Prof Ibrahim Habli BSc (AUB), MSc, PhD (York)
Professor

Interests

Ibrahim Habli is a Professor of Safety-Critical Systems at the University of York. He specialises in the design and assurance of software-intensive systems, with a particular focus on AI and autonomous applications. His research is inherently interdisciplinary, involving close collaborations with ethicists, lawyers, social scientists and clinicians and long-standing partnerships with organisations such as Jaguar Land Rover, NASA and NHS England.

He currently serves as the Director of the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe AI Systems (SAINTS), a £16M PhD programme that brings together five academic departments (Computer Science, Law, Philosophy, Health Sciences and Sociology) and 35 industry, policy and regulatory partners. Professor Habli is also the Research Director of the Centre for Assuring Autonomy (CfAA), a £10m partnership between Lloyd's Register Foundation and the University of York, dedicated to pioneering evidence-based and impactful research at the intersection of AI and safety. Prior to these roles, he was the Head of Research and Deputy Head of the Department of Computer Science.

Professor Habli has served on several national and international safety standardisation committees, including BSI DS/1, EUROCAE/RTCA, IEEE and MISRA. He also has provided expert advice in safety to industry and public organisations.

Qualifications

BSc Computer Science (AUB); MSc Software Engineering with Distinction (York); PhD Computer Science with No Corrections (York); Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (York).

Career

- Deputy Head of Department of Computer Science and Director of Research: 2021-2024
- Chair of Graduate Research Studies in Computer Science: 2019-2021
- Co-leader of Distance Learning PhD in Computer Science: 2016-2018
- Programme Leader of the MSc in Safety-Critical Systems Engineering with Automotive Applications (funded by Jaguar Land Rover): 2016-2018
- Programme Leader of the MSc in Gas Turbine Control (funded by Rolls-Royce): 2010-2012

Departmental and University Roles

• Director of the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI Safety (SAINTS)
• Research Director of the Centre for Assuring Autonomy (CfAA)