About me

I am currently an assistant research professor (助理教授/博士生导师) at the Software Institute at Nanjing University. My main research interests include intelligent software testing, empirical software engineering, software analysis, knowledge engineering and formal methods. I am a member of the IEEE and the ACM. More detailed information is available on my homepage.

Our research group is actively looking for PhD., master, and undergraduate students. If you are interested in Software Engineering for AI, including testing and debugging for AI/DL systems, DL mutation testing, and empirical study on the development and deployment of AI/DL systems, don't hesitate to contact me (yanhuili@nju.edu.cn).

Teaching 

• Discrete Mathematics: Spring 2023

• Data Structure and Financial Algorithm: Autumn 2016-2023

• Algorithm Design and Analysis: Spring 2015-2016

Research

My research interests include 

• AI Testing and Debugging

• Mutation Testing 

• Empirical software engineering

• Software analysis

• Knowledge engineering

• Formal methods

Recent Publication

2025

1. Wenjie Xu, Yanhui Li*, Mingliang Ma, Lin Chen, Yuming Zhou: "Weighted Suspiciousness and Balanced Aggregation to Boost Spectrum-based Fault Localization of Deep Learning Models". ACM Trans. Softw. Eng. Methodol. 2025. CCF-A

2. Shiyu Sun, Yanhui Li*, Lin Chen, Yuming Zhou, Jianhua Zhao: "Boosting Code-line-level Defect Prediction with Spectrum Information and Causality Analysis". The 47th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE 2025). CCF-A

3. Mingliang Ma, Yanhui Li*, Yingxin Chen, Lin Chen, Yuming Zhou: "Why and How We Combine Multiple Deep Learning Models with Functional Overlaps". Journal of Software: Evolution and Process. 2025. CCF-B

4. Yu Cheng, Xiaofang Qi*, Yanhui Li, Yumeng Wang: "ReckDroid: Detecting red packet fraud in Android apps". Computers & Security. 148: 104117. 2025. CCF-B

2024 

1. Jun Wang, Yanhui Li*, Zhifei Chen, Lin Chen, Xiaofang Zhang, Yuming Zhou: "Knowledge Graph Driven Inference Testing for Question Answering Software". The 46th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE 2024). CCF-A

2. Yihui Xu, Yanhui Li*, Jun Wang, Xiaofang Zhang*: "Evaluating Terminology Translation in Machine Translation Systems via Metamorphic Testing". The 39th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Automated Software Engineering (ASE 2024). CCF-A

3. Peng Zhang, Yang Wang, Xutong Liu, Zeyu Lu, Yibiao Yang*, Yanhui Li, Lin Chen, Ziyuan Wang, Chang-ai Sun, Xiao Yu, Yuming Zhou*: "Assessing effectiveness of test suites: what do we know and what should we do?". ACM Trans. Softw. Eng. Methodol. 2024. CCF-A

4. Yimeng Guo, Zhifei Chen, Lin Chen*, Wenjie Xu, Yanhui Li, Yuming Zhou, Baowen Xu: "Generating Python Type Annotations from Type Inference: How Far Are We?". ACM Trans. Softw. Eng. Methodol. 2024. CCF-A

5. Hao Ren, Yanhui Li*, Lin Chen, Yuming Zhou, Changhai Nie: "Why and How Bug Blocking Relations are Breakable: An Empirical Study on Breakable Blocking Bugs". Information and Software Technology, Volume 166, February 2024. CCF-B

6. Linghan Meng, Yanhui Li*, Lin Chen, Mingliang Ma, Yuming Zhou, Baowen Xu: "Hybrid Mutation driven Testing for Natural Language Inference". Journal of Software: Evolution and Process. 2024. CCF-B

7. Xiaofang Qi, Tiangang Zhu, Yanhui Li*: "Coverage-enhanced Fault Diagnosis for Deep Learning Programs: A Learning-based Approach with Hybrid Metrics". Information and Software Technology. 2024. CCF-B

8. Yulu Cao, Zhifei Chen, Xiaowei Zhang, Yanhui Li, Lin Chen*, Linzhang Wanga. Diagnosis of Package Installation Incompatibility via Knowledge Base. Science of Computer Programming. 2024. CCF-B

