students

I supervise graduate students (Ph.D., M.Sc., M.C.S., M.D.T.I.) and post-doctoral fellows at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. My students work across my main research areas: requirements engineering and the User Requirements Notation (URN), business process modelling and mining, healthcare informatics, and legal compliance and smart contracts (Symboleo).

Prospective students: I welcome motivated students with a strong background in software engineering or computer science. Please email me with your CV, a short statement of research interests, and your transcripts. See also my publications and funded projects.

Current students

• Najah Mary El-Gharib; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2021/09–present
• Amal Anda; Post-Doc, 2022/03–present; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos
• Erfan Elhami; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2023/09–present; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel
• Cassio Alexandre Castro; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2023/09–present
• Vahid Kamandlooie; M.Sc. D.T.I., 2024/09–present; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel
• Robin McIntyre; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2024/09–present; co-supervised with G. Richards
• Ahmad Shuja; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2024/09–present; co-supervised with T. Yeap
• Ro'Yah Radaideh; M.A.Sc. ECE – AAI, 2025/09–present; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel
• Margi Ashish Shah; M.Eng. ECE – Project, 2026/05–present

Completed students

Post-Doctoral Fellows (5)

• Okhaide Akhigbe; PDF, 2023/11–2025/07.
  Beyond Keywords: Semantic Search Framework for Data in Organizations
• Alireza Parvizimosaed; PDF, 2022/09–2023/08; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos.
  Securing an IIoT SaaS platform using blockchain and machine learning methods
• Malak Baslyman; PDF, 2018/12–2019/04.
  Management Design Model for the Evaluation Workflow of Research Project Applications at Institut du Savoir Montfort
• Gunter Mussbacher; PDF, 2013/01–2013/06.
  Goal and Aspect-oriented Business Process Engineering (GAoBPE)
• Omar Bahy Badreddin; PDF, 2012/07–2013/01.
  Operational Performance Framework

Ph.D. Students (17)

• Sofana Alfuhaid; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2021/01–2026/05; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos, A. Anda.
  From Formal Symboleo Specifications to Secure and Interactive Smart Contract Code
• Shabnam Hassani; Ph.D. C.S., 2021/09–2025/12; co-supervised with M. Sabetzadeh.
  Enhancing Legal Compliance and Regulation Analysis with Large Language Models
• Alireza Parvizimosaed; Ph.D. C.S., 2018/01–2022/10; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos, L. Logrippo, M. Roveri.
  Symboleo: Specification and Verification of Legal Contracts
• Mahdi Ghasemi; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2015/09–2021/12.
  Goal-oriented Process Mining
• Basmah Almoaber; Ph.D. D.T.I., 2015/09–2021/02.
  User-Centered Change Management Process for CPOE Implementation
• Amal Ahmed Anda; Ph.D. C.S., 2015/05–2020/08.
  Combining Goals and SysML for Traceability and Decision-Making in the Development of Adaptive Socio-Cyber-Physical Systems
• Sanaa Alwidian; Ph.D. C.S., 2015/03–2020/02.
  Union Models: Support of Variability Modeling and Efficient Reasoning about Model Families over Space and Time.
• Okhaide Akhigbe; Ph.D. e-Bus, 2014/05–2018/10; co-supervised with Greg Richards.
  A Regulator-oriented Regulatory Intelligence Framework
• Malak Baslyman; Ph.D. C.S., 2014/11–2018/09.
  Activity-based Process Integration Framework to Improve User Satisfaction and Decision Support in Healthcare
• Hanna Farah; Ph.D. E.C.E., 2009/09–2015/04; co-supervised with Khaled El Emam.
  Privacy-Preserving Patient Tracking for Phase 1 Clinical Trials
• Alireza Pourshahid; Ph.D. C.S., 2008/09–2014/04; co-supervised with Michael Weiss.
  A Framework for Monitoring and Adapting Business Processes Using Aspect-Oriented URN
• Edna Braun; Ph.D. C.S., 2002/05–2013/09; co-supervised with Tim Lethbridge.
  Reverse Engineering Behavioural Models by Filtering out Utilities from Execution Traces
• Sepideh Ghanavati; Ph.D. C.S., 2007/09–2013/04; co-supervised with Liam Peyton.
  Legal-URN Framework for Legal Compliance of Business Processes
• Azalia Shamsaei; Ph.D. C.S., 2008/09–2012/10; co-supervised with Eric Yu.
  Indicator-based Policy Compliance of Business Processes
• Saeed Ahmadi Behnam; Ph.D. C.S., 2006/01–2012/10.
  Goal-oriented Pattern Family Framework for Business Process Modeling
• Hanane Becha; Ph.D. C.S., 2005/09–2012/10; co-supervised with Azzedine Boukerche.
  Exposing and Aggregating Non-functional Properties in SOA from the Perspective of the Service Consumer
• Gunter Mussbacher; Ph.D. C.S., 2005/09–2010/11.
  Aspect-oriented User Requirements Notation

