Computer Science: Siemens Mobility and Faculty of Science and Engineering Funded PhD Scholarship: Extending the State-Of-The-Art in Software Certification

Funding providers: Siemens Mobility, Faculty of Science and Engineering 

Subject areas: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Software Testing, Verification, Software Certification 

Project description:  A long-standing and persistent practical problem of computer science is: When has the quality of a program been demonstrated sufficiently for its purpose? This is particularly acute in areas where safety is at stake: our project concerns technical methods to certify software for digital signalling in railways. 

Based upon international railway standards and their own engineering principles, Siemens has created a comprehensive set of about 300 safety principles concerning so-called interlocking computers. But is an interlocking computer safe after verification against these principles? For Siemens, and the rail industry in general, the answer to this question is critical for business and public trust. 

This project will build on long-established deep technical work in formal verification to provide a scientific answer to this practical question: 

• Develop and apply new coverage criteria, motivated, e.g., by the MC/DC criterion as prescribed within standard DO-178 C to ensure adequate testing. 
• Determine error uncovering capabilities with empirical methods using mutation techniques: is there a `bias’ towards certain error types?  
• Achieve higher level of quality assurance by systematically adding new safety principles, e.g., by utilizing code smells. 

The research has the potential to go beyond Siemens/Railway and lead to a step-change in the state-of-the-art, which normally determines certification criteria. 

This project was co-created between the Railway Verification Group at Swansea University and Siemens. It is a natural continuation of our common research agenda to develop new verification methods for interlockings and deploy these methods at Siemens. The project is key for Swansea’s envisioned REF Impact Case Study 2028 on Railway. This proposal strengthens Swansea’s engagement with the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in South Wales, at which Siemens also intends to get involved. 

Eligibility

Candidates must hold a UK Bachelor degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline, or an appropriate master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’,

OR an overseas Bachelor degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline, or an appropriate master’s degree deemed equivalent to UK master's (by UK ECCTIS) with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. 

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.

Funding Details

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses will also be available. 

Advert information