Staff Profile

I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing at Newcastle University in the UK. Between January 2021 and July 2022, I was a Postdoctoral Associate in the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control at ETH Zurich working with Prof. Emilio Frazzoli. I was also a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Computer Science at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) between November 2019 and January 2021. I received my Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), in October 2019.

For more details, please visit my official website at www.lavaei-cps.de.

• Cyber-physical systems
• Large-scale stochastic networks
• Data-driven formal methods
• Formal Learning & control
• Safe autonomy & AI

For more details, please visit my official website at www.lavaei-cps.de.

• Spring 2025: Fundamentals of Computing (CSC1031)
• Autumn 2024: Computer Systems Design and Architectures (CSC1032)
• Spring 2024: Fundamentals of Computing (CSC1031)
• Autumn 2023: Computer Systems Design and Architectures (CSC1032)
• Spring 2023: Fundamentals of Computing (CSC1031)
• Spring 2023: Research Methods and Group Project in Security and Resilience (CSC8208)
• Autumn 2022: Computer Systems Design and Architectures (CSC1032)
• Autumn 2022: Computer Networks (CSC8021)

• Articles

  • Lavaei A, Frazzoli E. Scalable Synthesis of Safety Barrier Certificates for Networks of Stochastic Switched Systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 2024, epub ahead of print.
  • Salamati A, Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Zamani M. Data-Driven Verification and Synthesis of Stochastic Systems via Barrier Certificates. Automatica 2024, 159, 111323.
  • Anand M, Lavaei A, Zamani M. Compositional Synthesis of Control Barrier Certificates for Networks of Stochastic Systems against ω-Regular Specifications. Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems 2024, 51, 101427.
  • Nejati A, Lavaei A, Jagtap P, Soudjani S, Zamani M. Formal Verification of Unknown Discrete- and Continuous-Time Systems: A Data-Driven Approach. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 2023, 68(5), 3011-3024.
  • Lavaei A, Di Lillo L, Censi A, Frazzoli E. Formal Estimation of Collision Risks for Autonomous Vehicles: A Compositional Data-Driven Approach. IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems 2023, 10(1), 407-418.
  • Nejati A, Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Zamani M. Estimation of Infinitesimal Generators for Stochastic Hybrid Systems via Sampling: A Formal Approach. IEEE Control Systems Letters 2023, 7, 223-228.
  • Lavaei A, Angeli D. Data-Driven Stability Certificate of Interconnected Homogeneous Networks via ISS Properties. IEEE Control Systems Letters 2023, 7, 2395-2400.
  • Ajeleye D, Lavaei A, Zamani M. Data-Driven Controller Synthesis via Finite Abstractions with Formal Guarantees. IEEE Control Systems Letters 2023, 7, 3453-3458.
  • Lavaei A, Perez M, Kazemi M, Somenzi F, Soudjani S, Trivedi A, Zamani M. Compositional Reinforcement Learning for Discrete-Time Stochastic Control Systems. IEEE Open Journal of Control Systems 2023, 2, 425-438.
  • Jahanshahi N, Lavaei A, Zamani M. Compositional Construction of Safety Controllers for Networks of Continuous-Space POMDPs. IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems 2023, 10(1), 87-99.
  • Zhong B, Lavaei A, Zamani M, Caccamo M. Automata-based Controller Synthesis for Stochastic Systems: A Game Framework via Approximate Probabilistic Relations. Automatica 2023, 147, 110696.
  • Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Frazzoli E. A Compositional Dissipativity Approach for Data-Driven Safety Verification of Large-Scale Dynamical Systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 2023, 68(12), 7240-7253.
  • Anand M, Lavaei A, Zamani M. From Small-Gain Theory to Compositional Construction of Barrier Certificates for Large-Scale Stochastic Systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 2022, 67(10), 5638-5645.
  • Lavaei A, Zamani M. From Dissipativity Theory to Compositional Synthesis of Large-Scale Stochastic Switched Systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 2022, 67(9), 4422-4437.
  • Lavaei A, Frazzoli E. Data-Driven Synthesis of Symbolic Abstractions with Guaranteed Confidence. IEEE Control Systems Letters 2022, 7, 253-258.
  • Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Frazzoli E, Zamani M. Constructing MDP Abstractions Using Data with Formal Guarantees. IEEE Control Systems Letters 2022, 7, 460-465.
  • Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Abate A, Zamani M. Automated verification and synthesis of stochastic hybrid systems. Automatica 2022, 146, 110617.
  • Zhong B, Lavaei A, Cao H, Zamani M, Caccamo M. Safe-visor Architecture for Sandboxing (AI-based) Unverified Controllers in Stochastic Cyber-Physical Systems. Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems 2021, 43, 101110.
  • Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Zamani M. Compositional Abstraction-based Synthesis of General MDPs via Approximate Probabilistic Relations. Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems 2021, 39, 100991.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Compositional Abstraction-based Synthesis for Networks of Stochastic Switched Systems. Automatica 2020, 114.
  • Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Zamani M. Compositional Abstraction of Large-Scale Stochastic Systems: A Relaxed Dissipativity Approach. Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems 2020, vol. 36.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Compositional (In)Finite Abstractions for Large-Scale Interconnected Stochastic Systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 2020, 65(12), 5280-5295.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Compositional Construction of Infinite Abstractions for Networks of Stochastic Control Systems. Automatica 2019, 107, 125-137.
  • Atashgah, MA, Torkamani, MR, Lavaei, A. Robust Positioning, Preliminary Orbit Determination, and Trajectory Prediction of Space Debris using In-Space Iterative-Bearing-Only Observations. The Journal of Navigation 2017, 70(4), 789-809.
  • Kosari, A, Maghsoudi, H, Lavaei, A. Path Generation for Flying Robots in Mountainous Regions. International Journal of Micro Air Vehicles 2017, 9(1), 44-60.
  • Lavaei, A, Atashgah, MA. Optimal 3D Trajectory Generation in Delivering Missions under Urban Constraints for a Flying Robot. Intelligent Service Robotics 2017, 10(3), 241-256.
  • Atashgah, MA, Gazerpour, H, Lavaei, A, Zarei, Y. An Active Time-optimal Control for Space Debris Deorbiting via Geomagnetic Field. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy 2017, 128, 343-360.
  • Lavaei, A, Atashgah, MA. Three-Dimensional Constrained Optimal Motion Planning for a Six-Degree-of-Freedom Quadrotor for Urban Traffic Purposes. Modares Mechanical Engineering 2015, 15(5), 13-24.
  • Kosari, A, Maghsoudi, H, Lavaei, A, Ahmadi, R. Optimal Online Trajectory Generation for a Flying Robot for Terrain Following Purposes using Neural Network. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering 2014, 229(6), 1124-1141.

