Hello Bestoun!

What is the focus of your research?

My broad research focuses on software quality assurance and applied soft computing in softwareengineering. Part of this in the past years was using AI to solve software quality assurance problems such astest generation and design. I used those methods for mobile application testing, smart TV application testing,and several complex software systems. My recent activity extends what we have done before but for modernsystems. We focus on improving the quality and reliability of machine learning, data-driven, and IoT systems using various testing, optimization, and soft computing techniques.

Could you explain that in layman’s terms?

To explain it simply, we ensure that the software you are dealing with gives you what you, as a customer,want. For example, nowadays, with the notion of AI and machine learning, the question is, how to ensurethat the software that has machine learning is giving me the correct answer and decision? This is our currentfocus of research. 

What practical use does society have of your research?

Since my background is in software engineering and testing, which concerns the actual application in reallife, my research focuses on helping the local industry transfer knowledge and solve real problems. One ofthe goals is to implement safe digitalization in the industry. Another goal is to increase awareness of theimportance of quality assurance and testing for software as it involves daily life. 

Which projects at CS are you involved in?

With my colleagues, we involve in several exciting projects, such as SmartForge a joint project betweenBFK, RISE, Viking Analytics, and Karlstad University funded by Vinnova. The project aims to use AI tocontrol the oven to keep temperature variations within permissible limits. We are also involved in the AIDAproject that aims to enable novel trustworthy data-driven, real-time industrial IoT applications by building aholistic AI-driven Networking and Processing framework. We also have a great collaboration through theIMPAQCDT project that focuses on Improved Methods for Process and Quality Controls using DigitalTools, which it is a collaboration between three leading academic groups at Karlstad University and fiveSwedish industrial partners.

Is there anything special that is coming up in the near future?

With our Ph.D. students, several research papers are accepted in prestigious venues to attend. We are also inthe process of several project funding applications. In addition, with my colleagues in the EXACT Ph.D. school, we are focusing on hiring several industrial Ph.D. students in collaboration with several industrialpartners. 

You have studied and worked in several different countries, impressive! What made you come toSweden and Karlstad university? 

Yes, that is true. I have got experience in several countries. That helped me a lot during my academic career. Each country gave me a lot of experience, and I’m grateful to all institutes I worked in. Regarding Sweden,and especially the computer science department at Karlstad University, the working environment isprofessional. Sweden also has an excellent tradition of academia-industry collaboration, and the industries have an excellent understanding of this collaboration. This makes it flexible to work on applied research. This is even better when it comes to software engineering research, as it focuses more on applied solutions.