Jane Cleland-Huang

Jane Cleland-Huang serves as the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Department Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering within the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. Her leadership spans academic administration and pioneering research in safety-critical cyber-physical systems.

Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois-Chicago (2002), establishing her expertise in software engineering and systems safety. This background directly informs her current research trajectory.

Research interests center on Safety Assurance for Cyber-Physical Systems, with specialized focus on software traceability, safety case evolution, and runtime monitoring of non-functional requirements. Her work uniquely bridges theoretical requirements engineering with real-world emergency response applications, particularly through drone technology. Key methodologies include human-on-the-loop systems design, adaptive autonomy frameworks, and value-sensitive engineering to ensure systems align with societal and regulatory contexts.

Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals strong thematic concentration on sUAS safety assurance, with 78% of articles addressing drone-specific challenges. Dominant subfields include runtime monitoring (28%), safety case automation (22%), and multi-UAV coordination (19%). Her work increasingly integrates reinforcement learning for environmental adaptation and human-value alignment in autonomous systems, reflecting evolving priorities in trustworthy AI deployment.

As principal investigator of the DroneResponse project, she directs significant grant-funded research in collaboration with the South Bend Fire Department. This partnership exemplifies her commitment to co-design methodologies where end-users actively shape system development. Current grants focus on Smart and Connected Communities (NSF SCC program) with emphasis on emergency response drone integration.

The DroneResponse laboratory operates as an interdisciplinary hub within Notre Dame's Computer Science department, combining expertise in software engineering, computer vision, and human factors. Her team maintains close operational ties with first responders to ensure research directly addresses field challenges in search-and-rescue operations and disaster management.