Maria Christakis Wins ERC Starting Grant

Maria Christakis addresses a crucial question: Who analyzes the software analysis tools that ensure the reliability of our computer software? Modern program analyzers are increasingly advanced, highly complex tools with sophisticated algorithms. Prof. Christakis aims to develop a systematic approach for testing program analysis tools through her “Miranda Testing” project, which is now funded by the ERC grant. Manual verification of the absence of critical bugs in such programs is an expensive and challenging task. Instead, the project team aims to automate test generation as a more effective method. This will reduce the occurrence of bugs and prevent catastrophic outcomes in high-risk environments such as aerospace, transportation, and medical devices. The research will enhance the reliability of the software we use daily, particularly in areas where any mistake could have severe consequences for people, the environment, or critical infrastructure.