Johann Blieberger is an Associate Professor and Head of the Institute of Computer Engineering at Technische Universität Wien. He also leads the Automation Systems Research Unit (E191-03) and serves as a Principal Member of the Faculty Council. His work focuses on real-time systems, concurrent programming, railway operation optimization using Kronecker Algebra, static analysis, and Ada programming. Key projects include developing simulation tools for sustainable public transport (2021–2023), coordinating autonomous vehicles in pedestrian environments (2017–2019), and optimizing railway systems via Kronecker Algebra (e.g., the Zagreb-Rijeka line). He has secured grants from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and Austrian Science Fund (FWF). Blieberger’s research interests span weak memory models, symbolic evaluation, and algorithm analysis. He actively contributes to the ISO JTC1/SC22/WG9 committee for Ada language development. His advising spans multiple PhD and master’s theses, including work on concurrent program verification and Kronecker Algebra applications.
Prof. Maria Christakis is a Full Professor in the Faculty of Informatics at TU Wien, leading the Rigorous Software Engineering Group and the Software Engineering Research Unit (E194-01). Her research focuses on developing reliable software tools, emphasizing formal methods, program analysis, and automated testing. She holds leadership roles including Curriculum Coordinator for Software Engineering programs and Faculty Council membership. Her research interests span automatic test generation, program verification, and improving developer productivity through novel techniques. Notable projects include the 'Sherlock' framework for testing program analyzers and 'Olympia' for Solidity fuzzer benchmarking. Awards include Amazon and Google Research Awards, and she actively contributes to conferences like CAV, ASE, and IJCAI. Prof. Christakis advises over 15 students (PhD, Master's, and project students) and has supervised numerous alumni. She teaches core courses like Advanced Software Engineering and oversees Bachelor/Master curricula. Her work bridges formal verification and systematic testing, with tools like 'queryFuzz' and 'LIBRA' addressing neural network fairness and SMT solver reliability. Current projects include the 'Nomos' specification language for machine learning safety and the 'LaZ' framework for lazy testing. She co-leads the Automated Reasoning doctoral school and collaborates with institutions like MPI-SWS and Microsoft Research.
Raimund Kirner is an academic at the Institute of Computer Engineering (E191-01) at Technische Universität Wien , specializing in real-time and embedded systems. His career spans research in Worst-Case Execution Time (WCET) Analysis , Time-Triggered Communication , and Automated Testing for safety-critical systems. He has contributed to projects such as ALL-TIMES, COSTA, and HINT, focusing on timing predictability and composability in real-time systems. Key Research Areas : WCET Analysis, Real-Time Systems, Embedded Testing, Time-Predictable Computing Notable Collaborations : Peter Puschner, Andreas Prantl, Martina Zolda Recent Publications analyze cybersecurity in automotive networks, quantitative interface evaluation for time-triggered systems, and synchronization trade-offs. His work bridges theoretical timing models with practical compiler and hardware solutions for deterministic execution. Awards : Recipient of the Mobilitätsstipendium der Creditanstalt AG (2003) for outstanding dissertation. Advising includes supervising 11 theses from 2002–2014 on topics like Automated Load Balancing , WCET Estimation , and Compiler Timing Models .
Marion Murzek is a Senior Lecturer at Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), affiliated with the Business Informatics Group. She holds a Dr.rer.soc.oec. (PhD) from TU Wien and a Magister degree from the University of Vienna. Her research focuses on model transformations, business process modeling, and enterprise systems engineering. She has contributed to advancing methodologies for horizontal transformation of business process models and model-driven architectures. Her work includes the development of the Model Morphing approach, addressing challenges in business process model interoperability. She has published extensively in venues like the International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems and the Workshop on Perspectives in Business Informatics Research. Murzek completed her doctoral thesis in 2008 under the Women's Postgraduate College for Internet Technologies (WIT) program, which supported her research. She has also been involved in teaching courses such as Model Engineering and has held positions in software development prior to academia.
