REU Site: Software Dependability Centric Research and Application

德克萨斯大学达拉斯分校的本科生研究体验(REU)网站关注如何生产可靠的软件，不仅可靠，而且安全可靠。这个网站提供了创新的研究机会，特别是对来自代表性不足的群体或资源有限的大学的学生。通过研讨会和讲座提高批判性思维、口头和书面交流、解决问题和研究方法的技能，学生将为研究生教育和科学技术研究生涯做好准备。与导师和其他参与者的互动将提供交流想法和激发讨论的途径。将与学生所在的机构建立研究联系，以继续在不同地理区域的多个机构之间开展合作。将使用一个网站来宣传研究文章、讲座和项目演示的幻灯片，以及有效社区外展的公告。这项研究的重点是检查和改进安全和安全保证以及可靠性预测的现有方法和当前做法；调查诸如软件可靠性可能如何影响软件生命周期等问题；以及研究如何为可靠的软件发展软件过程、方法和工具支持。将特别强调可用性研究，以评估自动代码和测试用例生成、漏洞检测和解释等人工智能增强技术。将讨论基于区块链的智能合同和自动驾驶车辆等自动驾驶系统的软件。这些调查结果将被汇编，以提供如何有效和高效地实现软件安全、保障和可靠性的全面指导方针。该网站的一个关键方面是与业界的密切合作。REU学生将对行业赞助商进行实地考察，让他们直接与实践者交谈，以更好地了解可靠的软件如何应用于现实生活中的应用程序。将举办技术写作和口头陈述讲习班，以提高编写和提交技术报告的熟练程度。还将举办关于道德和职业责任的研讨会，以确保REU的学生行为得体和尊重。“这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。”

This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at the University of Texas at Dallas focuses on how to produce dependable software that is not only reliable but also safe and secure. This site offers innovative research opportunities, especially to students from underrepresented groups or universities with limited resources. By enhancing skills through workshops and lectures in critical thinking, oral and written communication, problem solving, and research methods, students will be well equipped for graduate education and research careers in science and technology. Interactions with mentors and fellow participants will provide avenues to exchange ideas and stimulate discussions. Research connections will be established with students’ home institutions to continue collaboration among multiple institutions in different geographical regions. A website will be used to publicize research articles, videos and slides of lectures and project presentations, as well as announcements for effective community outreach.The focus of this research is on examining and improving existing methodologies and current practices for safety and security assurance, and reliability prediction; investigating issues such as how software dependability may affect the software lifecycle; and studying how software processes, methods and tool support should be evolved for dependable software. Special emphasis will be on usability studies to evaluate AI-enhanced techniques for automated code and test case generation, vulnerability detection and explanations, etc. Software for blockchain-based smart contracts and autonomous systems like self-driving vehicles will be addressed. The findings will be compiled to provide a comprehensive guideline of how software safety, security, and reliability can be achieved effectively and efficiently. A key aspect of this site is the close collaboration with industry. REU students will take field trips to industry sponsors, allowing them to speak directly with practitioners to better understand how dependable software is applied to real-life applications. Workshops on technical writing and oral presentation will be held to improve proficiency in preparing and delivering technical reports. Seminars on ethics and professional responsibility will also be given to ensure REU students behave properly and respectfully. `This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.