Embry-Riddle Undergrad Researcher Publishes Multiple Papers on Reliability of AI

Even in high school, Alexandra Davidoff had started to dig deeply into aviation. She studied flight accidents while at the International Community School in Kirkland, Washington, and landed a summer internship at Boeing in Flight Deck Crew Operations.

When she enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, she chose Aerospace Engineering as a major but, in her sophomore year, realized her interests were more on the systems side of aircraft operations, specifically system and software quality assurance.

Davidoff is now about to receive her bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering at the end of this semester. She has also completed three internships at Boeing — all three in simulation engineering as part of Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ software engineering initiative — and her research work has led to three publications: one in the Journal of Aerospace Information Systems (JAIS) and two through the Artificial Intelligence x Science, Engineering and Technology (AIxSET) conference.

"Alexandra Davidoff exemplifies the unique potential of undergraduate researchers, making remarkable strides in computer science and software engineering research,” said Dr. Omar Ochoa, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Alexandra’s research advisor. “It’s especially impressive that she has already published work in conference and journal settings cited by senior researchers at this stage in her career.”

Much of Davidoff’s research involves improving the safety of machine learning systems or other complex software systems by applying computational and mathematical analysis techniques known as Formal Methods. Formal Methods can rigorously assure a system’s adherence to specified properties, she said.

“Working with Dr. Ochoa, I have had the opportunity not only to explore various research topics and publish but also to work directly alongside both faculty and Ph.D. students each day,” Davidoff said. “Without such a collaborative and supportive research experience, I would have had great difficulty discovering my interest in Formal Methods and publishing my first papers on my own. Coming to Embry-Riddle provided me an invaluable experience to become involved in undergraduate research, even outside of the aviation domain.”

Davidoff’s research paper published in JAIS explores using cognitive assistants for single-pilot operations in commercial aviation. Using cognitive assistants means that the responsibilities of a co-pilot are assigned to a digital machine learning-enhanced system. The paper reviews the progress that has been made in this area and outlines steps to be taken toward certifying cognitive assistants in commercial flight. Davidoff is the first author on the paper. Co-authors include graduate students Lynn Vonderhaar, Alexis Caldwell and Tyler Procko, as well as Ochoa.

The two AIxSET conference papers investigate the verification of machine learning systems in urban air mobility and, on a separate topic, the use of Large Language Models, a type of AI, to "kickstart" the academic writing process while considering associated challenges, such as content hallucinations.

Dr. Massood Towhidnejad, chair of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, spoke highly of Davidoff’s work.

"I had the pleasure of having Alexandra in one of my undergraduate software engineering classes, and I observed her dedication and passion for the discipline," he said. "She later joined our NSF RED research project, collaborating with two Ph.D. students. Her contribution to the project is excellent, and the quality of the work she has been producing is up with the rest of the team's."

Davidoff, who was named the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in May 2023, has been working on a variety of other research and leadership projects, including leading a team of Ph.D. students who participated in the FAA Data Challenge. They scored in the top 10 nationally, earning them an invitation as finalists to the FAA Data Challenge forum in Washington, D.C.

“Her achievements in the FAA Data Challenges in 2023 and 2024, where she placed in the top 10 both times as part of a collaborative team, demonstrate her ability not only to excel alongside graduate students but also to lead them,” Ochoa said.

Davidoff plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Embry-Riddle under Ochoa’s guidance. Ochoa said that “what truly sets Alexandra apart is her maturity and eagerness to learn from her Ph.D. peers, which enhances her research experience and fosters a spirit of collaboration.”

Her extensive research experience will also help her advance her career goal of working as a professor or industry researcher.

“I have no doubt that she will continue to thrive and inspire others as she carves out her path in academia,” Ochoa added.

Posted In: Engineering | Research