Dr. Assaf Marron     ד"ר אסף מרון

Researcher in Prof. David Harel’s group

E-mail:    assaf.marron@weizmann.ac.il;                  assaf.marron@gmail.com Phone:     +972-54-772-1979 Office:    Ziskind Building Address: P.O.B. 26 Rehovot 76100, Israel

My current research interests include biological evolution theory and its modeling, software engineering, machine learning, scenario-based / behavioral programming, software verification.

Prior to joining the Weizmann institute I was a corporate architect at BMC software and worked
in advanced system design at IBM laboratories in Poughkeepsie, NY. See more at LinkedIn; 

Publications  (Last updated 11/2025. Please feel free to contact me if you need a copy of a paper.)

See also DBLP page at https://dblp.org/pers/hd/m/Marron:Assaf

 

69.  Marron, A. and Harel, D. “A Specification's Realm: Characterizing the Knowledge Required for  Executing a Given Algorithm Specification”, ”, Proc. 14th Int. Conf. on Model-Based Software and System Engineering (MODELSWARD)  2026. To appear. (ArXiv preprint https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.19853)

68.  Biron, T., Barboy, M., Ben-Artzy, E., Golubchik, A., Marmor, Y., Marron, A., Szekely, S., Winter, Y. and Harel, D., (2025). Disentanglement of prosodic meaning: Toward a framework for the analysis of nonverbal information in speech. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(37), p.e2500510122.

67.  Marron, A., Szekely, S., Cohen, I., & Harel, D. (2025). “Meta-autoencoders: An approach to discovery and representation of relationships between dynamically evolving classes”. CSCML 2025 conference. (arXiv preprint https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09362)

66.  Marron, A., Szekely, S., Cohen, I. R., & Harel, D. (2025). “Natural averaging may complement known biological constraints in sexual reproduction’s advantages over asexual in conserving species quantitative traits”. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 14522. (Publisher: Springer Nature; arXiv preprint https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.15795v3 )

65.  D. Ran, M. Wu, Y. Cao, A. Marron, D. Harel, T. Xie “An Infrastructure Software Perspective Toward Computation Offloading between Executable Specifications and Foundation Models”. Science China Information Systems (SCIS). 68(4) . 2025. 

64.  A. Marron and D. Harel, “Early Fault-Detection in the Development of Exceedingly Complex Reactive Systems”, Proc. 13th Int. Conf. on Model-Based Software and System Engineering (MODELSWARD)  2025.  pp.321-329

63.  D. Harel and A. Marron,  “From Executable Specifications to Hard-to-Specify Requirements: Challenges in Describing Reactive System Behavior”. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering. DOI: 10.1109/TSE.2025.3534572   2025

62.  D. Harel, U. Aßmann, F. Fournier, L. Limonad, A. Marron and S. Szekely, "Toward Methodical  Discovery and Handling of Hidden Assumptions in Complex Systems and Models", (arXiv:submit/5318751, Dec. 2023). In “Engineering Safe and Trustworthy Cyber Physical Systems -- Essays Dedicated to Werner Damm on the Occasion of His 71st Birthday”. To appear. 

61.  D. Harel, G. Katz, A. Marron and S. Szekely, Enhancing Scenario-Based Modeling using Large Language Models, Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS), 2024
To appear.

60.  D. Harel, G. Katz, A. Marron, S. Szekely,  “On Augmenting Scenario-Based Modeling with Generative AI”,  MODELSWARD 2024  pp. 235-246.

59.  D. Harel, A. Marron, “The Human-or-Machine Issue: Turing-Inspired Reflections on an Everyday Matter”, Communications of the ACM, 67(6): 62-69, 2024.

58.  A. Marron, I. Cohen, G. Frankel, D. Harel, and S. Szekely, “Challenges in Modeling and Unmodeling Complex Reactive Systems: Interaction Networks, Reaction to Emergent Effects, Reactive Rule Composition, and Multiple Time Scales”. Springer CCIS extended version of selected papers from Modelsward 2023.

57.  D. Harel, R. Yerushalmi, A. Marron, and A. Elyasaf, “Categorizing methods for integrating machine learning with executable specifications”, Science China Information Sciences, January 2024, Vol. 67 :1–:13 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-022-3826-6.

56.  R. Yerushalmi, G. Amir, A. Elyasaf, D. Harel, G. Katz, A. Marron, 2023. Enhancing Deep Reinforcement Learning with Scenario-Based Modeling. SN Computer Science, 4(2), p.156.

