PhD Student in Software Engineering - Fall 2027
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates · Full Time
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- In office
- Education
- Any graduate in software engineering, computer science, or related fields with eligibility for doctoral study.
- Eligibility
- Open to candidates with strong backgrounds in software engineering, programming languages, or security who meet NYU Abu Dhabi's application requirements. Interested individuals must apply through the university system selecting the Abu Dhabi campus and complete an internal lab interest form.
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Job description
Overview
The SANAD Research Lab at NYU Abu Dhabi invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in Software Engineering, beginning Fall 2027. Our lab specializes in creating scalable and precise developer tools to enhance software creation and maintenance processes, supervised by experts Sarah Nadi and Karim Ali. Candidates may choose supervision by either or both faculty members.
Research Areas
- Managing dependencies and software supply chains, including API version updates, library migrations, and misuse detection
- Evaluating and enhancing the accuracy of code generated by large language models
- Security analysis of smart contracts
- Improving software energy efficiency
- Applying artificial intelligence techniques to software engineering challenges
- Program analysis focused on identifying security vulnerabilities
- Developing scalable and fine-grained pointer analysis methods
What SANAD Offers
- An active, collaborative research environment with advanced computing infrastructure
- Consistent publication track record at leading conferences and journals in software engineering
- Mentorship, opportunities for global collaboration, and research visit chances
- Comprehensive financial support throughout the degree
- Experience life and work in Abu Dhabi's safe and attractive Saadiyat campus
Position Details
- Location: New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Start date: Fall semester 2027
- Program length: Four years, full-time, funded
- Supervisors: Sarah Nadi, Karim Ali, or co-supervision option
- Application deadline for NYU: December 12, 2026 (select Abu Dhabi campus preferences)
Candidate Profile
- Strong foundation in software engineering, programming languages, or security
- Additional experience in static or dynamic code analysis, mining software repositories, or AI-based code research is advantageous
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, Swift, Scala, or C/C++
- Demonstrated research potential through theses, publications, or contributions to open-source projects
- Effective communication skills for presenting and documenting ideas clearly
Preferred Work Approach and Traits
- Prioritizes intellectual honesty and values truthful, reproducible results over impressiveness
- Practices reproducibility rigorously by scripting experiments and verifying data before sharing
- Embraces data-driven conclusions, even if they challenge initial hypotheses
- Commits to seeing research problems through from start to finish, including tedious phases
- Welcomes constructive feedback and engages in respectful, honest intellectual exchange
- Strives for clarity and precision in written communication, open to iterative improvements
- Shows curiosity, self-direction, and readiness to seek assistance when necessary
- Acts as a reliable and communicative team member, supporting a positive lab environment
Application Process
Applicants are asked to submit an internal expression of interest indicating their preferred supervisor (Sarah Nadi, Karim Ali, or co-supervision). This internal step complements the formal NYU application. Selection depends on meeting the university's requirements and deadlines.
Minimum education
Doctorate