• Authored Book

  • Lavaei A, Abate A. Formal Methods for Stochastic Cyber-Physical Systems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, book proposal accepted, 2023. In Press.

• Book Chapters

  • Wooding, B, Lavaei, A. IMPaCT: Interval MDP Parallel Construction for Controller Synthesis of Large-Scale Stochastic Systems. In: International Conference on Quantitative Evaluation of SysTems (QEST), Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 2024.
  • Lavaei, A, Khaled, M, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. AMYTISS: PArallelized AutoMated Controller SYnthesis for Large-Scale STochastIc SystemS. In: 32nd International Conference on Computer-Aided Verification (CAV), Lecture Notes in Computer Science 12225. Springer, 2020, pp.461-474.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Approximate Probabilistic Relations for Compositional Synthesis of Stochastic Systems. In: Numerical Software Verification (NSV), Lecture Notes in Computer Science 11652. Springer, 2019, pp.101–109.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Akbarzadeh O, Lavaei A. Safety Certificates of Stochastic Cyber-Physical Systems with Wireless Communication Networks. In: 27th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC 2024). 2024, Hong Kong SAR, China: ACM.
  • Akbarzadeh O, Soudjani S, Lavaei A. Safety Barrier Certificates for Stochastic Control Systems with Wireless Communication Networks. In: 63rd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC 2024). 2024, Milan, Italy: IEEE. In Press.
  • Zaker M, Blom H, Soudjani S, Lavaei A. Rare Collision Risk Estimation of Autonomous Vehicles with Multi-Agent Situation Awareness. In: 27th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC 2024). 2024, Edmonton, Canada: IEEE.
  • Samari B, Della Rossa M, Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Jungers R. Multiplicative Barrier Certificates for Probabilistic Safety of Markov Jump Systems. In: 8th IFAC Conference on Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems (ADHS 2024). 2024, Boulder, Colorado: Elsevier Ltd.
  • Wooding B, Lavaei A. IMPaCT: A Parallelized Software Tool for IMDP Construction and Controller Synthesis with Convergence Guarantees. In: 27th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC 2024). 2024, Hong Kong SAR, China: ACM.
  • Akbarzadeh O, Nejati A, Lavaei A. Data-Driven Safety Controller Synthesis for Unknown Systems with Wireless Communication Networks. In: 10th International Conference on Control, Decision and Information Technologies (CoDIT 2024) – Special Session on Data-Driven Approach for Modelling, Control and Optimization of Cyber-Physical Systems. 2024.
  • Aminzadeh A, Lavaei A. Compositional Synthesis of Safety Barrier Certificates for Infinite Networks. In: 22nd European Control Conference (ECC 2024). 2024, Stockholm, Sweden: IEEE.
  • Aminzadeh A, Swikir A, Haddadin S, Lavaei A. Compositional Safety Verification of Infinite Networks: A Data-Driven Approach. In: 22nd European Control Conference (ECC 2024). 2024, Stockholm, Sweden: IEEE.
  • Lavaei A. Abstraction-based Synthesis of Stochastic Hybrid Systems. In: 27th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC 2024). 2024, Hong Kong SAR, China: ACM.
  • Lavaei A. Symbolic Abstractions with Guarantees: A Data-Driven Divide-and-Conquer Strategy. In: 62nd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC). 2023, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore: IEEE.
  • Wooding B, Lavaei A, Vahidinasab V, Soudjani S. Robust Simulation Functions with Disturbance Refinement. In: 21st European Control Conference (ECC). 2023, Bucharest, Romania: IEEE.
  • Lavaei A. MDP Abstractions from Data: Large-Scale Stochastic Networks. In: 62nd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC). 2023, Singapore: IEEE Control Systems Society.
  • Abate A, Blom H, Cauchi J, Delicaris J, Haesaert S, van Huijgevoort B, Lavaei A, Remke A, Schön O, Schupp S, Shmarov F, Soudjani S, Willemsen L, Zuliani P. ARCH-COMP23 Category Report: Stochastic Models. In: 10th International Workshop on Applied Verification of Continuous and Hybrid Systems (ARCH), EPiC Series in Computing. 2023, San Antonio, Texas: EPiC Computing.
  • Lavaei A, Frazzoli E. Scalable Synthesis of Finite MDPs for Large-Scale Stochastic Switching Systems. In: 61st IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC 2022). 2022, Cancun, Mexico: IEEE.
  • Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Frazzoli E. Safety Barrier Certificates for Stochastic Hybrid Systems. In: 2022 American Control Conference (ACC). 2022, Atlanta, GA, USA: IEEE.
  • Lavaei A, Mohajerin Esfahani P, Zamani M. Data-Driven Stability Verification of Homogeneous Nonlinear Systems with Unknown Dynamics. In: 61st Conference on Decision and Control (CDC 2022). 2022, Cancun, Mexico: IEEE.
  • Lavaei A, Di Lillo L, Atzei M, Censi A, Frazzoli E. Data-Driven Estimation of Collision Risks for Autonomous Vehicles with Formal Guarantees. In: 25th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC). 2022, Milan: Association for Computing Machinery.