55.  I. R. Cohen and A. Marron, “Evolution is Driven by Natural Autoencoding: Reframing Species, Interaction Codes, Cooperation, and Sexual Reproduction”, Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 3/2023. 290: 20222409. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.2409 
( arXiv preprint https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.11891, 2022)

54.  Y. Bayer, D. Harel, A. Marron, and S. Szekely, “Toward automated modeling of abstract concepts,  and natural phenomena: Autoencoding straight lines”, MODELSWARD 2023
(Conference Proceedings: https://www.scitepress.org/ProceedingsDetails.aspx?ID=M/tLGjnMVq0=&t=1; Article: https://www.scitepress.org/PublicationsDetail.aspx?ID=N4bUguu02U8=&t=1; DOI:10.5220/0011886100003402)   

53.  A. Marron, I. R. Cohen, G. Frankel, D. Harel, and S. Szekely, “Challenges in Modeling and Unmodeling Emergence, Rule Composition, and Networked Interactions in Complex Reactive Systems” MODELSWARD 2023 (Conference Proceedings: https://www.scitepress.org/ProceedingsDetails.aspx?ID=M/tLGjnMVq0=&t=1; Article: https://www.scitepress.org/PublicationsDetail.aspx?ID=8ETfHmA7F3A=&t=1; DOI:10.5220/0011728900003402).

52.  R. Yerushalmi, G. Amir, A. Elyasaf, D. Harel, G. Katz, A. Marron,  “Scenario-Assisted Deep Reinforcement Learning”, MODELSWARD,  2022

51.  D. Harel and A. Marron, “Introducing Dynamical Systems and Chaos Early in Computer Science and Software Engineering Education can Help Advance Theory and Practice of Software Development and Computing “, ISOLA 2021.

50.  D. Harel, A. Marron and R. Yerushalmi, "Scenario-Based Algorithmics: Coding Algorithms by Automatic Composition of Separate Concerns", IEEE Computer, 2021.

49.  D. Harel; A. Marron; J. Sifakis, “Creating a Foundation for Next-Generation Autonomous Systems”, IEEE Design and Test, 2021. Published online in IEEE Early Access as of April, 2021 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9391694 .  
doi: 10.1109/MDAT.2021.3069959..  IEEE Des. Test 39(1): 49-56 (2022)

48.  I.R. Cohen and A. Marron, “The evolution of universal adaptations of life is driven by universal properties of matter: energy, entropy, and interaction”
F1000Research 2020, 9:626 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.24447.1)
https://f1000research.com/articles/9-626 .

47.   A. Marron, L. Limonad, S. Pollack, and D. Harel, “Expecting the Unexpected: Developing Autonomous-System Design Principles for Reacting to Unpredicted Events and Conditions”. 15th Int. Symp. on Software Engineering for Adaptive and Self-Managing Systems (SEAMS), 2020  (arXiv preprint https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.06047)

46.  D. Harel, G. Katz, A. Marron, A. Sadon, and G. Weiss “Executing Scenario-Based Specification with Dynamic Generation of Rich Events”,  in “Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development”, CCIS Vol. 1161, Springer, 2019.      

45.  D. Harel, R, Marelly, A. Marron, S. Szekely, “Integrating Inter-Object Scenarios with
Intra-object Statecharts for Developing Reactive Systems”.
IEEE Design and Test, 2020.  doi: 10.1109/MDAT.2020.3006805.
(arXiv preprint arXiv:1911.10691. 2019)

44.  D. Harel, A. Marron, and J. Sifakis, “Autonomics: In Search of a Foundation for Next Generation Autonomous Systems.”
Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 2020
(arXiv preprint arXiv:1911.07133,  2019).

43.  G. Katz, A. Marron, A. Sadon, and G. Weiss, “On-the-Fly Construction of Composite Events  in Scenario-Based Modeling Using Constraint Solvers”, Proc. 7th Int. Conf. on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development MODELSWARD, 2019.

42.  H. Lapid, A. Marron, S. Szekely, and D. Harel, “Using Reactive-System Modeling Techniques to Create Executable Models of Biochemical Pathways”, Proc. 7th Int. Conf. on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development MODELSWARD, 2019.