Master's Students (with thesis) (29)

• Alireza Houshidari; M.Sc. D.T.I., 2024/05–2025/11; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  Automated Care Pathway Modeling Using Agentic and Knowledge-Aware LLMs
• Daniel Sousa-Dias; M.C.S., 2021/09–2024/05; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos, A. Rahimi.
  Data Security and Privacy in Transactive Energy Markets
• Regan Meloche; M.C.S., 2021/09–2021/20; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos.
  Formalizing Contract Refinements Using a Controlled Natural Language
• Aidin Rasti; M.C.S., 2020/09–2022/10; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos.
  From Symboleo to Smart Contracts – A Code Generator
• Sepehr Sharifi; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2018/03–2020/08; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos.
  Smart Contracts: from Formal Specification to Blockchain Code Joseph De Koninck Thesis Prize 2020 (outstanding master’s thesis in an interdisciplinary or collaborative program at the University of Ottawa)
• Najah Mary El-Gharib; M.Sc. E.B.T., 2017/09–2019/11.
  Using Process Mining Technology for Understanding User Behavior in SaaS Applications
• Mir Kamyar Ziabari; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2016/12–2018/07; co-supervised with W. Michalowski.
  Mobile Self-Triage Applications: A Usability Perspective
• Gursimran Singh Chandhoke; M.Sc.A. ECE, 2016/07–2017/04; co-supervised with H. Mouftah.
  A Framework for Virtual Patient Navigation Applications
• Wei Chen Li; M.C.S., 2015/01–2016/10; co-supervised with W. Michalowski, L. Lessard.
  Supporting Pathology Process Management with Real-time Business Intelligence
• Nihan Catal; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2015/01–2016/05; co-supervised with Wojtek Michalowski.
  Supporting Interdisciplinary Healthcare Team Dynamics with Business Process Management
• Raoufeh Rezaee; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2013/05–2014/11.
  Patient-Device Association and Disassociation with a Real-Time Location System
• Malak Baslyman; M.C.S., 2013/05–2014/11.
  Real-time, Location-based Hand Hygiene Monitoring and Notification System
• Okhaide Akhigbe; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2012/01–2014/04; co-supervised with Greg Richards.
  Business Intelligence - Enabled Adaptive Enterprise Architecture
• Rouzbahan Rashidi-Tabrizi; M.A.Sc., 2012/05–2013/10.
  Automatic Generation of Goal Models from Regulations
• Renaud Bougueng Tchemeube; M.C.S., 2011/09–2013/07.
  Location-Aware Business Process Management for Real-time Monitoring of Patient Care Processes
• Sepideh Bahrani; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2012/01–2013/07.
  Real-Time Simulation of Patient Care Processes in Healthcare
• Anisur Rahman; M.A.Sc., 2008/09–2013/07.
  A Domain-Specific Language for Traceability in Modeling
• Iman Johari; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2010/08–2012/10; co-supervised with Greg Richards.
  Combining Business Intelligence, Indicators, and the User Requirements Notation for Performance Monitoring
• Carlos Villar; M.Sc. E.B.T, 2009/07–2011/02; co-supervised with Dominique Ferrand.
  A Goal-Driven Methodology for Developing Health Care Quality Metrics
• Marconi Lanna Garcia; M.C.S., 2007/09–2009/06; co-supervised with Azzedine Boukerche.
  Spotting the Difference: A Source Code Comparison Tool
• Renato P. Simoes; M.C.S., 2005/01–2009/02.
  Providing Media Control to SIP-based IVR Applications: The IVRObject Approach
• Romeo Issa; M.C.S., 2008/07–2009/01; co-supervised with J.-P. Corriveau, K. El Emam.
  Satisfying K-Anonymity: New Algorithm and Empirical Evaluation
• Muhammad R. Abid; M.C.S., 2007/05–2008/09; co-supervised with Stéphane Somé.
  UML Profile for Goal-oriented Modelling
• Alireza Pourshahid; M.Sc. E.B.T., 2006/09–2008/02; co-supervised with Michael Weiss.
  A URN-Based Methodology for Business Process Monitoring
• Jason Kealey; M.C.S., 2005/09–2007/10.
  Enhanced Use Case Map Analysis and Transformation Tooling
• Sepideh Ghanavati; M.Sc. Sys. Sc., 2005/01–2007/05; co-supervised with Liam Peyton.
  A Compliance Framework for Business Processes Based on URN
• Jean-François Roy; M.C.S., 2004/09–2007/02.
  Requirement Engineering with URN: Integrating Goals and Scenarios
• Bo Jiang; M.C.S., 2002/09–2005/06; co-supervised with Robert L. Probert.
  Combining Graphical Scenarios with a Requirements Management System
• Yong Xiang Zeng; M.C.S., 2003/01–2005/06; co-supervised with Dorina Petriu.
  Transforming Use Case Maps to the Core Scenario Model Representation

