Gernot Heiser

Scientia Professor Gernot Heiser is a leading researcher in trustworthy computing systems at the University of New South Wales, where he holds the John Lions Chair of Operating Systems. He is the founder and leader of the Trustworthy Systems Research Group, recognized globally for applying formal methods to ensure security and safety of real-world computing systems. His work spans operating systems, cybersecurity, and dependable systems.

Professor Heiser completed his academic qualifications with a BSc in Physics from Freiburg in 1982, an MSc in Physics from Brock in 1984, and a PhD in Computer Engineering from ETH Zurich in 1991. He has been an academic at UNSW since completing his PhD and became a full professor in 2002. He was awarded the title of Scientia Professor in 2011, UNSW's highest academic honor.

His research focuses on fundamental solutions to cybersecurity challenges through trustworthy systems. Key areas include microkernels and microkernel-based systems, highly-secure and dependable systems, high-assurance systems, analysis and prevention of cyber threats, real-time systems, virtualization, embedded and cyberphysical systems, and architectural support for operating systems. Professor Heiser's work has resulted in practical applications, most notably the seL4 microkernel, which is the world's first operating-system kernel with a proof of implementation correctness and security enforcement.

Notable awards include:

• Fellow, Engineers Australia (2022)
• Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (2022)
• ACM Software System Award (2022)
• ACM SIGOPS Hall of Fame Award (2019)
• Fellow of the IEEE (2016)
• Fellow of the ACM (2014)

Professor Heiser actively supervises honours, MPhil, and PhD students in his research areas, with projects typically requiring strong backgrounds in operating-system internals or formal methods. He has co-founded Open Kernel Labs in 2006, leading to the L4-embedded microkernel being deployed on billions of mobile devices, including the secure enclave of iOS devices. His research group, the Trustworthy Systems group, was created in 2003 at NICTA and has been wholly at UNSW since 2021.