9. Xin Guo, Xiaofang Qi*, Yanhui Li, Chao Wu: "PredRacer: Predictively detecting data races in android applications". The 31st IEEE International Conference on Software Analysis, Evolution, and Reengineering (SANER 2024). CCF-B

10. Chenghao Su, Lin Chen*, Yanhui Li, Yuming Zhou: "Static Blame for Gradual Typing". Journal of Functional Programming. 2024. CCF-B

11. Xutong Liu, Shiran Liu, Zhaoqiang Guo, Peng Zhang, Yibiao Yang, Huihui Liu, Hongmin Lu, Yanhui Li, Lin Chen, Yuming Zhou*: " Towards a framework for reliable performance evaluation in defect prediction". Science of Computer Programming. 2024. CCF-B

2023 

1. Jun Wang, Yanhui Li*, Xiang Huang, Lin Chen, Xiaofang Zhang, Yuming Zhou: "Back Deduction based Testing for Word Sense Disambiguation Ability of Machine Translation Systems". The 32nd ACM SIGSOFT International Symposium on Software Testing and Analysis (ISSTA 2023). CCF-A

2. Xiaofang Qi, Xiang Qian, Yanhui Li*: "Semantic Test Repair for Web Applications". The ACM Joint European Software Engineering Conference and Symposium on the Foundations of Software Engineering (ESEC/FSE 2023). CCF-A

3. Shiran Liu, Zhaoqiang Guo, Yanhui Li*, Chuanqi Wang, Lin Chen*, Zhongbin Sun, Yuming Zhou*, Baowen Xu: "Inconsistent defect labels: essence, causes, and influence". IEEE Trans. Software Eng. 49(2): 586-610 (2023). CCF-A

4. Zhenlan Ji, Pingchuan Ma*, Shuai Wang*, Yanhui Li: "Causality-Aided Trade-off Analysis for Machine Learning Fairness". 38th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering (ASE2023). CCF-A

5. Yulu Cao, Lin Chen*, Wanwangying Ma, Yanhui Li, Yuming Zhou, Linzhang Wang: "Towards Better Dependency Management: A First Look at Dependency Smells in Python Projects". IEEE Trans. Software Eng. 49(4): 1741-1765 (2023). CCF-A

6. Xiaowei Zhang, Weiqin Zou*, Lin Chen*, Yanhui Li, Yuming Zhou: "Towards the analysis and completion of syntactic structure ellipsis for inline comments". IEEE Trans. Software Eng. 49(4): 2285-2302 (2023). CCF-A

7. Zhaoqiang Guo, Shiran Liu, Xutong Liu, Wei Lai, Mingliang Ma, Xu Zhang, Chao Ni, Yibiao Yang*, Yanhui Li, Lin Chen, Guoqiang Zhou*, Yuming Zhou*: "Code-line-level bugginess identification: How far have we come, and how far have we yet to go?". ACM Trans. Softw. Eng. Methodol. 32, 4, Article 102 (July 2023), 55 pages. CCF-A

8. Zhaoqiang Guo, Tingting Tan, Shiran Liu, Xutong Liu, Wei Lai, Yibiao Yang, Yanhui Li, Lin Chen, Wei Dong, Yuming Zhou*: "Mitigating False Positive Static Analysis Warnings: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities". IEEE Trans. Software Eng. 49(12): 5154-5188 (2023) CCF-A

9. Hao Ren, Yanhui Li*, Lin Chen, Yulu Cao, Xiaowei Zhang, Changhai Nie: "Just-in-time Identification for Cross Project Correlated Issues". Journal of Software: Evolution and Process. 2023; e2637. doi:10.1002/smr.2637. CCF-B

10. Wenjie Xu, Lin Chen*, Chenghao Su, Yimeng Guo, Yanhui Li, Yuming Zhou, Baowen Xu: "How Well Static Type Checkers Work with Gradual Typing? A Case Study on Python". The 31st ACM/IEEE International Conference on Program Comprehension (ICPC 2023). CCF-B