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Yao LiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Program Verification
• Programming Languages
• Formal Methods
• +3 more

Yao Li is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Portland State University specializing in program verification and programming languages. His research bridges theoretical formal methods with practical software verification tools, focusing on advancing verification for real-world systems through programming language techniques. Dr. Li earned his Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022 under Stephanie Weirich. His academic journey includes undergraduate studies at Shanghai Jiao Tong University where he received multiple national awards including the China National Scholarship (2012, 2014) and the Outstanding Graduate award (2013, 2016). His research centers on two core objectives: (1) advancing verification for real-world software, and (2) making verification tools more accessible from a programming languages perspective. This manifests in work on proof assistants, functional programming semantics, lazy evaluation analysis, and recently the integration of large language models with formal verification. His publications consistently address foundational challenges in mechanized reasoning while targeting practical applications like HTTP server verification. Analysis of his 8 recent publications (2019-2025) reveals a strong trajectory in program verification, particularly for functional languages like Haskell. Key themes include semantics for lazy evaluation (2024), novel embeddings for mechanized reasoning (2022 Distinguished Paper), and verification of networked systems (2019, 2021). His latest work explores LLM-assisted verification (2025), indicating an evolving research direction at the AI-formal methods intersection. Dr. Li's honors include: Google Open Source Peer Bonus (Scala Forklift, 2018) Multiple China National Scholarships (2012, 2014) Intel Cup National Software Innovation Contest 1st Prize (2011) National Olympiad in Informatics Prizes (2007, 2008) He currently advises four PhD students (Ian Kariniemi, Yiming Lin, Grant VanDomelen, Nicholas Coltharp) and previously mentored Laura Israel (now at University of Konstanz). His grant involvement includes the NSF-funded DeepSpec REU program at UPenn (2021), where he served as mentor for the "Science of Deep Specification" Expedition. Conference service includes Program Committees for PLDI'25, POPL'25, and CoqPL'25, plus Publicity Chair roles for PLDI'24/'25. Dr. Li is actively associated with the DeepSpec research community, contributing to projects that develop deep specifications for critical systems. His work frequently involves collaboration with University of Pennsylvania's formal methods group and participation in workshops like WITS and PriSC, reflecting strong community engagement in programming language theory and verification.

Chao NiView profile

Associate Professor

• Software Quality Assurance
• Mining Software Repositories
• Software Security
• +3 more

Chao Ni is an active Associate Professor at the School of Software Technology, Zhejiang University, specializing in software engineering with a focus on software quality assurance and mining software repositories. His research spans multiple key areas including vulnerability detection, defect prediction, automated program repair, and software security. He has consistently published in top-tier software engineering conferences such as ASE, ICSE, ESEC/FSE, and ISSTA, demonstrating significant contributions to the field. Ni also serves on program committees for major conferences, indicating recognition by his peers in the software engineering community. Dr. Ni's research interests center around Software Quality Assurance and Mining Software Repositories , with particular emphasis on vulnerability detection, defect prediction, and automated program repair. His work often combines traditional software engineering approaches with machine learning techniques to address challenging problems in software development and maintenance. Recent publications show a strong focus on security aspects of software engineering, including smart contract security, JavaScript breaking changes, and vulnerability detection in C/C++ code. Analysis of Dr. Ni's recent publications reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on improving software quality through advanced analysis techniques. His work spans multiple subdomains including vulnerability detection (particularly in smart contracts and C/C++ code), defect prediction (especially just-in-time approaches), and automated program repair. A notable trend is his increasing integration of machine learning techniques with traditional software engineering methods, creating hybrid approaches that leverage both semantic features and expert knowledge. His research has practical applications in software security, maintenance, and testing. Dr. Ni has served on program committees for numerous prestigious conferences including APSEC, ASE, ESEC/FSE, and Mining Software Repositories. His service as a committee member across multiple tracks (Technical Track, Research Papers, Data and Tool Showcase) demonstrates his broad expertise and recognition in the software engineering community. His GitHub profile (jacknichao) shows active engagement with open source projects related to his research, particularly in vulnerability detection tools.

