I am interested in evolvable distributed systems, and would like to design and build complex systems from simple building blocks. During my studies in physics and biology I have been drawn to the concept of emergent complexity, where simple elementary units self-organize to display composite behavior. Such systems often have the innate ability to reconfigure themselves in response to a changing environment. Understanding how the complexity and plasticity come about is important both for the study of naturally occurring systems and for the construction of artificial ones.
The interface between experiments and theory is fascinating due to the practicality enforced by the actual real world on the one hand, and the global view-point enabled by a theoretical approach on the other. Especially interesting systems are ones that can be manipulated hands on and give direct feedback, with the possibility to evolve and learn.