Research Positions (PostDoc + PhD) in Static and Runtime Verification of Flight Control Software for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Research Positions (PostDoc + PhD) in Static and Runtime Verification of Flight Control Software for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061, U.S.A.
Application deadline: Interested researchers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, preferably before December 15, 2017. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.
Projects
Applications are invited for PostDoc and PhD positions to work on two related projects focusing on reliability and security of flight control software for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The first project deals with the formal verification of UAS flight control software. The software verification in this case focuses on refinement from the algorithmic level to the code level, and inserting formal assertions and invariants into the code that should hold at various steps of the algorithm.
The second project deals with real-time monitoring of UAS behavior. Specifically, we focus on ways to check that physical system behavior is consistent with formal specifications despite the possibility of malicious code and data in arbitrarily complex and networked flight control system architectures. The aim is to automatically synthesize and implement monitors that detect and possibly mitigate attacks.
Our group is a collaboration between the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering and the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Blacksburg campus of Virginia Tech.
Candidates
For the PostDoc position, we seek candidates with a strong background in formal methods applied to cyber-physical systems. Ideally candidates will hold a PhD or have equivalent experience, though candidates who are close to submitting a PhD will be considered.
Application
Please email your application to Dr. Mazen Farhood (farhood@vt.edu). The application should include your CV, a brief statement of research experience and interests, and the names of three references.
The appointment for the PostDoc position starts as soon as possible and will be for one year with renewal contingent on performance and funding. PhD student(s) are expected to join the graduate program at Virginia Tech either in the Spring 2018 or Fall 2018 semesters.
More Information
Further details may be obtained from Dr. Mazen Farhood (farhood@vt.edu) and Dr. Cameron Patterson (cdp@vt.edu).