41.  D. Harel, A. Marron, A. Rosenfeld, M. Vardi, and G. Weiss, “Labor Division with Movable Walls: Composing Executable Specifications with Machine Learning and Search (Blue Sky Idea). In Proceedings of the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (Vol. 33, pp. 9770-9774), 2019

40.  S. Pollack, O. Meerbaum Salant, A. Marron, B. Haberman, “An Approach To Enhancing Advanced Computational Problem Solving And Critical Thinking Skills. 11th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI) 2018. 

39. J. Greenyer, M. Bar-Sinai, G. Weiss, A. Sadon and A. Marron, “Modeling And Programming A Leader-Follower Challenge Problem With Scenario-Based Tools”, MDETOOLS workshop at MoDELS, 2018.  PDF

38. A. Elyasaf, A. Marron, A. Sturm and G. Weiss, “A Context-Based Behavioral Language for IoT”, MORSE workshop ate MoDELS, 2018.  [PDF]

37.  A. Marron, Y. Hacohen, D. Harel, A. Mülder and A. Terfloth,     “Embedding Scenario-based Modeling in Statecharts”,  MORSE workshop at MoDELS, 2018.

36.  J. Greenyer, D. Gritzner, D. Harel and A. Marron, "Towards Automated Defect Analysis using Execution Traces of Scenario-based Models", in “Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development” (pp. 335-354). Springer, Cham.

35.  D. Harel and A. Marron, "Toward Scenario-Based Algorithmics", in “Adventures between Lower Bounds and Higher Altitudes”, Springer, 2018

34.  J. Greenyer, D. Gritzner, D. Harel and A. Marron,
"Towards Systematic and Automatic Handling of Execution Traces Associated with Scenario-based Models",
Proc. 6th Int. Conf. on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development (MODELSWARD `18), pp. 560-566. 2018

33.  D. Harel, G. Katz, R. Marelly and A. Marron,
“Wise Computing: Towards Endowing System Development with Proactive Wisdom”,
IEEE Computer, 51(2): pp. 14-26,  2018
(Preliminary version at http://arxiv.org/abs/1501.05924   2015.)

32.  A. Marron,
“A Reactive Specification Formalism for Enhancing System Development, Analysis and Adaptivity”,
15th ACM-IEEE International Conference on Formal Methods and Models for System Design (MEMOCODE), 2017 [PDF]

31.  A. Elyasaf, D. Harel, A. Marron and G. Weiss,
“Towards Synergistic Integration of Context-Based and Scenario-Based Development”,
4th Workshop on Model-Driven Robot Software Engineering (MORSE; at STAF conference), 2017.

30. D. Harel, I. Heimlich, R. Marelly and A. Marron,
"Crowd-Based Programming for Reactive Systems",
Proc. IEEE/ACM 4th Int. Workshop on Crowd-Sourcing in Software Engineering (CSI-SE), 2017.

29. A. Ashrov, M. Gordon, A. Marron, A. Sturm, G. Weiss,
“Structured Behavioral Programming Idioms”
Evaluation and Modeling Methods for Systems Analysis and Development (EMMSAD), 2017.

28. S. Steinberg, J. Greenyer, D. Gritzner, D. Harel, G. Katz and A. Marron,
"Distributing Scenario-Based Models: A Replicate-and-Project Approach",
Proc. 5th Int. Conf. on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development (MODELSWARD), 2017 [PDF]

27. A. Elyasaf, A. Marron and G. Weiss,
“Hierarchical Live Sequence Charts”,
|Haifa Verification Conference (HVC), 2016, a work-in-progress poster. [PDF]

26. M. Bar-Sinai, G. Weiss and A. Marron,
“Defining Semantic Variations of Diagrammatic Languages Using Behavioral Programming and Queries”,
in 2nd International Workshop on Executable Modeling (EXE), co-located with MoDELS, 2016

25. A. Marron, B. Arnon, A. Elyasaf, M. Gordon, G. Katz, H. Lapid, R. Marelly, D. Sherman, S. Szekely, G. Weiss, and D. Harel.
“Six (Im)possible Things before Breakfast: Building-Blocks and Design-Principles for Wise Computing”,
In MoDELS, 2016. (A work-in-progress poster). [PDF (Paper)] [PDF (Poster)]

24. J. Greenyer, D. Gritzner, G. Katz, A. Marron, N. Glade, T. Gutjahr, and F. König,
“Distributed Execution of Scenario-Based Specifications of Structurally Dynamic Cyber-Physical Systems,”
Procedia Technology (Proceedings of the 3nd International Conference on System-Integrated Intelligence: Challenges for Product and Production Engineering, SysInt 2016), vol. 26, pp. 552-559, 2016. doi:10.1016/j.protcy.2016.08.069

23. J. Greenyer, D. Gritzner, G. Katz, and A. Marron,
“Scenario-Based Modeling and Synthesis for Reactive Systems with Dynamic System Structure in ScenarioTools,”
in MoDELS 2016 Demo and Poster Sessions, CEUR, 2016, vol. 1725, pp. 16-32.