Marsha ChechikView profile

Professor

• Software Engineering
• Formal Methods
• Software Specification and Verification
• +7 more

Marsha Chechik is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto within the Faculty of Arts and Science. She previously served as Chair of the Department of Computer Science (2019-2022) and as Acting Dean in the Faculty of Information (July-December 2022). Professor Chechik received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 1996 and has established herself as a leading researcher in software engineering with a focus on formal methods. Her research interests include software safety and security, automated verification, software product lines, and model management. Professor Chechik has authored numerous papers in formal methods, software specification and verification, computer safety and security, and requirements engineering. Her work has evolved to incorporate newer areas such as machine vision reliability analysis, normative requirements with large language models, and machine learning development lifecycle analysis. Her research consistently bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in software engineering. Professor Chechik has served in numerous leadership roles including Program Committee Co-Chair for major conferences such as ICSE 2018, TACAS 2016, VSTTE 2016, ASE 2014, CONCUR 2008, CASCON 2008, and FASE 2009. She is currently the Area Chair for ASE 2025 in Security and Other Non-Functional Properties. She has also served as Associate Editor in Chief of Journal on Software and Systems Modeling and as associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering (2003-2007, 2010-2013). Best paper award at RE'12 (2012) SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper at ICSE'12 (2012) Winner of Best Student Paper Award at CASCON'07 (2007) Winner of Distinguished Paper Award at ICSE'07 (2007) Professor Chechik regularly mentors PhD students, with notable advisees including Michalis Famelis, Shiva Nejati, Jocelyn Simmonds, Ou Wei, and Aws Albarghouthi. Her advising philosophy emphasizes rigorous formal methods while addressing practical software engineering challenges. She has been involved in numerous research grants focusing on software verification, safety-critical systems, and requirements engineering. Currently, her work explores the intersection of formal methods with emerging technologies like large language models and machine vision systems. Professor Chechik maintains an active research lab focused on model-based software engineering, with projects spanning software product lines, model management, and verification techniques. Her team collaborates with industry partners to address real-world software engineering challenges while advancing theoretical foundations. Current work includes developing techniques for normative requirements operationalization, machine vision reliability analysis, and automated code reconciliation using AI techniques.

Guido SalvaneschiView profile

Professor

• Programming Languages
• Software Engineering
• Distributed Systems
• +5 more

Guido Salvaneschi is a Professor and Head of the Programming Group at the Institute of Computer Science within the School of Computer Science at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in programming languages and software engineering, with a particular focus on distributed systems and infrastructure as code. His research interests span programming languages, software engineering, distributed systems, reactive programming, DevOps organizations, and secure software systems. He has made significant contributions to multitier programming languages, consistency models for distributed applications, and infrastructure as code testing frameworks. Salvaneschi's recent publications reveal a strong focus on infrastructure as code analysis and testing, with multiple papers accepted at top conferences in 2024-2025. His work demonstrates a consistent thread connecting programming language theory with practical systems challenges, particularly in cloud and distributed environments. His Programming Group at the University of St. Gallen includes several PhD students and researchers working on cutting-edge topics in software systems. Current projects include Consistency Programming for Local First Software (an SNF project), HORIZON-RIA for European edge computing infrastructure, and Multitier Programming above the Clouds (another SNF project). As an active member of the research community, Salvaneschi serves on program committees for major conferences including ASE, PLDI, and ICSE, demonstrating his standing within the programming languages and software engineering fields.

Morgan RogersView profile

Associate Professor

• Category Theory
• Topos Theory
• Mathematical Logic
• +1 more

Morgan Rogers is an Associate Professor specializing in category theory, with a focus on abstractions that isolate essential problem-solving features. His research centers on toposes of actions of monoids and expanding mathematical toolkits. His work bridges mathematical logic, algebraic structures, and theoretical computer science, developing frameworks for understanding complex systems through categorical approaches. His research interests include category theory, topos theory, and algebraic structures, with applications in lambda calculus, linear logic, and topological dynamics. Recent publications explore geometric theories, endomorphism monoids, and factorization systems in categorical frameworks. Rogers' articles demonstrate consistent focus on categorical foundations of algebra and logic, with innovations in modeling computational systems and topological representations. Theoretical contributions advance understanding of monoid actions and their categorical representations.

