. 25th International Conference of the North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society (NAFIPS), 2006, pp. 463 --- 470. [pdf] [abstract]

        11. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Creating Fuzzy Decision Algorithms Using Genetic Program Based Data Mining," Proc. 25th International Conference of the North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society (NAFIPS), 2006, pp. 471 --- 477. [pdf] [abstract]

        12. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Resource Manager for an Autonomous Coordinated Team of UAVs," Proc. International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 6235, 2006, pp. 118 --- 129. [pdf] [abstract]

        13. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Genetic Program Based Data Mining to Reverse Engineer Digital Logic," Proc. International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 6241, 2006, pp. 24 --- 35. [pdf] [abstract]

        14. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Distributed Autonomous Systems: Resource Management, Planning and Control Algorithms," Proc. International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 5809, 2005, pp. 65 --- 76. [pdf] [abstract]

        15. Smith, J. and T. Nguyen, "Data-Mining-Based Automated Reverse Engineering and Defect Discovery," Proc. International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 5812, 2005, pp. 232 --- 242. [pdf] [abstract]
        Workshops
        1. Nguyen, T., W. Weimer, C. Le Goues, and S. Forrest, Extended Abstract: “Using Execution Paths to Evolve Software Patches”, ICSTW, pp.152-153, IEEE International Conference on Software Testing, Verification, and Validation Workshops, 2009. [pdf, ppt] Best Short Paper and Best Presentation

        2. Viamontes, G., M. Amduka, J. Russo, M. Craven, and T. Nguyen, Poster: "Efficient Memoization Strategies for Object Recognition with a Multi-Core Architecture," Proc. 11th Annual High Performance Embedded Computing Workshop (HPEC), 2007. [pdf] Outstanding Submission
          Also appears in Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories technical reports, 2007.
          Others
            1. Forrest, S., T. Nguyen, W. Weimer, C. Le Goues, "Fixing software bugs in 10 minutes or less using evolutionary computation",  Human-Computer Competition THE 6th ANNUAL (2009) “HUMIES” AWARDS, 2009.  Winner (Gold)

            2. Nguyen, T., W. Weimer, C. Le Goues, and S. Forrest, “Fixing Real Bugs in Real Programs using Evolutionary Computing”, Computer Science University of New Mexico Student Conference (CSUSC), 2009. [pdf]

            3. Nguyen, T., W. Weimer, C. Le Goues, and S. Forrest, Poster: “Evolving Software Repairs Using Genetic Programming”, Darwin’s Legacy Symposium, University of New Mexico, 2009.

            4. Bezerra, G and T. Nguyen, "Modeling the Spread of Infection Diseases using an Agent-based Spatial Network,'' Computer Science University of New Mexico Student Conference (CSUSC), 2008. [pdf]

            5. T. Nguyen, “Graphs Coloring with Ants”, Penn State Graduate Research Exhibition, 2006.

            6. T. Nguyen, Poster: “Planning and Control Phases for Cooperative Teams of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles”, Penn State Graduate Research Exhibition, 2006.

            7. T. Nguyen, Poster: “Reverse Engineering and Exploiting Radars through Evolutionary Computing”, Penn State Graduate Research Exhibition, 2006.

            8. T. Nguyen., M.S. Thesis: "On the Graph Coloring Problem and Its Generalizations," Penn State University, 2006. [paper, presentation (pdf using LaTeX Beamer)]

              Abstract              : This thesis presents an agent-based algorithm for the NP-hard Graph Coloring problem and its generalizations, namely the Bandwidth Coloring, Multi Coloring, and Bandwidth Multi Coloring problems. The main feature of the algorithm is the collaboration of agents to color the vertices of the graph while making decisions based only on local neighborhood information. In addition, the algorithm provides a single framework for solving all four problems by using a preprocessing method to transform different graph coloring problems into a common type. Other ideas such as tabu lists and greedy-based local optimization are also adopted to accelerate the convergence rate and improve solution quality. Experimental results show that this algorithm performs very well compared to other existing approaches.

            Links

              1. Dimacs's Clique and Graph Color instances: these benchmark graphs were collected and archived during my Master thesis.

              Present and Past Projects

              1. Intrusion Detection & Using Evolutionary Computing techniques (e.g., GP) to repair software bugs. 2008 --- present. At: UNM.

              2. Security Sandbox for Java applications. 2007 --- 2008. At: UNM

              3. Geometric algorithms for Object recognitions. 2007 --- 2008. At: Lockheed Martin ATL

              4. Agents/Ants-based algorithms for the Graph Coloring problems, the Max-clique problem. 2005 --- 2006. At: PSU

              5. Parallel Computing Strategies for Ants-based algorithms. 2005 --- 2006. At: PSU

              6. Creating Fuzzy Decision trees with Genetic Programming. 2004 --- 2006. At: NRL

              7. Reverse-Engineering radar designs with Genetic Programming. 2004 --- 2006. At: NRL

              8. Simulations for UAVs manager/scheduler. 2004 --- 2006. At: NRL
              Subpages (6): java-stuffs Max Clique + Ant System ms_thesis Papers Software-Repair toread