Professor Nejati’s research focuses on software verification and testing—specifically, how to ensure that the software we increasingly depend on operates properly. Software-intensive systems, which range from autonomous cars to emergency management systems, need to function safely and effectively in the real world.
Making real-time systems more reliable
With , has been exploring how to analyze and test real-time operating systems. BlackBerry develops systems for embedded devices in which timing is critical; these systems must not only function properly, but also operate within very specific time constraints.
“In real-time systems, it’s essential to make sure the operating system is reliable and can handle complex timing requirements,” she explained. “We devised efficient and scalable algorithms to check this reliability.”
Traditional theoretical approaches to verifying software often depend on simplifying assumptions that do nothold true in real-world applications. In contrast, empirical and heuristic verification methods can be more practical, but they may lack precision or interpretability. Professor Nejati’s work resolves this issue by improving heuristic methods through machine learning and AI, which means they can be more scalable and offer more interpretable results.
“The novelty is in making these heuristic techniques more intelligent in the way they search and in helping them give us interpretable feedback,” she said. “We want to understand not just whether the system passed a check, but why.”
This research doesn’t just advance academic knowledge: it plays a critical role in making sure the high-tech sector can produce trustworthy systems. By providing methods that help software pass regulatory certification checks, Professor Nejati’s work directly supports industry efforts to prove their products are safe and reliable.
A researcher with industry experience
Professor Nejati’s pathway to these collaborations began long before joining the University of Ottawa. After completing her PhD, she worked in two research institutes in Europe—one in Norway and one in Luxembourg—where the focus was on working closely with industry.
“They weren’t companies or universities, but something in between,” she said. “I gained a lot of experience working directly on industry problems.”
At the University of Ottawa, her work with BlackBerry began through a colleague who introduced her to a manager at the company. They quickly found common ground in their work with real-time systems, and the partnership took off.
The value of collaboration
Professor Nejati believes that these industry-academic partnerships are essential for producing impactful research and keeping abreast of real-world challenges.
“If the work is not motivated by industry or assessed on industry-grade products, it might not be seen as strong, even academically,” she said. “Being exposed to actual industry problems keeps me up-to-date on what matters most.”
It’s also a powerful draw for students. “They love being engaged in projects that connect them with industry,” she said. “It gives them the opportunity to work on real-world development and makes research more tangible.”
Broader impact
Through these collaborations, Professor Nejati continues to bridge the gap between theory and practice, bringing academic depth to industry challenges and offering students hands-on experiences that prepare them to make a difference outside academia. It’s the kind of work that not only advances research, but also builds meaningful connections between the University and Canada’s tech ecosystem.