Dr. Marco Perez Hernandez

Dr. Marco Perez Hernandez

Senior Lecturer
Distributed AI, Multi-Agent Learning, Collective Intelligence & Agent-based Simulation

Computer Science Research Centre, University of the West of England Bristol

Distributed AI for Complex Networked Systems

I study distributed AI solutions for coordination, control, and decision-making in complex industrial and socio-cyber-physical systems.

My research focuses on how networked systems can adapt under uncertainty, respond timely, and remain robust at scale. I combine multi-agent learning, collective intelligence, and agent-based modelling and simulation to address challenges in industrial IoT, critical infrastructure, and autonomous operations. I am particularly interested in approaches that are not only technically effective, but also aligned with the human, organisational, community, and operational realities of deployment.

If you’re interested in trustworthy distributed AI, intelligent infrastructure, industrial automation, or multi-agent systems; I would love to hear from you. Whether you are a prospective PhD student, working in industry, from the public sector, or an academic keen to collaborate, let’s connect and see what we can build together.

Experience

  • University of the West of England Bristol ~ [2021 - currently] Researching and teaching Multi-agent Systems, Internet of Things and Knowledge-based & Hybrid Systems. Supervising PhD, Msc and BSc students.

  • University of Cambridge ~ [2018 - 2021] Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), working on agent-based control systems for industrial settings, collaborating closely with BT, among other partners.

  • University of Leicester ~ [2013 - 2018] Doctoral researcher focusing on autonomy and self-adaptation in systems of smart objects and the middleware architectures needed to realise them.

  • NTT Data Spain - formerly everis Spain ~ [2008 - 2013] Senior Technology Consultant, leading and supporting projects in IT governance, strategic IT programme management, and system software engineering for multinational clients.

Download my full cv.

Research Focus

My research connects multi-agent systems learning, optimisation, collective intelligence and network science to the engineering of socio-cyber-physical and industrial IoT systems. I study how autonomous agents can learn, coordinate and adapt under uncertainty, and how those capabilities can be translated into resilient methods for intelligent infrastructure, industrial operations and connected services.

Selected Projects

Funded research projects and the role I play(ed).

EPSRC-funded

Research England-funded through Pitch-In Connecting Capabilities Programme

  • [2020] IoT Systems to support operation of digital infrastructure as Project Supervisor.

UWE Bristol-funded

  • [2022-2023] Group configurations in artificial multi-agent systems for the management of digital infrastructures as Principal Investigator

  • [2024] Evaluating the performance of large language model agents in coding tasks as Project Supervisor.

  • [2024] Simulating human-robot teams interactions for the care of senior adults as UWE HEIT/FET Scheme as Project Supervisor.

University of Leicester-funded

  • [2013-2017] em4so - Embedded Middleware for Smart Objects as Doctoral Researcher