Research Opportunities

Open Positions

I am looking for self-motivated PhD students, Master by Research (MRes) students, research assistants, and visiting students/scholars to join my research group at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

    Note: Positions are available on a rolling basis. If you are interested, please reach out as early as possible.
  

Research Areas

My group works on problems at the intersection of Programming Languages (PL), Software Engineering (SE), and Security. Specific topics include but are not limited to:

Program Analysis Abstract interpretation, typestate analysis, value-flow analysis, pointer analysis
Software Security Vulnerability detection, fuzz testing, ReDoS, memory safety
AI for SE Graph neural networks and language models for code understanding, bug detection, and program repair
Formal Methods Verification techniques, static analysis frameworks (e.g., SVF)

Scholarships & Funding

Macquarie University offers competitive scholarships for research students:

PhD scholarships: Tax-free stipend of approximately AUD $39,700/year plus tuition fee coverage for up to 3 years.
MRes scholarships (Road to Research): Similar stipend support with 1 year of tuition fee coverage.
Macquarie University Research Scholarships: Available for both domestic and international students.
CSC (China Scholarship Council): Chinese applicants may apply for CSC funding in conjunction with Macquarie admission.
Cotutelle programs: Dual-degree PhD programs are available for students enrolled at overseas partner universities.
Conference travel support: PhD students can receive funding for international conference attendance.

Requirements

A strong background in computer science, software engineering, or a related field.
Solid programming skills (e.g., C/C++, Java, Python).
Interest or experience in at least one of: program analysis, compilers, software testing, or machine learning for code.
Good written and oral English communication skills.
English proficiency (for international applicants): IELTS 6.5+ (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 83+, or PTE 58+.
Prior research experience or publications are a plus but not required.

How to Apply

If you are interested, please send an email to xiao.cheng@mq.edu.au with:

Your CV/resume (including education background, publications if any, and programming experience).
Your academic transcripts (undergraduate and/or postgraduate).
A brief description of your research interests and why you want to join the group.
English test scores (if available).

I will try to reply to every email, but please understand if there is a delay. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

About Sydney & Macquarie University

Macquarie University is located in the Macquarie Park innovation district in Sydney, Australia. It is ranked among the top 200 universities worldwide and is surrounded by one of Australia's largest business and technology hubs. Sydney is a vibrant, multicultural city consistently ranked among the world's most liveable cities.

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