Yes! I am recruiting students! [Sep 2024 Update] I am looking for several Ph.D. students (Fall 2025) and research assistants (starting from June 2024). I am broadly interested in topics related to code generation, log analysis, anomaly detection, AIOps, DevOps, program repair, software testing. Recently, I am exploring LLM applications to automated programming and software run-time monitoring.
Want to apply? Before reaching out, I recommend reading the following letter.
Please apply through one of the following ways (don't need to do both): (1) Fill this form (recommended)
(2) Drop me an email (yintonghuo98@gmail.com) with the subject line “{PhD/RA/Visiting}-{Your Name}-{Starting Date}” (e.g., PhD-Yintong Huo-2025Spring), and attach your CV and transcripts.
Dear prospective students,
Thank you for your interests in me and my work :)
In our daily lives, software surrounds us, from opening computer applications to writing programs. As a software engineering researcher, I envision a world where reliable software enhances the lives of everyone.
Software engineering research is empirical and easy-to-start due to its problem-solving nature. Rather than solely focusing on cutting-edge performance, we prioritize solving real-world problems. Remember those programming challenges you faced -- selecting APIs, optimizing program logic, or debugging? Each presents an opportunity for software engineering research.
Additionally, software engineering is an applied and interdisciplinary field, offering extensive opportunities as AI complements traditional rule-based processes. Just as language models revolutionize daily life, they also impact developers. Have you experimented with AI-generated programs? While tools like ChatGPT can write programs in seconds, they may be error-prone, highlighting the need for domain-aware improvements.
One of the most rewarding aspects of software engineering research is its significant academic and societal impacts. By tackling the real-world challenges, your work not only garners attention from other scholars, but also finds practical deployment in industry. For instance, our work, LogPAI, has been adopted by world-leading tech companies for system performace monitoring.
Undoubtedly, the PhD journey in software engineering is challenging. You'll confront problems faced by thousands, work with massive codebases, and analyze extensive performance data. Yet, you won't be alone. As your supervisor, I am committed to supporting you every step of the way, from exploring new topics, implementing novel approaches, to crafting scientific papers. Moreover, apart from many excellent collaborators outside Singapore (Canada, HK, US), I can also connect you with industry resources for internship opportunities, if needed.
Established in 2000, SMU is a young and esteemed institution for research. According to CSRankings (2019-2024), SMU ranks No. 2 globally in Software Engineering, No. 27 (No. 16 in Asia) in AI, and No. 56 (No. 13 in Asia) overall in computer science. Our graduates have pursued professor careers at renowned institutions worldwide, including NCSU, UNSW, and Queen’s University, as well as in leading industry companies like Microsoft, Grab, and Salesforce. Last but not least, Singapore, where we are located in the heart of the city, is a thriving area riping with opportunities!
Having received tremendous support throughout my academic journey, I am now eager to extend that support to establish your career. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
Yintong