Master's Students (with project) (65)

• Iman Nateghi; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2026/01–2026/04; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel, A.N. Wilkinson.
  Emergency Department as a Gateway to the Cancer System: Analysis based on Process Mining
• Karanpreet Kaur Bains; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2026/01–2026/04; co-supervised with B. McInnis.
  Post-Quantum Cryptography Intelligence and Supply Chain Security
• Andrew J. Otis; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2025/09–2026/01; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  Clustering Traces and Events to Cope with Variability in Process Mining
• Rongshen Zhao; M.Sc. SYS – Project, 2025/05–2025/08; co-supervised with O. Akhigbe, N. Busany.
  Addressing Schema-Related Challenges in Text-to-SQL Database Querying: An LLM Approach
• Anurag Ajay Joshi; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2025/05–2025/08; co-supervised with O. Akhigbe, N. Busany.
  Investigation of Relational Schema Quality and LLM-Based Text-to-SQL Performance Degradation
• Maged Khodair; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2025/05–2025/08; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  TCID Process Mining (Transport Canada)P. Jahanshahi, Kavya Mallur (TC)
• Sahil Rajpal; M.C.S. – Project, 2025/01–2025/04.
  From Natural Language Contracts to Symboleo Using LLMs: Generation of Improvement Prompts from Error Logs
• Gurdarshan Singh; M.C.S. – Project, 2025/01–2025/04.
  From Natural Language Contracts to Symboleo Using LLMs: End-to-End Automation in Support of Large Experiments
• Anamika Shyamn Prasad; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2025/01–2025/04; co-supervised with J. Renaud, M. Ward (TOH).
  Breast Cancer Pathway Learning Health System (LHS) – Process Mining Prototype
• Kasra Rasinoujehdehi; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2025/01–2025/04; co-supervised with J. Renaud, M. Ward (TOH).
  Learning Health Systems (LHS) for Breast Cancer Pathway and for Regional Programs – Business Intelligence Prototypes!
• Sai Swarna Rajendran; M.C.S. – Project, 2025/01–2025/25; co-supervised with J. Mylopoulos, A. Anda.
  Smart Contract Specifications: Development of a Library of Functions for Symboleo
• Lakshika Paiva; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2024/05–2024/25; co-supervised with L. Lessard, K. Sauvé-S.
  Decisions for Affordable/Social Housing (DASH) System: A Data Governance Framework
• Nancy Thu-Thon; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2024/09–2024/12.
  Proposal for Integrating M365 Power Tools at the Public Service Commission of Canada
• Mohit Kailash Soni; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2024/09–2024/12; co-supervised with J. Renaud (TOH).
  Decisions for High-Performance Population-Based Cancer Learning Health System (LHS) – Back-End Prototype
• Zohreh Mashreghi; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2024/09–2024/12; co-supervised with J. Renaud (TOH).
  Decisions for High-Performance Population-Based Cancer Learning Health System (LHS) – Front-End Prototype
• Greg Price; M.C.S. – Project, 2024/05–2024/08.
  Assessing the Implications of Fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) for Enhanced Search Results in terms of Cost and Performance
• Hao Jing; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2024/05–2024/08; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  Integrating PM with RPA: Tools and Methodologies
• Vitalii Bielievtsov; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2024/01–2024/05.
  A Usable and Deployed Web Interface for the NLP-based Refinement of Symboleo Smart Contract Specifications