  • Zhong B, Lavaei A, Zamani M, Caccamo M. Controller Synthesis for Nonlinear Stochastic Games via Approximate Probabilistic Relations. In: 25th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC). 2022, Milan: Association for Computing Machinery.
  • Lavaei A, Frazzoli E. Compositional Controller Synthesis for Interconnected Stochastic Systems with Markovian Switching. In: American Control Conference (ACC). 2022, Atlanta: IEEE.
  • Abate A, Blom H, Delicaris J, Haesaert S, Hartmanns A, van Huijgevoort B, Lavaei A, Ma H, Niehage M, Remke A, Schön O, Schupp S, Soudjani S, Willemsen L. ARCH-COMP22 Category Report: Stochastic Models. In: 9th International Workshop on Applied Verification of Continuous and Hybrid Systems (ARCH22). 2022, Munich, Germany: EasyChair.
  • Lavaei A, Zhong B, Caccamo M, Zamani M. Towards Trustworthy AI: Safe-visor Architecture for Uncertified Controllers in Stochastic Cyber-Physical Systems. In: CPS-IoT Week workshop on Computation-Aware Algorithmic Design for Cyber-Physical Systems (CAADCPS '21). 2021, Nashville, Tennessee: ACM.
  • Lavaei, A, Nejati, A, Jagtap, P, Zamani, M. Formal Safety Verification of Unknown Continuous-Time Systems: A Data-Driven Approach. In: 24th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC). 2021.
  • Lavaei, A, Nejati, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Estimating Infinitesimal Generators of Stochastic Systems with Formal Error Bounds: A Data-Driven Approach. In: 24th ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC). 2021.
  • Salamati, A, Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Data-Driven Safety Verification of Stochastic Systems via Barrier Certificates. In: 7th IFAC Conference on Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems (ADHS). 2021.
  • Nejati A, Lavaei A, Soudjani S, Zamani M. Data-Driven Estimation of Infinitesimal Generators of Stochastic Systems. In: 7th IFAC Conference on Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems (ADHS 2021). 2021, Brussels, Belgium: Elsevier Ltd.
  • Abate A, Blom H, Bouissou M, Cauchi N, Chraibi H, Delicaris J, Haesaert S, Hartmanns A, Khaled M, Lavaei A, Ma H, Mallik K, Niehage M, Remke A, Schupp S, Shmarov F, Soudjani S, Thorpe A, Turcuman V, Zuliani P. ARCH-COMP21 Category Report: Stochastic Models. In: 8th International Workshop on Applied Verification of Continuous and Hybrid Systems (ARCH), EPiC Series in Computing. 2021.
  • Lavaei, A, Somenzi, F, Soudjani, S, Trivedi, A, Zamani, M. Formal Controller Synthesis for Continuous-Space MDPs via Model-Free Reinforcement Learning. In: 11th ACM/IEEE Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems (ICCPS). 2020.
  • Anand, M, Lavaei, A, Zamani, M. Compositional Construction of Control Barrier Certificates for Large-Scale Interconnected Stochastic Systems. In: 21st IFAC World Congress. 2020.
  • Abate A, Blom H, Cauchi N, Delicaris J, Hartmanns A, Khaled M, Lavaei A, Pilch C, Remke A, Schupp S, Shmarov F, Soudjani S, Vinod AP, Wooding B, Zamani M, Zuliani P. ARCH-COMP20 Category Report: Stochastic Models. In: 7th International Workshop on Applied Verification of Continuous and Hybrid Systems (ARCH), EPiC Series in Computing. 2020.
  • Lavaei, A, Khaled, M, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. AMYTISS: A Parallelized Tool on Automated Controller Synthesis for Large-Scale Stochastic Systems. In: 23rd ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC). 2020.
  • Lavaei, A, Zamani, M. Compositional Verification of Large-Scale Stochastic Systems via Relaxed Small-Gain Conditions. In: 58th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC). 2019.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Compositional Synthesis of not Necessarily Stabilizable Stochastic Systems via Finite Abstractions. In: 18th European Control Conference (ECC). 2019.
  • Lavaei, A, Zamani, M. Compositional Finite Abstractions for Large-Scale Stochastic Switched Systems. In: 5th International Workshop on Symbolic-Numeric Methods for Reasoning about CPS and IoT (SNR) in conjunction with Cyber-Physical Systems and Internet-of-Things Week (CPS-IoT Week). 2019.
  • Lavaei, A, Zamani, M. Compositional Construction of Finite MDPs for Large-Scale Stochastic Switched Systems: A Dissipativity Approach. In: 15th IFAC Symposium on Large-Scale Complex Systems: Theory and Applications (LSS). 2019.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. From Dissipativity Theory to Compositional Construction of Finite Markov Decision Processes. In: 21st ACM International Conference on Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC). 2018.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Compositional Synthesis of Interconnected Stochastic Control Systems based on Finite MDPs. 2018.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Compositional Synthesis of Finite Abstractions for Continuous-Space Stochastic Control Systems: A Small-Gain Approach. In: 6th IFAC Conference on Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems (ADHS). 2018.
  • Lavaei, A, Soudjani, S, Zamani, M. Compositional Abstractions of Interconnected Discrete-Time Stochastic Control Systems. In: 56th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC). 2017.