CV
Education
- PhD in Computer Science, University of Leicester — 2026 (expected)
- Thesis title: Benchmark-First Frameworks for Deep Graph Transformation: Task Categorisation and Architecture Evaluation.
- Expected thesis submission: September 2026.
- My PhD develops benchmark-first frameworks for Deep Graph Transformation, combining task categorisation, reproducible evaluation design, and controlled architecture comparison for graph-to-graph learning. I evaluate non-parametric, feedforward, convolutional, attention-based, and graph-native models under shared conditions across synthetic graph-computation tasks and real-world datasets. The work investigates architecture suitability, relational inductive bias, and performance behaviour in graph transformation learning, with additional expertise in Graph Neural Networks, applied Graph Rewriting, and GROOVE-based graph transition-system modelling.
- MSc in Cloud Computing, University of Leicester — Distinction, 2022
- BSc in Computing, De Montfort University — First Class Honours, 2021
Research Outputs
Benchmark First: Defining Tasks for Graph Transformation Learning
Machowczyk, A., Heckel, R. (2026). Benchmark First: Defining Tasks for Graph Transformation Learning. In: Archibald, B., Semeráth, O. (eds) Graph Transformation. ICGT 2026. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 16624. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-29730-3_13
Towards Graph-to-Graph Transformation Networks
A. Machowczyk and R. Heckel, "Towards Graph-to-Graph Transformation Networks" in GCM 2024. Post-Proceedings.
From Message Passing to Actor Graph Neural Networks
R. Heckel and A. Machowczyk, "From Message Passing to Actor Graph Neural Networks" in GCM 2024. Post-Proceedings.
Graph Rewriting for Graph Neural Networks
Machowczyk, A., Heckel, R. (2023). Graph Rewriting for Graph Neural Networks. In: Fernández, M., Poskitt, C.M. (eds) Graph Transformation. ICGT 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13961. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36709-0_16
My presentations are listed on the Talks page.
Skills
- Research areas: graph machine learning, graph neural networks, graph transformation learning, deep learning, empirical model evaluation, and reproducible benchmarking.
- Machine learning tools: PyTorch, PyTorch Geometric, DGL, XGBoost, CUDA-supported workflows, and high-performance computing using the University of Leicester’s ALICE system.
- Software and development: Python, Git, GitHub, LaTeX, RESTful APIs, service-oriented architectures, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, C#, and Azure database integration.
- Teaching and academic practice: lab teaching, assessment, marking, supervision, moderation, curriculum support, and student support across undergraduate and master’s-level Computer Science modules.
Experience
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Leicester — October 2022–present
Delivered teaching, assessment, supervision, and student support across Computer Science programmes. Selected modules include Service-Oriented Architectures, Foundations of Computation, Operating Systems and Networking, Agile Cloud Automation, Data-Driven Intelligent Service Design, and Big Data and Predictive Analytics.
- Led lab sessions for cohorts of up to 500 students and supervised group projects of up to 12 students.
- Marked programming projects, essays, and exam papers for cohorts of up to 440 students, completing marking within three weeks of allocation.
- Produced session reports, assignment summaries, and marking summaries.
- Contributed to programme curriculum development and module-assignment design for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years.
Freelance Web Developer — 2019–present
- Delivered client-facing website development using HTML, responsive CSS, PHP, and MySQL, including a company website with an employee-facing customer-management database.
Teaching Record
A full module-level teaching record is available on the Teaching page.
Awards and Funding
- Funded PhD / Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Leicester — 2022
- Awarded for a self-proposed PhD project developed from MSc dissertation research.
- Best Technical MSc Project, University of Leicester — 2022
- Best Student Award, University of Leicester — 2022
- Best Paper Award Nomination, Blue Skies category, ICGT — 2023
Academic Service and Reviewing
- Peer reviewer: IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems, 2026; ICGT, 2024 and 2026; GCM Workshop, 2026.
- PGR Representative, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester — 2024–2026
- Represented postgraduate research students in discussions with PGR tutors, the College Deputy Director for PGRs, and the Students’ Union.
- Communicated student feedback and contributed to discussions on postgraduate research support and development.
- Digital Communications Chair, STAF Conferences — 2023
- Session Chair, Leicester Doctoral College Research Conference — 2025
- Session Co-Chair, GCM Workshop — 2024
- Co-organiser, Midlands Graduate School — 2024
Professional Recognition
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, AFHEA — 2026
- Carbon Literacy qualification — 2024
- Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals — 2023