Sara AchourView profile

Assistant Professor

• Programming Languages
• Compilers
• Runtime Systems
• +2 more

Sara Achour is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed to the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering departments at Stanford University. She earned her PhD in Computer Science from MIT in 2021. Her research develops programming languages, compilers, and runtime systems for emerging analog computing platforms. Dr. Achour leads research in hardware-aware optimization frameworks and novel analog compute paradigms, with applications spanning quantum computing, IoT devices, and neuromorphic systems. Her research focuses on: Bridging software abstractions with unconventional hardware capabilities Energy-efficient computing paradigms for edge devices Cross-layer optimization of analog and hybrid computing systems Publication analysis reveals consistent themes in analog computing architectures, hardware-aware optimizations, and emerging computing platforms. Recent work explores quantum compilation techniques, hyperdimensional computing optimizations, and hardware security metrics. Dr. Achour advises multiple graduate students including: 16 doctoral candidates across computer architecture and quantum computing 10 master's students in software-hardware co-design She maintains active research collaborations through the Stanford SystemX Alliance.

• Programming Languages
• Logic Programming
• Constraint Programming
• +4 more

Ulrich Neumerkel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Compilers and Languages at Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien). He holds academic titles of Dipl.-Ing. (FH) and Dr.techn. His primary research focuses on programming languages, logic programming, and constraint programming, with significant contributions to Prolog optimization, garbage collection, and formal methods. He is also actively involved in educational initiatives, developing declarative programming tools and curricula. Neumerkel teaches courses such as Logic Programming and Constraints, Advanced Logic Programming, and Programming 2. He leads research in formal semantics of Prolog, constraint solver design, and memory management techniques. His work includes contributions to ISO/IEC Prolog standards and the development of tools like the Vienna Abstract Machine (VAM) and the GUPU environment for Prolog education. His research interests span compiler design, termination analysis, and program transformation. He has supervised students, including M. Seidl, on diploma theses related to virtual machine comparison and other topics. Neumerkel's affiliations include the Compilers and Languages group within TU Wien's Institute for Information Systems Engineering.

• RNA Folding
• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics
• +3 more

Stefan Badelt holds a PhD and Magister degree in Theoretical Chemistry, currently active within the Faculty of Chemistry at an Austrian institution (likely University of Vienna based on academic conventions). His research spans computational RNA biology, bioinformatics, and molecular engineering with continuous publication output from 2011 through projected 2025 activities. RNA Folding (100%) Protein Secondary Structure (67%) Transcription Processes (45%) Circular RNA Mechanics Alu Element Biology His research focuses on cotranscriptional RNA folding dynamics, developing computational tools like DrForna for visualization and DrTransformer for heuristic folding prediction. Recent work critically examines deep learning limitations in RNA structure prediction while advancing nearest-neighbor energy models. His fingerprint reveals strong specialization in RNA polymerase II dynamics and non-pseudoknotted structural systems. Publication trends show consistent output in high-impact bioinformatics journals, with 2022-2023 featuring significant algorithmic contributions. His work bridges computational methods with experimental validation, particularly in RNA folding pathways and DNA strand-displacement systems. While no specific awards are documented, his publications demonstrate substantial scholarly impact with multiple papers exceeding 10 Mendeley readers and significant citation metrics. Badelt actively mentors students through collaborative projects, evidenced by co-authored publications with Laurenz Miksch and others. His research receives support through computational biology grants enabling development of tools like the commit-and-delay model for RNA dynamics. Future work includes domain-level design of cotranscriptional folding pathways presented at upcoming 2024-2025 conferences. He operates within the Theoretical Chemistry research ecosystem, collaborating closely with Ivo Hofacker's group on RNA bioinformatics. Current activities focus on exact coarse-grained dynamics modeling and pseudoknot-free pathway design, positioning his lab at the intersection of computational biology and molecular engineering.

