[CS] Bogdan Stoica Dissertation Defense/Jun 6, 2025

[via cs]

This is an announcement of Bogdan Stoica's Dissertation Defense.
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Candidate: Bogdan Stoica

Date: Friday, June 06, 2025

Time:  1 pm CST

Remote Location: https://uchicago.zoom.us/j/94095498705?pwd=2rHNzd9rBDKuX1QL07Xjwfkqih6a79.1


Title: Scalable, Cost-Effective Bug Detection through Controlled Imprecision

Abstract: In this PhD dissertation, I explore a novel program analysis paradigm that deliberately trades soundness for pragmatic effectiveness in order to detect complex, deeply-nested bugs in large-scale software systems. At its core, my work centers on "controlled imprecision" --- the idea of selectively relaxing strict constraints in traditional testing and program analysis techniques to uncover defects that sound, precise approaches might miss. I further demonstrate how this concept can be combined with test-suite repurposing, automatically steering routine unit, regression and integration tests into efficient bug triggers. As a result, my tools transform off-the-shelf tests into effective probes that expose complex correctness bugs and performance inefficiencies.

Advisors: Shan Lu

Committee Members: Prof. Shan Lu, Prof. Haryadi Gunawi, Prof. Kexin Pei, Dr. Suman Nath