• Devansh Kumar; M.C.S. – Project, 2024/01–2024/05.
  Generating Reliable SQL Queries Using Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Rohit Shashank Shelke; M.C.S. – Project, 2024/01–2024/05.
  Improving the Performance of SQL Query Generation Using Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Shohre Javadi; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2024/03–2024/04; co-supervised with R. Weisman.
  An Exploratory Study of Agility in Public Sector Enterprise Architecture
• Meet Shukla; M.C.S. – Project, 2023/10–2024/04.
  Generalizing the Web Interface for Institutes and their Members (WIIM) to Support Many Institutes
• Hairong Xu; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/10–2024/04.
  Business Intelligence for the Web Interface for Institutes and their Members (WIIM)
• Durga Sivakumar; M.C.S. – Project, 2023/09–2023/12.
  A Web-Based IDE for Symboleo, with Smart Contract Generation
• Valeriia Kolesnyk; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/09–2023/12; co-supervised with L. Lessard, K. Sauvé-Schenk.
  Decisions for Affordable/Social Housing (DASH) System: Analysis of Existing Systems and Interoperability Management
• Yashraj Ram Motwani; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/05–2023/12; co-supervised with L. Lessard, K. Sauvé-Schenk.
  Analytics Portals for the Decisions for Affordable/Social Housing (DASH) System
• Sara Valipourebrahimi; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/05–2023/12; co-supervised with L. Lessard, K. Sauvé-Schenk.
  A Data Framework for the Decisions for Affordable/Social Housing (DASH) System
• Vishal Parekh; M.C.S. – Project, 2023/05–2023/12; co-supervised with L. Lessard, K. Sauvé-Schenk.
  Predictive Analytics and Data Synthesis for the Decisions for Affordable/Social Housing (DASH) System
• Yokesh Elangovan; M.C.S. – Project, 2023/05–2023/12.
  User Experience Design for Unified Experiential Learning Portal of University of Ottawa
• Stephanie Kahindo; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/05–2023/12; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  Applicability of Process Mining to the Pilot Medicals Process at Transport Canada
• Md Moshee Uddin; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/05–2023/08.
  Event Journeys for the LIFE Research Institute Membership Portal
• Sparsh Goyal; M.C.S. – Project, 2023/05–2023/08; co-supervised with B. McInnis.
  Cryptographic Discovery and Reporting
• Nitin Bhardwaj; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/05–2023/08; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  Applied Process Mining in Healthcare
• Stefano Heguy; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/05–2023/08; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  A Process Mining Case Study into a Procurement to Payment System at Transport Canada
• Saikata Samal; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/05–2023/08; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  Synergizing Log-Filtering APIs & Goal-Oriented Techniques for Process Mining
• Moe Doutaghy; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2023/01–2023/04; co-supervised with W. Van Woensel.
  Applied Process Mining at The Ottawa Hospital
• Jacques Trottier; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2022/05–2022/12.
  Applied Process Mining in the Federal Public Service of Canada
• Mahsa Ziaeddini; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2022/09–2022/12; co-supervised with R. Weisman.
  The Role of Inclusive Innovation in Enterprise Architecture
• Cassio Pereira de Castro; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2022/05–2022/08; co-supervised with R. Weisman.
