Sebastian Elbaum
Sebastian Elbaum is a computer science professor at the University of Virginia and an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. His research focuses on safe autonomous systems, including those with AI components. After a PhD from the University of Idaho, he co-founded two labs at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the E2 Software Engineering Lab in 2004 and the NIMBUS Lab in 2011. He moved to the University of Virginia in 2018, and the IEEE and ACM named him a Fellow in 2021 and 2022. In April 2024 he wrote about a ten-month sabbatical at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he served as Technologist in Residence.
- Now at
- University of Virginia and Council on Foreign Relations
- Works
- 244
- Citations
- 9,484
- h-index
- 45
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.
Timeline
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2004–2011
Two labs at Nebraska
Following a PhD from the University of Idaho, he co-founds the E2 Software Engineering Lab in 2004 and the NIMBUS Lab in 2011 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
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2015
A Bessey professorship
In 2015 he is appointed to the Willa Cather/Charles Bessey Professorship.
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2018
A move to Virginia
He leaves the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2018 for a similar position at the University of Virginia.
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2021
An IEEE Fellowship
The IEEE names him a Fellow in 2021 for testing techniques for evolving systems.
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2022
An ACM Fellowship
The 2022 class of ACM Fellows includes him for contributions to the analysis and testing of evolving systems and robotic systems.
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April 2024
A CFR sabbatical
He takes a ten-month sabbatical at the Council on Foreign Relations as Technologist in Residence, exploring AI, warfare, and national policy. He writes about it in April 2024.
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As of October 2026
Safe autonomous systems at Virginia
He is a professor of computer science at the University of Virginia, where he co-leads the Lab for Engineering Safe Software. His research focuses on safe autonomous systems, including those with AI components. He is also an adjunct senior fellow for emerging computing technologies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Sources and credits
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