Daniel Große serves as a full Professor at Johannes Kepler University Linz, holding primary affiliation with the Institute for Symbolic Artificial Intelligence and secondary appointments at the Institute of Complex Systems and LIT Secure and Correct Systems Lab. He currently leads 3 major research projects including Modular Real-Time Control (2023-2026) and the ENGEL Austria GmbH industry collaboration (2019-2027), while maintaining active roles in 113 professional activities through 2025. His research integrates Computer Security , Hardware Design , and Artificial Intelligence to address critical challenges in embedded systems. Key focus areas include cryptographic instruction chaining for control flow protection, RISC-V vector workload simulation, and LLM-assisted metamorphic testing of graphics libraries, with strong emphasis on practical applications for safety-critical systems. Recent publications (2025) reveal a cohesive research trajectory toward secure computing foundations, combining formal verification techniques with AI-driven development tools. His work consistently bridges hardware security primitives and software engineering innovations, particularly targeting vulnerabilities in instruction set architectures and embedded graphics pipelines. Prof. Große has supervised 4 graduate students and secured significant funding through both public grants (VerA project) and industry partnerships. His project portfolio demonstrates strategic balance between theoretical advances in arithmetic circuit verification and applied industrial solutions for real-time control systems. As a core member of the LIT Secure and Correct Systems Lab, he contributes to interdisciplinary research initiatives developing formally verified secure computing platforms, with active collaborations spanning hardware security validation, virtual prototyping frameworks, and AI-enhanced software testing methodologies.
Carlotta Tagliaro is a PreDoc Researcher at the Faculty of Informatics, TU Wien, affiliated with the Security and Privacy research group (Institute E192-06). Her work focuses on uncovering security and privacy vulnerabilities in emerging technologies, particularly within IoT ecosystems and Smart TV platforms across Europe. Her core research spans Cybersecurity , Privacy , and Internet of Things domains, with specific expertise in coordinated vulnerability disclosure processes, IoT backend security, and HbbTV protocol analysis. Methodologically, she combines large-scale empirical studies with static analysis of mobile companion applications to expose real-world risks. Recent publications (2023-2024) demonstrate consistent contributions to top security venues like IEEE EuroS&P Workshops, RAID, CCS, and NDSS, revealing critical privacy leaks in European Smart TVs and systemic weaknesses in IoT deployments. Her work directly informs security practices through projects like IoTIO and W4MP. Tagliaro has supervised Master's research including Danis A.'s 2025 thesis on HbbTV exploitation. She operates within TU Wien's Security and Privacy lab, contributing to multi-year initiatives addressing evolving threats in connected device ecosystems.
Zhendong Su is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich (since 2018) and previously held professorial roles at UC Davis (2002–2019). His research focuses on programming languages, software engineering, computer security, and EdTech. He earned a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley (2002, 1997) and dual B.S./B.A. degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin (1995). Research Interests: Novel methodologies for improving software quality and programmer productivity Transformative educational technologies for K-12 and higher education Compiler design, static analysis, and security tools Awards & Recognition: Recipient of Distinguished Artifact Awards at OSDI 2020 and OOPSLA 2020 ACM SIGSOFT Impact Paper Award (2018), multiple Best Paper Awards, and NSF CAREER Award (2006) PhD advisor to award-winning dissertations (SIGSOFT 2012, Munir 2013) Led Professional Activities: Program Chair for SAS 2009, ISSTA 2012, and FSE 2016 Steering Committee member for ISSTA (2011–2019) and ESEC/FSE (2017–2020) Associate Editor for ACM TOSEM and ICST Transactions
Mei Hong is a Professor and Vice President for HR and International Collaboration at Beijing Institute of Technology. Previously held roles include Professor and Vice President at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2013-2016), Director of key national research centers at Peking University, and leadership positions in software engineering education and research. Holds dual academic leadership and technical expertise in software engineering. Education: BSc/MSc (Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, 1984/1987); PhD (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1992). Research focuses on software architecture, cloud computing systems, component-based engineering, and software testing. Has pioneered the 'Internetware' paradigm and contributed to national standards for software development. Publications span software engineering methodologies and tools, with recent work emphasizing mobile computing optimization and automated testing techniques. Over 20 awards including IEEE Fellow (2014), Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2011), and multiple best paper awards. Advisory roles include Alibaba DAMO Academy's Academic Board, China's National Key R&D Program, and leadership in 863 High-Tech Program committees. PI of 40+ grants totaling over 200 million CNY. Editorial leadership includes SCIENCE CHINA-Information Sciences (Editor-in-Chief since 2018), ACM Computing Surveys, and top-tier journals/conferences. Active in conference organization (General Chair for ICSME 2017, SPLC 2016).