• Formal Methods
• Software Verification
• Probabilistic Programming
• +6 more

Christoph Matheja is a Professor at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, leading the Theory of Correct Systems group , and an Associate Professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in the Software Systems Engineering section. His work focuses on formal methods and verification, particularly for probabilistic and heap-manipulating systems. He develops rigorous mathematical techniques to enhance software correctness and trustworthiness, with contributions to quantitative verification, probabilistic program analysis, separation logic, Rust verification, and static analyses using graph grammars. Before his current roles, he was a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zürich (Programming Methodology Group) and earned his Ph.D. at RWTH Aachen University under Joost-Pieter Katoen. His research bridges theoretical foundations and practical tool development, as seen in works like LogPPL for probabilistic process mining and the Prusti project for Rust verification. Recent publications emphasize probabilistic systems, POMDPs, and formal verification frameworks. He actively contributes to academic communities, serving on PCs for ESOP 2026, LICS 2026, and CAV 2025. His current focus includes recruiting a PhD student (see UOL openings ) and advancing verification methodologies for probabilistic and concurrent systems.

Christopher TermanView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Digital Communication
• VLSI Design
• DSP
• +3 more

Christopher Terman is a Senior Lecturer (Emeritus) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the School of Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). He holds office in 32-G790 and can be reached at cjt@mit.edu. His research interests span digital communication systems, VLSI design methodologies, and educational technology innovations in engineering education. Terman has contributed extensively to the development of simulation tools for digital integrated circuits and has pioneered interactive learning environments for VLSI design education. His work integrates theoretical advancements with practical applications in both industry and academia. Over his career, Terman has authored influential papers on topics ranging from multiprocessor architectures to compiler optimization techniques, reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise in electrical engineering and computer science. His educational contributions include the design of MIT's 6.004 Computation Structures course, emphasizing scalable and learner-centered pedagogical strategies. Terman's publications demonstrate a sustained focus on bridging computational theory with real-world implementation challenges, particularly in the realms of digital signal processing and embedded systems. While no formal scientific awards are listed, his long-term academic leadership and contributions to foundational engineering education have had lasting impacts on both the field and MIT's curriculum. His work continues to inform modern approaches to integrating simulation, design automation, and collaborative learning in technical disciplines.

• Programming Languages
• Formal Verification
• Software Engineering
• +3 more

Alexander J. Summers is an Associate Professor and Associate Head of Graduate Affairs in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he joined in 2020. Prior to UBC, he was a senior researcher (Oberassistent) at ETH Zurich. His research focuses on program correctness, including specification and verification logics, type systems, and automated tools for deductive verification. He leads the Prusti Project, developing verification tools for the Rust programming language, and collaborates on the Viper Project, an intermediate verification language framework. Summers is also actively involved in teaching, offering courses on advanced software engineering and program verifiers. His research interests span formal methods, programming languages, and automated reasoning, with a particular emphasis on Rust and ownership-based systems. He has contributed to the development of verification tools like Viper and Prusti, which aim to enhance software reliability through deductive techniques. Summers has been recognized with awards such as the Distinguished Reviewer Award (ACM SIGPLAN) and the Amazon Research Award. Summers has published extensively in top venues like POPL, PLDI, and OOPSLA, with recent work addressing challenges in Rust's ownership model, formal verification frameworks, and automated reasoning techniques. His lab focuses on advancing the state of the art in program verification while maintaining strong ties to practical tool development and empirical studies of programming practices. He actively mentors students at UBC, including PhD and M.Sc. candidates, and has supervised postdoctoral researchers. Summers is also engaged in academic service, serving on program committees for conferences like OOPSLA and IJCAR, and contributes to the broader formal methods community through tool development and educational initiatives.

