Ph.D. defence 14th of November 2023, will be streamed from M 123 at Reykjavík University and held live in Sala Consiliare (Rectorate Building).

• Name of student: Raphaël Reynouard's
• Date: 14th of November
• Time: 9:00-10:00 GMT time ( 10:00-11:00 Italian time)
• Place: M 123 live stream through zoom and live from Sala Consiliare, Italy.
• https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83591437806?pwd=U0JIRFpyQXZzSVBPT1c3anlXRTNHUT09
• Meeting ID: 835 9143 7806
• Access code: 447856
• Department: Computer Science

Title “On Learning Stochastic Models: From Theory to Practice”
Abstract:
The field of model checking offers numerous tools for analysing stochastic models.
This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the behaviours exhibited by the system represented in the model.

Consequently, such analyses are of paramount importance for critical systems.
Nonetheless, in certain application domains, the model is not readily accessible and needs to be acquired from partially-observable executions of the system under analysis.
This thesis proposes to improve the learning of stochastic models, thereby facilitating the application of model checking to systems for which no model is currently available.

This objective is realised via three discrete strategies:

1. formulating an active learning algorithm to learn Markov decision processes,
2. devising a learning algorithm tailored for synchronised compositions of continuous-time Markov chains, and
3. developing a library compatible with model checkers, streamlining the process of stochastic model acquisition and its seamless incorporation into the model checking procedure.

The first two strategies focus on enhancing and extending the theoretical foundations of learning stochastic models, while the third one centers on facilitating the application of learning stochastic models and their integration into the model checking workflow.

Committee members:

• Anna Ingólfsdóttir, Professor at Reykjavík University; supervisor
• Giovanna Bacci Aalborg University, Denmark; co-supervisor
• Luca Aceto, Professor at Reykjavík University
• Nils Jansen, Associate Professor, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands, http://www.cs.ru.nl/personal/nilsjansen/
• Catia Trubiani catia.trubiani@gmail.com, https://cs.gssi.it/catia.trubiani/