Prof. Cornelia Kasper is a University Professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) , affiliated with the Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences and leading the Institute of Cell and Tissue Culture Technologies . Her research focuses on advancing 3D cell culture, stem cell engineering, tissue engineering, and bioreactor development to support regenerative medicine and reduce animal testing. Her research interests span Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, Bioprocess Engineering, Stem Cell Research, 3D Cell Culture, Bioreactor Development, Biomaterials, Cell Therapy, In Vitro Models, and Medical Biotechnology . She pioneers methods for cultivating mesenchymal stem cells under physiologically relevant conditions using dynamic bioreactors and novel biomaterials like nanocellulose and alginate-based hydrogels. Her work emphasizes scalability, monitoring, and functional differentiation for clinical translation. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in 3D stem cell culture systems , particularly using bioreactors and hydrogel encapsulation for mesenchymal stem cells. Key themes include multilineage differentiation under physiological conditions , development of tunable biomaterials (e.g., GelMA, nanocellulose), non-invasive monitoring in bioreactors, and functional analysis of extracellular vesicles . These reflect a cohesive research program aimed at industrial-scale, reproducible, and clinically relevant stem cell manufacturing. Her scientific awards include: Stipendium 'Think, Leadership and Act' (Fortbildung für Führungskräfte) 2010 Habilitationsstipendium 2000–2006 Stipendium für Auslandsaufenthalt University of California Berkeley 1991 Prof. Kasper has supervised numerous students and early-career researchers, as seen in her extensive co-authorship on conference presentations. She has led research groups and secured significant academic recognition, including a full professorship at BOKU in 2011. She has also been actively involved in academic service, notably as chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee at BOKU since 2013. Her work is supported by participation in national and international scientific networks and collaborations in advanced cell therapy and tissue engineering. She leads a research team focused on Cell and Tissue Culture Technologies , working on dynamic 3D cultivation, bioreactor design, and the development of in vitro models for regenerative applications. The lab integrates process engineering with biological functionality to create scalable and physiologically relevant cell culture platforms.
Tom van Dijk serves as an Assistant Professor in the Formal Methods and Tools group at the University of Twente, where he conducts cutting-edge research in formal verification and develops practical software tools for the verification community. His work bridges theoretical computer science with real-world applications in model checking and synthesis. His educational background includes: PhD in Computer Science (2016), University of Twente. Thesis: Sylvan: Multi-core Decision Diagrams MSc in Computer Science (2012, cum laude), University of Twente. Thesis: The parallelization of binary decision diagram operations for model checking BSc in Computer Science (2010), University of Twente. Thesis: Analysing And Improving Hash Table Performance Van Dijk's research centers on formal verification with specialization in parity games and binary decision diagrams . He pioneers multi-core parallel algorithms for symbolic model checking, focusing on practical implementations that scale to industrial problems. His work integrates SAT/SMT solving , reactive synthesis , and algorithm optimization to advance the state-of-the-art in verification tooling. His publication trajectory reveals consistent innovation in parity game solving, evolving from foundational work on tangle-based algorithms to recent contributions in reproducibility and AI-aided verification. The 2024 papers demonstrate expanding scope into educational technology while maintaining core focus on game-solving efficiency and synthesis techniques. His key recognitions include: Dutch national M&I Informatie Scriptieprijs 2012 (2nd place) for MSc thesis Best paper award at SPIN 2017 for distributed BDD research Van Dijk actively mentors students and seeks collaborations: Student Supervision : Welcomes BSc/MSc students for projects on parity games and BDDs Tool Development : Maintains open-source research tools (Sylvan, Oink, Knor) Community Service : Serves on 20+ program committees including CAV and TACAS As core member of the Formal Methods and Tools group, he contributes to major verification frameworks including LTSmin, Storm, and IscasMC. His Lace work-stealing framework underpins parallelization in multiple verification tools, while ongoing projects focus on polynomial-time parity game solutions and AI integration in verification workflows.
