RESEARCH AREA AND FOCUS

My goal is to bring query execution over the Web closer to the end-user, so that people become more empowered in how they can find and use data. To enable this, I focus on the research area of query execution over decentralized environments.

Specifically, I look into techniques for querying over an interconnected set of Knowledge Graphs using client-side query engines. These Knowledge Graphs could be represented in different manners, depending on the abilities of the data providers.

The main challenges here are to determine how to efficiently combine data across this heterogeneity of data sources, how to determine appropriate query plans that may adapt over time, and how to discover new sources.

PROJECTS

I am involved with several projects related to the Solid initiative.

Solid is a combination of open Web standards that enables people to store their data in personal data vaults, over which they have full control.

This is a radical shift from traditional Web applications, since Solid decouples data from applications, and requires application to ask for permission to use people's data. In order to effectively build applications on top of Solid, efficient querying techniques are required, which is where my research fits in.

During my visit to Katja Hose's team at Aalborg University, I hope to learn more about querying techniques in general, and to collaborate on advancing this domain.

PRIVATE/FUN FACTS

Next to research, I am very passionate about programming. That is why I spent a great deal of attention to make sure that all the software I produce during my research (and outside of it), is of decent quality, and is reusable by other researchers.

Next to that, I like to stay active, which I mostly do by swimming, cycling, and occasionally running.

CONTACT INFO

ruben.taelman@ugent.be