Brae Webb is an Associate Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at The University of Queensland. His email is b.webb@uq.edu.au . His research focuses on formal methods, compiler optimizations, and software verification, with contributions to verification frameworks for compiler optimizations and formal semantics of programming language implementations. He has co-authored multiple publications at conferences such as FormaliSE, CPP, and ICFEM, and contributed to editions of the textbook Software Architecture . His work spans theoretical and applied aspects of software engineering, including the use of proof assistants like Isabelle/HOL for verifying term graph optimizations. Recent projects include analyzing GraalVM's intermediate representation and differential testing methodologies for compiler verification frameworks. Brae Webb's publications reflect a commitment to advancing formal verification techniques in compiler design and software systems. His textbook series on software architecture emphasizes practical design principles for scalable software systems.
Toby Murray is a Professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne, where he serves as Director of the Defence Science Institute and Co-Lead of the Computer Science Research Group. His work bridges formal methods, cybersecurity, and practical system security, with significant contributions to verified security and vulnerability detection. Murray's research focuses on building highly secure computing systems cost-effectively, with expertise in formal verification, information flow security, and vulnerability detection. His current research projects include Verisimilar (Verified, Secure Machine Learning), EDEFuzz (Detecting excessive data exposure in web applications), COVERN (Proving information flow security of concurrent programs), and Time Protection (Proving timing channel freedom for seL4). His work combines theoretical rigor with practical implementation, resulting in multiple open-source tools including SecC, Legion, and Underflow. Murray's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on verified security properties across diverse domains, from neural networks to concurrent systems. His work often bridges the gap between formal methods and practical security concerns, with increasing attention to machine learning security and policy implications of technical security measures. His publications span top venues in security, formal methods, and software engineering. Distinguished Paper Award at ICSE 2024 for EDEFuzz work on detecting excessive data exposure in web applications Extensive media commentary on cybersecurity issues including CrowdStrike outage analysis and social media regulation Regular contributions to The Conversation and Pursuit on cybersecurity policy matters Murray has advised numerous PhD students to completion, including Lianglu Pan (EDEFuzz), Zhiyuan Zhang, Mo Zhang, and Renlord Yang. He currently supervises multiple PhD students working on security verification, machine learning security, and web application security. His service includes being Program Chair for CSF'25, Associate Editor for IEEE Security & Privacy and ACM TOPS, and membership in IFIP's WG 1.7 and WG 2.3. His research group has developed multiple significant software tools including SecC (Verified Security for Concurrent C Programs), Legion (Principled Automatic Test Case Generation), and Underflow (Compositional Vulnerability Detection for C Programs), all available under open source licenses. Murray's work often involves discovering and reporting bugs in security analysis tools during his research, demonstrating the practical impact of his verification approaches.
