Sam Malek

Sam Malek is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine's School of Information and Computer Sciences, where he directs the Software Engineering and Analysis Laboratory. Previously serving as Director of the Institute for Software Research (2018-2022), his academic leadership spans software engineering research and institutional management.

His research centers on software engineering with specialized expertise in software analysis and testing, mobile computing, security, software architecture, and accessible computing. Malek's work consistently focuses on developing practical techniques and tools for constructing, analyzing, and maintaining large-scale software systems, with recent emphasis on accessibility challenges in mobile and web environments.

His publication trends reveal a strategic shift toward accessible computing since 2020, where he pioneered frameworks like Ma11y for web accessibility testing and Groundhog for mobile app crawling. Earlier work established foundations in energy testing (2020), GUI input generation (2021), and architectural analysis, demonstrating methodological evolution from core software engineering to human-centered accessibility solutions.

• ACM SIGSOFT test-of-time award (2020)
• National Science Foundation CAREER award (2013)
• GMU Emerging Researcher/Scholar/Creator award (2013)
• GMU Computer Science Department Outstanding Faculty Research Award (2011)

Malek serves on editorial boards for ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology and ACM Transactions on Autonomous and Adaptive Systems, while frequently acting as a software expert witness in intellectual property litigation. His research group actively recruits PhD students through UCI's Software Engineering PhD program, with current projects focusing on AI-driven accessibility solutions and mobile testing frameworks.

The Software Engineering and Analysis Laboratory under his direction maintains strong industry connections through sponsored research and tool development, particularly in accessibility testing and mobile application quality assurance.