Biography:
Marta Zofia Kwiatkowska FRS MAE is a prominent Polish theoretical computer scientist known for her contributions to the field of computing systems. She is currently serving as a Professor of Computing Systems in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, England, and is also a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford.
Kwiatkowska’s research focuses on developing modeling and automated verification techniques for computing systems, with the aim of guaranteeing their safe, secure, reliable, timely, and resource-efficient operation. Her work has made significant contributions to various areas including computer networks, biological organisms, and electronic devices.
Born and raised in Poland, Kwiatkowska obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Computer Science with distinction summa cum laude from Jagiellonian University in Krakow. She further pursued her academic journey and earned her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Leicester in 1989.
Following the completion of her doctorate, Kwiatkowska held various academic positions. She started her career as an assistant professor at Jagiellonian University in Krakow and later served as a research scholar and lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Leicester. Kwiatkowska went on to become a lecturer, reader in Semantics for Concurrency, and eventually a professor of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham. In 2007, she made a pivotal move by joining the prestigious University of Oxford, where she became the first female professor in the Department of Computer Science. Currently, she heads the Automated Verification research theme within the department.
Throughout her career, Kwiatkowska has been dedicated to the development of models and analysis methods for complex systems. Her groundbreaking work led to the creation of the PRISM probabilistic model checker, which has been widely recognized and utilized. In fact, PRISM has been downloaded over 79,000 times, and there are over 400 research papers by external teams that have utilized this tool.
Kwiatkowska has also played a vital role in the international scene of probabilistic and quantitative methods in verification. Her recent research incorporates synthesis from quantitative specifications, with a particular focus on the safety and robustness of machine learning and artificial intelligence systems. As a member of important organizations such as the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)’s Responsible AI Working Group and the Royal Society’s Digital Technology and the Planet Working Group, Kwiatkowska actively promotes the responsible adoption of trustworthy AI.
In addition to her scientific contributions, Kwiatkowska is passionate about encouraging women to pursue careers in science. As a senior member of OxWoCS, she actively supports and encourages women in computer science fields. She has also made significant contributions as a contributor to the Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit and as an advisor to the Suffrage Science Award in 2016.
Kwiatkowska serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals, including Information and Computation, Formal Methods in System Design, Logical Methods in Computer Science, Science of Computer Programming, and the Royal Society’s Open Science.
In terms of current projects, Kwiatkowska is leading the FUN2MODEL project, which focuses on automated probabilistic reasoning for deep learning. She is also a part of the Mobile Autonomy project, which aims to enable the pervasive technology of the future.
As a distinguished computer scientist, Kwiatkowska has been invited to deliver various talks and lectures. Some notable examples include the BCS 2020 Lovelace Lecture, where she spoke about Probabilistic Model Checking for the Data-Rich World, and her lecture at the Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR 2020) on Probabilistic Model Checking for Strategic Equilibria-Based Decision Making.
Kwiatkowska’s contributions to theoretical computer science and her dedication to promoting women in science have made her a revered figure in the field. Her research continues to advance computing systems, making them safer and more reliable, and her advocacy for responsible AI ensures that technology is developed with societal and ethical considerations in mind.