Gerald Weinberger is a Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten , affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and Security. He actively contributes to academic research and teaching in the intersection of artificial intelligence and software engineering education. His research focuses on AI applications in programming education , particularly the impact of tools like ChatGPT on novice programmers' learning outcomes and code quality. This work aligns with broader trends in educational technology and technology-enhanced learning , where AI-driven solutions are reshaping pedagogical approaches. Weinberger's recent publications (2023-2024) explore opportunities and challenges in integrating generative AI into software engineering curricula. His studies employ empirical methods, including static code analysis and student experience surveys, to evaluate AI's role in undergraduate programming courses. Contact: gerald.weinberger@fhstp.ac.at
Martina Lindorfer is an Associate Professor in the Security and Privacy Research Unit at TU Wien, leading the Secure Systems Lab (SecLab). She is also a key researcher at SBA Research. Her expertise spans systems security, privacy, mobile app analysis, and malware research. Prior to her current role, she was a Postdoc at UC Santa Barbara under Christopher Kruegel and Giovanni Vigna. Lindorfer holds a PhD from TU Wien (2016) with honors, and has received awards including the ERCIM Cor Baayen Award (2018) and the ACM Early Career Award (2020). She advises students on topics like IoT security and privacy, and contributes to academic service roles like Program Co-Chair for ACSAC and WOOT. Education: PhD in Computer Science (2016, TU Wien), Master's in Software Engineering (TU Wien), Bachelor's in Computer and Media Security (Hagenberg). Research focuses on mobile and IoT security, privacy protections, and APT analysis. Her team has published impactful work on topics like Android security models, iOS permission systems, and smart TV vulnerabilities. Awards highlight her contributions to cybersecurity research, including recognition for work on HbbTV privacy (Best Dutch Cyber Security Paper, 2024) and early-career excellence. Lindorfer also engages in outreach, mentoring, and policy discussions around digital humanism and academic cloudification risks. Labs/Teams: Heads the SecLab at TU Wien, collaborates with SBA Research, and leads projects like the TU Wien Cybersecurity Center (CySec). Active in organizing conferences and mentoring students through initiatives like the Austria Cyber Security Challenge.
Samuel Pilz is a PreDoc Researcher at the Department of Informatics, Technische Universität Wien. He holds roles including Substitute Member of the E194-01 Faculty Council, Vice Chair of the Informatics Curriculum Commission, Substitute Member of the Business Informatics Curriculum Commission, and Principal Member of the Computer Engineering Curriculum Commission. Education: Dipl.-Ing. (German engineering diploma) Bachelor of Science (BSc) Research Interests: Focuses on software engineering methodologies, web engineering, and advanced testing techniques. His work integrates static and dynamic program analysis to enhance mutation testing in Rust, emphasizing robust software quality assurance. Active in curriculum development across multiple informatics disciplines. Publications: Recent work explores mutation testing improvements in Rust through combined static/dynamic analysis methods. Awards: None explicitly listed. Advising & Grants: No formal advisees or grants mentioned. Active in educational governance roles. Labs/Teams: Not specified in available data.
Francesco Pontiggia is a PreDoc Researcher at the Institute of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Informatics at TU Wien. His research focuses on formal verification of probabilistic systems, cyber-physical systems, and automated controller synthesis. He contributes to the ProbInG project (2020–2025), developing model checkers for probabilistic operator precedence languages and related formalisms. Key research interests include probabilistic hyperproperties, formal methods for probabilistic programming, and verification techniques for recursive stochastic systems. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical tools such as POPACheck and POMC, targeting applications in automated planning and program analysis. Recent publications (2019–2025) emphasize advancements in model checking algorithms for probabilistic systems, operator precedence languages, and exception handling mechanisms. These works address challenges in verifying complex systems with stochastic behaviors and conditional probabilities. He collaborates on projects integrating formal methods with compiler design, runtime verification, and cyber-physical system design. His research has led to tool implementations and theoretical frameworks published in top-tier venues like QEST and ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems.
Markus Scherer is a PreDoc Researcher in the Department of Security and Privacy at Technische Universität Wien. His work focuses on formal methods, static analysis of smart contracts, and WebAssembly security. He holds a Diplom-Ingenieur (BSc equivalent) from TU Wien and has conducted research under Prof. Matteo Maffei. Education: 2016: Diploma Thesis on 'Parallelizing the commutation property for functions over small domains' at TU Wien Research Interests: Sound static analysis for Ethereum smart contracts and WebAssembly Formal verification of blockchain systems Development of provably secure analysis tools (e.g., eThor, Wappler) Key Projects: Browsec (2018–2024) CDL-BOT (2020–2025) ForSmart (2023–2027) SFB SPyCoDe (2023–2026) Advising: Supervised Master's thesis of Martin Schweighofer on cross-contract reachability analysis (2022).