Christine Rizkallah is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She joined the university in December 2021 after serving as a Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) from April 2018 to December 2021. Her research focuses on interactive theorem proving, formal verification, programming languages, and systems, with an emphasis on building practical tools for high-assurance software development. She leads a research group working on the Cogent and Dargent languages, aiming to reduce the burden of formal verification in systems programming. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Universität des Saarlandes and Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik, Germany (2015), thesis: Verification of Program Computations , supervised by Prof. Dr. Kurt Mehlhorn. MSc in Computer Science, Universität des Saarlandes, Germany (2009), thesis: Proof Representations for Higher Order Logic , supervised by Prof. Dr. Gert Smolka and Dr. Chad E. Brown. BSc in Computer Science, German University in Cairo, Egypt (2007), thesis: X2-Planner: A Hierarchical Task Network Planner for Real Time Gaming Applications , supervised by Prof. Dr. Slim Abdennadher and Dr. Thorsten Maier. Her research interests lie at the intersection of programming languages and formal methods. She develops domain-specific languages with strong type systems and verified compilers to enable trustworthy software systems. Her work spans algorithms, logic, security, and social choice theory, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary approach. She has published extensively in top venues such as POPL, ICFP, ASPLOS, JAR, and PACMPL, with a focus on certifying compilation, refinement verification, and mechanized reasoning. Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on formal verification of systems software, particularly through the Cogent language and its ecosystem. Key themes include verified data layout refinement (Dargent), property-based testing, termination analysis, cost modeling, and integration with foreign functions. Her work combines theoretical rigor with practical implementation, often involving mechanized proofs in Isabelle/HOL and Coq. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Distinguished Artefact Award at SLE'22 (awarded to Zilin Chen for work under her supervision). First Prize, SPLASH'22 Student Research Competition (undergraduate), won by Raphael Douglas Giles. Second Prize, ACM-wide Student Research Competition (undergraduate, 2023), won by Raphael Douglas Giles. She has supervised numerous PhD, Masters, and Honours students, many of whom have continued in academia or industry research roles. She has received research funding through institutional support and collaborative grants, though specific grants are not detailed in the provided text. She is actively involved in the programming languages community, serving on program committees for POPL, ICFP, CPP, PLDI, and others, and holding leadership roles such as Program Chair for FUNARCH'25 and Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair for PLDI'25. She teaches core courses including Declarative Programming and Models of Computation at the University of Melbourne. She leads a vibrant research team and collaborates widely across institutions including UNSW, University of Pennsylvania, and international partners. Her lab focuses on building verified systems using functional programming and formal methods, with strong ties to the DeepSpec project and the Isabelle/HOL community.
Dr. Philip Chappell is an Honorary Associate Professor at Macquarie University's Department of Linguistics, specializing in Applied Linguistics and TESOL. Previously, he served as Director of Education and Course Director for Applied Linguistics and TESOL, overseeing academic programs and teaching postgraduate courses. His research focuses on Dialogic Learning, Second Language Classroom Interaction, and Professional Development for Language Teachers, emphasizing sociocultural approaches and systemic functional grammar. Though now part-time, he continues research in Northeastern Thailand. Awards include the 2025 FMHHS Education Excellence Award. Collaborations include projects on test preparation practices, multilingualism, and inquiry-based pedagogy. Education: Extensive experience in ELT management and program development, transitioning to academia in 2011. Research Trends: Recent work emphasizes genre-based pedagogy, teacher autonomy, and classroom interaction. Articles span feedback mechanisms, inquiry dialogue, and curriculum design. Grants & Labs: Led projects like 'Investigating Test Preparation Practices' (2018–present) and contributed to the Multilingualism Research Centre (2019–2022). No current student supervision.
Dr. Daniel Wilkes is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Curtin University's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. His research focuses on computational acoustics, fluid-structure interaction, and numerical modeling of underwater and environmental noise, particularly in marine engineering contexts. He collaborates with the External Collaborative Research Centre for Marine Science and Technology, contributing to advancements in boundary element method (BEM) techniques and their applications in acoustic simulations. Wilkes' work spans experimental and numerical investigations of sound radiation from marine structures, such as impact-driven piles and offshore wind turbine foundations, with a focus on mitigating environmental noise impacts. He has developed parallel FMBEM (Fast Multipole Boundary Element Method) models for large-scale acoustic problems and contributed to benchmarking studies like COMPILE for marine pile-driving noise prediction. His publications emphasize coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis, low-frequency elastodynamic modeling, and the optimization of numerical methods for complex acoustic scenarios. While no formal awards are listed, his extensive publication record reflects significant contributions to acoustic engineering and environmental noise management.