  Enterprise Architecture and Digital Transformation as a Digital Shared Services Enabler
• Dehui Yu; M.C.S. – Project, 2022/05–2022/08.
  Process Mining: A Log Filtering API in Python
• Kamal Rezvaninejad; M.C.S. – Project, 2021/09–2021/12; co-supervised with S. Byrns.
  Digitally Transforming Preoperative Preparation and Compliance with a Mobile Application
• Jun Chen; M.C.S. – Project, 2021/05–2021/08.
  Design and Development of a Research Institute Management System (RIMS)
• Sri Kalyan Challa; M..D.T.I. – Project, 2021/01–2021/04.
  A Data Architecture for Monitoring the Added Value of the LIFE Research Institute
• Aditya Mishra; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2021/01–2021/04.
  A Business Intelligence System for Analysing the Added Value of the LIFE Research Institute
• Yashika Goyal; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2020/09–2021/05.
  Bowhead-Coil: A Machine Learning Marketplace for Researchers & Developers (Back-End)
• T. Sree Akhil Nandyala; M.C.S. – Project, 2020/09–2021/01.
  Bot development using NLP for efficient recommendation of COVID clinical trials
• Vidushi Mohan; M.D.T.I. – Project, 2020/09–2021/01.
  Bowhead-Coil: A Machine Learning Marketplace for Researchers & Developers
• Vagini Maruthaiyan; M.EBT – Project, 2019/11–2020/04.
  Process Automation and Analytics for a Research Institute Project Management System
• Manpreet Singh; M.C.S. – Project, 2019/09–2019/12.
  Optimization of Arithmetic Semantics for GRL Goal Models with Function Generation
• Sandra Ezike Ifechukwu; M.EBT – Project, 2018/09–2019/05.
  Tool Evaluation in Support of Goal-Oriented Process Mining
• Yina Xu; M.C.S. – Project, 2019/01–2019/04.
  Tool Support for Analyzing and Visualizing Goal-Oriented Regulatory Intelligence Results
• Yuxuan Fan; M.C.S. – Project, 2017/12–2018/05.
  Arithmetic Semantics for GRL Goal Models with Function Generation in Many Languages
• F. I. De Oliveira Brescia; M.C.S. – Project, 2018/01–2018/05; co-supervised with R. Giffen, M. Henderson.
  Evidence-based Newborn Screening Process Improvement
• Kai Shen; M.C.S. – Project, 2017/01–2017/05.
  Tool Support for Consistency and Completeness Analysis in User Requirements Notation Models
• Venus Pathak; M.C.S. – Project, 2016/07–2016/12; co-supervised with W. Michalowski.
  Care Ami for Lung Cancer Assessment: Practitioner Support and Interactive Comm.
• Ajaydeep Singh Grewal; M.C.S. – Project, 2016/07–2016/12; co-supervised with W. Michalowski.
  Care Ami for Lung Cancer Assessment: Secure Architecture and Data Management
• Simrandeep Singh; M.C.S. – Project, 2016/07–2016/12; co-supervised with W. Michalowski.
  Care Ami for Lung Cancer Assessment: Framework Configuration and Specialization
• Shahzeb Khowaja; M.C.S. – Project, 2015/01–2016/04.
  A Mobile Application for Fitness Tracking
• Runzhuo Li; M.C.S. – Project, 2014/01–2014/05; co-supervised with Wojtek Michalowski.
  Agent-Based System to Model Health Care Teams
• Xinyu Zhao; M.C.S. – Project, 2014/01–2014/05.
  Validation of MT-DSL Transformations
• Stéphane Leblanc; M.C.S. – Project, 2011/09–2012/04.
  Automating the Transformation from Aspect-Oriented Requirements to Aspect-Oriented Design Models (AoURNtoRAM)
• Hao Luo; M.C.S. – Project, 2010/05–2011/04.
  Generic Propagation Algorithm for Goal Models
• Yan Gao; M.C.S. – Project, 2009/05–2010/01.
  Import/Export of URN Models in Z.151 XML File Format with jUCMNav
• Jun Biao Yan; M.C.S. – Project, 2007/09–2008/04.
  Static Semantics Checking Tool for jUCMNav
• Yi Chu; M.C.S. – Project, 2005/01–2005/08.
  Tool Support for the Goal-Oriented Requirement Language