Azad GhaffariView profile

Assistant Professor

• Control Theory
• Robotics
• Autonomous Systems
• +5 more

Azad Ghaffari is an Assistant Professor at Christopher Newport University's School of Engineering and Computing. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from the University of California, San Diego, and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from K.N. Toosi University of Technology. His research focuses on safe control of autonomous vehicles, robotics, and energy systems, with a particular emphasis on model-free optimization and renewable energy applications. Dr. Ghaffari has taught over 700 students across five institutions, specializing in control theory, optimization, and electrical engineering courses. He has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Michigan and UC San Diego, and brings six years of industry experience in control systems for power plants and photolithography lasers. His work addresses critical challenges in autonomous systems safety, energy conversion, and traffic flow management. Research interests include trajectory planning for quadrotors, nonlinear estimation for vehicle dynamics, and hierarchical traffic control frameworks. Key contributions span CLF-CBF-based quadratic programming for mobile robots and modular safety control architectures. He has collaborated on the Warrior Robotics Team project and developed innovative solutions for energy optimization in photovoltaic and wind systems. His articles frequently explore extremum seeking algorithms, Lyapunov-based stability, and real-time safety verification techniques. Dr. Ghaffari's career bridges academia and industry, with practical applications in precision contouring, component swapping modularity, and distributed control systems. His research has been published in high-impact journals and conferences, emphasizing both theoretical advancements and real-world implementation.

• Automated Reasoning
• Systolic Computations
• Multiprecision Arithmetic
• +3 more

Tudor Jebelean is a full professor at the Research Institute for Symbolic Computation (RISC) within Johannes Kepler University (JKU), located in Linz, Austria. His primary affiliation is with RISC, where he leads research in automated reasoning, symbolic computation, and algorithm design. Roles: A.Univ.-Prof. (Universitätsprofessor) at RISC, JKU Research Focus: Automated reasoning, systolic computations, multiprecision arithmetic, and formal methods. Jebelean's work centers on advancing theorem proving systems like Theorema , which integrates computation and deduction for natural-style mathematics. He develops algorithms for sorting, data structure manipulation, and formal verification, often using combinatorial and logic-based techniques. His contributions include the design of systolic architectures for arithmetic operations and the synthesis of algorithms through mechanical proving. Publications highlight his research on automated prover systems, certification of sorting algorithms, and symbolic computation tools. He collaborates extensively with researchers like Isabela Dramnesc and Sorin Stratulat on algorithm synthesis and formal verification. His research bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in computer science and mathematics education.

• Parallel Computing
• Distributed Systems
• High-Performance Computing (HPC)
• +5 more

Torsten Hoefler is a Professor affiliated with ETH Zurich, leading research in parallel computing, distributed systems, and high-performance computing (HPC). His work bridges theoretical foundations and practical implementations, focusing on optimizing algorithms, network topologies, and hardware-software co-design. Research Interests: His primary areas include parallel algorithms, distributed systems, machine learning infrastructure, and network architectures. He emphasizes scalable solutions for large-scale applications, particularly in data-centric computing and serverless environments. Publications: Recent work highlights include innovations in network topologies (e.g., HammingMesh), serverless benchmarking frameworks (SeBS), and optimizations for large language models (LLMs). His publications often address performance bottlenecks and energy efficiency in HPC and cloud systems. Awards & Grants: While no specific awards are listed here, his prolific publication record and leadership in HPC indicates significant recognition in the field. Active in grant-funded projects related to exascale computing and AI infrastructure. Labs & Teams: Leads the Communication Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, collaborating with industry partners like NVIDIA and IBM on hardware-accelerated computing and cloud-native systems.

• Formal methods
• Formal verification
• Model checking
• +8 more

Summary Alan J. Hu is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Science. His primary research interests include formal methods, formal verification, model checking, and software/hardware co-design. He leads research in areas such as post-silicon validation, cloud resource scheduling, and concurrency verification. Hu teaches courses like CPSC 513 (Formal Verification) and CPSC 320 (Algorithm Design). Education & Roles: Ph.D. in Computer Science (Stanford University), current roles include supervision of graduate students (e.g., Malte Schwerin, Stuart Hoad) and leadership in research groups like ICICS and CAIDA. Research Contributions: Key projects include BackSpace (post-silicon debug framework), MonoSAT (SMT solver), and contributions to formal verification of embedded systems. His work on cloud resource scheduling (e.g., Gridiron, Cospot) addresses network bandwidth guarantees in datacenters. Awards & Recognition: Recipient of the IEEE Outstanding Service Award, IBM Faculty Award, and UBC CS Teaching Award. His research is supported by industry (Intel, Microsoft) and grants (NSERC, SRC). Labs & Collaborations: Active in UBC's Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems (ICICS) and the CAIDA lab for AI-driven decision-making.