Dr Yi Lu is a Senior Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science. He serves as Deputy Academic Lead (HDR) for the School of Computer Science, contributing to higher degree research leadership. His academic journey includes a PhD in Computer Science from the University of New South Wales (2008) and prior roles as a Lecturer at UNSW (2007–2013) and Principal Researcher at Oracle Labs (2013–2019). PhD in Computer Science, University of New South Wales, 2008 Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours), Queensland University of Technology, 2002 Dr Lu's research lies at the intersection of programming languages and information security, with a focus on theoretical and practical aspects of software security. His work includes type systems for object synchronization, ownership types, information flow control, and the application of deep learning to vulnerability detection. He has made significant contributions to static analysis, points-to analysis, and secure multithreaded programming. His recent publications span topics such as threat hunting in industrial control systems, nontransitive security types, and multi-class vulnerability prediction using graph neural networks. These works reflect a strong trend toward combining formal methods with machine learning to enhance software security, particularly in complex and critical systems. Dr Lu has been involved in significant research initiatives, including the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre and the ARC Linkage Project on Java language-based security conformance. His industry experience at Oracle Labs led to patented solutions for real-world cybersecurity problems, demonstrating the practical impact of his research. He supervises research projects on fine-grained vulnerability detection, reproducible deep learning workflows, and open-source supply chain analysis. His teaching includes courses such as Principles of Software Security and Object-Oriented Design, aligning closely with his research expertise. Dr Lu is affiliated with the School of Computer Science at QUT, a research-active unit within the Faculty of Science, contributing to cybersecurity education and innovation in Australia.
Dr Adriana Keating is a Research Fellow at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI), Monash University, where she contributes to the Fire to Flourish Program. Her research sits at the science-policy-practice interface, focusing on systems thinking and measurement methodologies to enhance disaster resilience in communities across Australia and globally. Institution: Monash University School: Monash Sustainable Development Institute Department: Fire to Flourish Program Academic Rank: Research Fellow Email: Adriana.Keating@monash.edu Accepting PhD Students: Yes Adriana holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science from Monash University, a Master of International and Development Economics from the Australian National University, and a Doctorate in Socioeconomics from the Vienna University of Business and Economics. Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Science, Monash University Master of International and Development Economics, Australian National University PhD in Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Business and Economics Her research interests lie at the intersection of disaster resilience, climate change adaptation, and community development. She employs systems analysis and measurement frameworks to understand and improve resilience to disasters such as floods, heatwaves, and bushfires. Her work emphasizes the human dimensions of risk and fosters collaboration across sectors and disciplines. The 15 most recent articles reflect a consistent focus on developing, testing, and applying resilience measurement tools across diverse global contexts. These works span empirical studies in rural Cambodia, taxonomies of flood resilience, and frameworks for heatwave resilience, demonstrating a strong trend toward scalable, community-based, and policy-relevant research. Keywords include disaster resilience, climate risk, systems thinking, and sustainable development, with sub-fields emphasizing measurement, adaptation, and policy integration. While no specific scientific awards are listed in the provided text, Dr Keating's extensive publication record and leadership in international projects underscore her scholarly impact. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action, sustainable cities, and partnerships for goals. Project: Developing and Testing an individual Resilience Survey for the Corangamite, Colac Otway and Surf Coast Shires (2023–2024) Project: Trialling creative tools and methods for policy development (2023–2024) Project: Understanding the resilience of lifelines for regional and remote communities (2023) She has served as a Chief Investigator on multiple externally funded research projects, including those supported by the Wellcome Trust and local councils. Her advisory role in PhD supervision is indicated by her openness to accepting students. Dr Keating also maintains strong external collaborations, notably with the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), where she previously held a Research Scholar position. Dr Keating's research is embedded in collaborative networks involving RMIT University, international NGOs, and policy agencies. Her work with the Fire to Flourish Program and prior role at the Centre for Urban Research highlight her engagement with interdisciplinary teams focused on urban and regional climate resilience. These collaborations enable the translation of systems-based research into practical tools for emergency services and local governments.
