Patrick Cousot

Patrick Cousot is a Silver Professor of Computer Science at New York University (NYU), affiliated with the Department of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Science. His research focuses on abstract interpretation, formal semantics, program verification, and static analysis. Cousot holds a Doctor ès Sciences in Mathematics (1978) and a D.Eng. in Computer Science (1974), both from University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France.

His work emphasizes foundational contributions to abstract interpretation theory and its applications in verifying safety-critical software, including avionics and aerospace systems. Notable projects include the development of the Astrée static analyzer, which proves the absence of runtime errors in safety-critical code. Research interests span formal verification, concurrency models, and static analysis techniques for weak memory consistency.

Cousot's publications (2019–2025) explore advanced topics like responsibility analysis, hyperlogics, and dynamic interval analysis. His recent work addresses challenges in verifying concurrent and hybrid systems, leveraging abstract interpretation for scalable solutions. The Astrée tool remains a cornerstone of his applied research, demonstrating real-world impact in safety-critical domains.

His theoretical contributions include formal frameworks for static analysis, bi-inductive semantics, and logical abstract domains. He has also contributed to the design of verification tools for weak consistency models in parallel computing. Despite no listed academic awards, his foundational work has profoundly influenced formal methods and static analysis communities worldwide.

Labs/Teams: Cousot leads NYU's static analysis research efforts, collaborating on the Astrée project and exploring next-generation verification tools. His work intersects with aerospace and automotive industries to ensure software safety through rigorous formal methods.