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Thesis topics

These are examples, not a closed list. If you have an idea related to autonomous or dependable systems, come and talk to us.

Software and System Testing

• Simulation-based testing of autonomous vehicles: generate challenging driving scenarios that expose failures of lane-keeping or obstacle-avoidance systems.
• Testing deep-learning components: generate test inputs and measure adequacy for neural networks used in perception or decision making.
• Generative AI for testing: use generative models to create realistic test inputs for deep-learning systems, and assess whether they are valid.

Cybersecurity

• Vulnerability assessment of industrial devices: analyse firmware and network services of OT/IoT devices in a controlled lab environment.
• Formal analysis of authentication protocols: model real-world protocols (e.g. multi-factor authentication) and verify their security properties with tools such as ProVerif.
• Network discovery and monitoring: design modular tools to map and monitor complex industrial networks.

Choreographic Autonomous Systems

• Choreographies for robot and drone fleets: program the global behaviour of a fleet and derive the code of each agent automatically.
• Type systems for communication safety: design and implement type checkers that rule out deadlocks and protocol violations.
• Bigraphs and graph rewriting: model and simulate dynamic, spatial systems with jLibBig.
• Mechanised proofs: formalise calculi, type systems or protocols in a proof assistant such as Rocq or Lean, and prove their properties with machine-checked proofs.

How to apply

1. Look at the research areas and at the people involved.
2. Write an email to mads@uniud.it or directly to a researcher working in that area. Say what interests you and attach your transcript of records.
3. We will meet you, in person or online, to find the topic that fits you best.

Open positions (PhD scholarships, research grants) are announced in the news section.