Yongqiang Tian is a Lecturer in the Department of Software Systems & Cybersecurity at Monash University. His research focuses on software testing, compiler testing, and software engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo (Canada) and another Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, alongside a BEng in Information Engineering from City University of Hong Kong. His research interests emphasize compiler testing methodologies, program reduction techniques, and deep learning system reliability. Recent work includes leveraging large language models (LLMs) for enhancing compiler testing and program analysis. He has explored probabilistic delta debugging, program reduction algorithms, and evaluating DNN model behaviors under compression. Key contributions include frameworks like T-Rec for language-agnostic program reduction, Lampr for LLM-aided optimization, and tools such as EvalDNN for deep learning model evaluation. His articles highlight trends in compiler bug analysis, testing deep learning libraries, and improving fault localization through algorithmic innovations. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned. Advising and grants details are not provided in the text. His work often intersects with program analysis, compiler validation, and applying AI techniques to software engineering challenges.
Ann Nicholson is a Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University. She has held various senior academic roles, including Deputy Dean (Research) from 2018–2020 and Associate Dean (Education) from 2014–2016. Her work focuses on Bayesian networks, AI applications in healthcare, environmental science, and education technology. She has contributed to numerous projects addressing complex societal challenges, such as pandemic modeling, medical decision support, and sustainable development goals. Her research interests include causal modeling, Bayesian network development, and AI-driven solutions for real-world problems. She has led collaborative initiatives like the MAGNET project studying neurodevelopmental disorders and contributed to environmental modeling of Port Phillip Bay. Nicholson has also pioneered tools like iOOBN for object-oriented Bayesian networks and BARD for structured group reasoning. Her publications span over three decades, with significant contributions to AI applications in medicine, ecology, and policy analysis. She has been involved in projects ranging from wind energy assessment in Mexico to fog forecasting at Melbourne Airport.
Dr. Michael Norrish is an Associate Professor at The Australian National University , affiliated with the School of Computing and the Mathematical Sciences Institute . He specializes in formal methods, interactive theorem proving (particularly with the HOL4 system), and formal semantics for complex systems. His work emphasizes rigorous software verification and foundational computer science research. Dr. Norrish holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge (1999) , along with a BA and BSc(Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington. His research has led to significant contributions in verified compilers (e.g., CakeML), formalized algorithms (e.g., AKS primality test), and reproducibility challenges in scientific software. Research Interests include: - Formal verification of theorem provers - Verified systems programming - Machine learning integration in automated reasoning - Reproducibility in computational research His recent articles focus on advancing theorem proving tools (e.g., HOL4), reproducibility debt in scientific software, and verified compiler frameworks like PureCake and Pancake. He co-organized the 15th International Conference on Interactive Theorem Proving (ITP 2024) and leads projects on AI trustworthiness in Health, Safety & Environment (Tech4HSE). Current projects include: - Tech4HSE: AI Trust & Trustworthiness (ANU, 2024–2029) - Formalization of mathematical algorithms in HOL4
Professor Mingsheng Ying (University of Technology Sydney) is a Distinguished Professor specializing in quantum programming , quantum verification , and the foundations of artificial intelligence . He leads the Centre for Quantum Software and Information and co-founded the Quantum Lab . His work bridges quantum computation with formal methods and reasoning under uncertainty. Education : Mathematics, Fuzhou Teachers College (1981) Research Interests His research spans: Quantum programming languages and verification techniques Model checking quantum systems and cryptographic protocols Quantum machine learning robustness Entanglement theory and distributed quantum computation Recent Publications Key contributions include: Quantum error correction verification frameworks Quantum register machine architecture Hamiltonian simulation parallelization Symbolic execution for quantum debugging Robustness tools like VeriQR Awards & Editorial Roles NSF China Distinguished Young Scholar Award (1997) China National Science Award (2008) Co-Editor-in-Chief, ACM Transactions on Quantum Computing Vice President, International Fuzzy Systems Association (2005) Leadership & Grants He oversees 14 active grants (2010–2029) from: Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects) National Natural Science Foundation of China Sydney Quantum Academy Baidu Contract Research His grants fund research in quantum program verification, entanglement classification, and distributed quantum protocols.
