Mats Heimdahl
Headshot of Mats Heimdahl on maroon background

Mats Heimdahl

He/Him
Professor, Distinguished University Teaching Professor, Department Head, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

Contact

612-625-2068
heimdahl@umn.edu
Kenneth H. Keller Hall
Room 4-192C
200 Union Street Se
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Personal website
Critical Systems Research Group (CriSys)
Software Engineering and Programming Languages

Education

Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of California Irvine (1994)
M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (1988)

Professional Background

Mats Heimdahl joined the Department of Computer Science & Engineering in 1996 as an assistant professor. He was named a Distinguished University Teaching Professor in 2004 and has been serving as the head of the department since 2015. In his tenure at the University, Heimdahl also served as the center director for the University of Minnesota Software Engineering Center from 2004-15. Prior to his work in Minnesota, Heimdahl was an assistant professor at Michigan State University from 1994-96, during which time he also served as the vice president of Safeware Engineering Corporation (1995-98).

Visit Mats Heimdahl's Experts@Minnesota profile page.

Research Interests

Heimdahl’s research focuses on software engineering and is investigating methods and tools to help us develop software with predictable behavior free from critical defects. His group, Critical Systems Research Group (CriSys), is investigating issues in automated software engineering; how we can effectively leverage tool support to reduce cost, shorten cycle time, and improve software quality. Specifically, they focus on software requirements engineering, model-based software development, software validation and verification, and software test automation.

Research Areas
Software Engineering and Programming Languages

Current Research
Google Scholar
Critical Systems Research Group (CriSys)

Ph.D. Graduates
Tae Joon Byun (2022; co-advised with Sanjai Rayadurgam); Danielle Stewart (2021; co-advised with Michal W. Whalen); Andreas Katis (2020; co-advised with Michael W. Whalen); Anitha Murugesan (2020; co-advised with Sanjai Rayadurgam); Ian DeSilva (2019; co-advised with  Sanjai Rayadurgam); Elaheh Ghassabani (2018; co-advised with Michael W. Whalen); Dongjiang You (2016); Gregory Gay (2015; co-advised with Sanjai Rayadurgam); Hung Pham (2014; co-advised with Michael W. Whalen); Devaraj George (2012); Matt Staats (2011); Myung-Hwan Park (2010); Kai Xui (2009); Ajitha Rajan (2008); Anjali Joshi (2008); Jimin Gao (2007; co-advised with Eric Van Wyk); Michael W. Whalen (2005); Robert Weber (2004); Sanjai Rayadurgam (2004); Yunja Choi (2003); Jeffrey M. Thompson (2002); Barbara J. Czerny (1997, Michigan State University).

Recent News

Heimdahl appointed to second term as CS&E department head

Teaching Subjects
Software engineering
Software testing
Model-based software development

Honors and Awards

2004: Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education
2001: McKnight Presidential Fellows Award Program
1999: McKnight Land-Grant Professorship
1996: National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER Award)

Selected Grants
Architectural Modeling and Analysis for Safety Engineering
Heimdahl, M., Heimdahl, M. & Whalen, M. W.; Rockwell Collins, Inc., 12/20/16 - 9/30/19

SHF: Medium: Contract-Based Black-Box Assurance
Heimdahl, M., McCamant, S. A. & Rayadurgam, S.; National Science Foundation, 6/15/16 - 5/31/22

Assuring the Safety, Security and Reliability of Medical Device Cyber Physical Systems
Lee, I., Heimdahl, M., Whalen, M., Kim, Y., Hopper, N.; National Science Foundation, 9/1/11 - 8/31/16