Rate My Professor Ibrahim Habli

Professor Ibrahim Habli is a Professor of Safety-Critical Systems in the Department of Computer Science at the University of York. He earned a BSc in Computer Science from the American University of Beirut, an MSc in Software Engineering with Distinction, a PhD in Computer Science with No Corrections, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from the University of York. His research focuses on the design and assurance of software-intensive systems, particularly AI and autonomous applications. This interdisciplinary work involves collaborations with ethicists, lawyers, social scientists, clinicians, and partners including Jaguar Land Rover, NASA, and NHS England. Habli has advanced through roles at York from Research and Teaching Fellow to Professor, including Head of Research, Deputy Head of the Department (2021-2024), Chair of Graduate Research Studies (2019-2021), Programme Leader for the MSc in Safety-Critical Systems Engineering with Automotive Applications funded by Jaguar Land Rover (2016-2018), and Programme Leader for the MSc in Gas Turbine Control funded by Rolls-Royce (2010-2012).

Habli directs the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe AI Systems (SAINTS), a £16 million programme spanning Computer Science, Law, Philosophy, Health Sciences, and Sociology with 36 partners. He also serves as Research Director of the £10 million Centre for Assuring Autonomy partnership with Lloyd's Register Foundation. He contributes to safety standardisation committees such as BSI DS/1, EUROCAE/RTCA, IEEE, and MISRA, and advises industry and public organisations on safety. Key publications include 'Distinguishing two features of accountability for AI technologies' (2022, Nature Machine Intelligence), 'Assuring the safety of AI-based clinical decision support systems: a case study of the AI Clinician for sepsis treatment' (2022, BMJ Health and Care Informatics), and 'Mind the Gaps: Assuring the Safety of Autonomous Systems from an Engineering, Ethical, and Legal Perspective' (2019, Artificial Intelligence). Awards include the SAE Outstanding Oral Presentation Award (2010) and an Honourable Mention at ACM DIS 2024. As principal investigator on EPSRC-funded 'Assuring Responsibility for Trustworthy Autonomous Systems' (2022-2024), his efforts shape safety practices in critical domains.