Prof. Jean-Guy Schneider is a Professor and Associate Dean (Education) in the Faculty of IT at Monash University. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and has over 20 years of experience in higher education. His research focuses on reliable software technologies, including component-based systems, cloud/mobile computing, quantum software, and agile methodologies. He actively contributes to software engineering education and industry-relevant research. His key research areas include energy-efficient IoT architectures, machine learning model security (e.g., MLGuard project), and quantum computing abstractions. Recent work emphasizes optimizing workflows for energy/performance trade-offs and addressing challenges in open-source ML projects. Prof. Schneider has published extensively on topics like service virtualization, Docker container monitoring, and anomaly detection in cloud systems. He supervises PhD candidates in software engineering for machine learning and quantum computing.
Yuekang Li is a Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW, part of the Faculty of Engineering. Previously, he worked as a Research Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where he contributed to the Continental-NTU cooperative lab. He holds a Ph.D. and bachelor’s degree from NTU, awarded in 2020 and 2016 respectively. His research focuses on software engineering, particularly software testing and quality assurance techniques, with an emphasis on applying these methods to diverse scenarios such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence systems. His work explores innovative approaches to address challenges in testing large language models (LLMs), fuzzing protocols, and detecting vulnerabilities in software systems. Recent publications highlight his contributions to CAPTCHA design using visual illusions, logic reasoning validation in LLMs, and metamorphic testing for identifying hallucinations. His research also spans cybersecurity domains like protocol fuzzing, jailbreak attack mitigation, and adversarial AI testing. Yuekang’s articles reflect a strong focus on advancing software reliability through automated testing frameworks, formal verification methods, and AI-driven solutions. His work bridges theoretical software engineering principles with practical applications in security and AI ethics.
Matthew Roberts is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing at Macquarie University, affiliated with the Data Horizons Research Centre. His research focuses on functional programming, formal methods, and autonomous systems, with notable contributions to aquatic vehicle simulation and programming education. He has secured grants from Google and industry partners for projects like UAV navigation systems and expanding STEM education equity. His research interests bridge computer science and applied mathematics, emphasizing programming language design, static analysis tools, and cognitive aspects of computing education. Roberts collaborates on initiatives such as the G2G project to engage women in STEM, and has developed open-source software for autonomous systems and mental health data analysis. Recent work highlights interdisciplinary approaches, including data-driven reorganization of psychiatric diagnostic criteria and analyzing cognitive predictors of programming success. His publications span domains from compiler optimization to human-robot interaction, reflecting his commitment to both technical innovation and educational outreach. Received 2024 Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award Principal Investigator on 10+ research grants totaling $2.5M AUD Developed simulation frameworks for unmanned surface vehicles (USV) Authored widely-used Kiama programming library Active in academic service, Roberts has served on program committees for Haskell Symposium, SIGCSE, and Software Language Engineering conferences since 2014. His teaching philosophy emphasizes mathematical foundations and student-centered learning strategies.
Rolf Schwitter is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Computing, Macquarie University. His research focuses on natural and formal language processing, including controlled natural languages, answer extraction, knowledge representation, probabilistic logic programming, and Semantic Web technologies. He holds an h-index of 13 with over 944 citations. His work emphasizes bridging human-readable and machine-processable systems, particularly in legal and technical domains. Key research contributions include developing frameworks like PENG ASP for declarative programming in natural language, smart contract systems, and hybrid explainability tools like HESIP. He leads projects such as Policy Automation: Reconstructing Policy Documents for Objective Decision Making (2018–present) and has collaborated on initiatives like TwitterNews+ for real-time event detection. Research Themes: Controlled Natural Languages, Smart Contracts, Explainable AI, Legal Informatics Notable Projects: User-guided legal document processing, error-free smart contracts, hybrid prediction explanations Received the 2023 Faculty of Science and Engineering Award for Inter-School Collaboration. Active in academic publishing with over 117 research outputs spanning conferences, journals, and book chapters.