22. D. Harel, G. Katz, R. Marelly and A. Marron,
"An Initial Wise Development Environment for Behavioral Models",
Proc. 4th Int. Conf. on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development (MODELSWARD), Rome, Italy, February 2016.

21. D. Harel, G. Katz, R. Lampert, A. Marron, and G. Weiss,
“On the Succinctness of Idioms for Concurrent Programming”,
CONCUR 2015. [PDF – Dagstuhl Publishing]

20. D. Harel, G. Katz,  A. Marron, and G. Weiss, “The Effect of Concurrent Programming Idioms on Verification”, Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development Modelsward 2015. [PDF]

19. D. Harel , A. Kantor, G. Katz, A. Marron, G. Weiss, G. Wiener.
“Towards Behavioral Programming in Distributed Architectures”,
Journal of Science of Computer Programming, 2014. [PDF – Elsevier] [PDF – Author Version].

18. A. Ashrov, A. Marron, G.Weiss and G. Wiener, “A use-case for behavioral programming: An architecture in JavaScript and Blockly for interactive applications with cross-cutting scenarios”, Journal of Science of Computer Programming, 2014.[PDF – Elsevier] [PDF – Author Version]

17. D. Harel, G. Katz, A. Marron and G. Weiss, “Non-Intrusive Repair of Safety Violations in Reactive Programs”, Transactions on Computational Collective Intelligence (TCCI). 2014. 

16. D. Harel, A. Kantor, G. Katz, A. Marron, L. Mizrahi, and G. Weiss. “On composing and proving the correctness of reactive behavior”. EMSOFT, 2013.[PDF – IEEE] [PDF – Author Version]

15. A. Marron, G. Weiss, G. Wiener, “A Decentralized Approach for Programming Interactive Applications with JavaScript and Blockly”. AGERE! held at ACM SIGPLAN SPLASH 2012.[PDF – ACM DL] [PDF – Author Version]

14. D. Harel and A. Marron, “The Quest for Runware - On Compositional, Executable and Intuitive Models”, Journal of Software and System Modeling. Published online August 2012. DOI DOI 10.1007/s10270-012-0258-8. [PDF – SoSyM]  [PDF – Author Version]

13. D. Harel, A. Marron and G. Weiss, “Behavioral Programming”, Communications of the ACM, 2012 [PDF - CACM]  [PDF – Author version]

12.  D. Harel, G. Katz, A. Marron and G. Weiss, "Non-Intrusive Repair of Reactive Programs", ICECCS 2012.[PDF]

11.  M. Gordon, A. Marron, O. Meerbaum-Salant, “Spaghetti for the Main Course? Observations on Naturalness of Scenario-Based Programming”, ITICSE 2012. [PDF]

10.  D. Harel, A. Marron, A. Nissim, G. Weiss, “A Software Engineering Framework for Switched Fuzzy Systems”. FUZZ-IEEE 2012. [PDF]

9.         D. Harel, A. Marron, G. Weiss, and G. Wiener. “Behavioral programming, decentralized control, and multiple time scales”. AGERE! (Actors and aGEnts Reloaded workshop at ACM SPLASH), 2011. [PDF]

8.    D. Harel, R. Lampert, A. Marron and G. Weiss, "Model-Checking Behavioral Programs", EMSOFT 2011.  [PDF]

7.    N. Eitan, M. Gordon, D. Harel, A. Marron, and G. Weiss. “On Visualization and Comprehension of Scenario-Based Programs”,  19th IEEE International Conference on Program Comprehension (ICPC 2011). [PDF]

6.    G. Wiener, G. Weiss, and A. Marron, “Coordinating and Visualizing Independent Behaviors in Erlang”, Ninth ACM SIGPLAN Erlang Workshop, Sep. 2010. [PDF]

5.    D. Harel, A. Marron and G. Weiss, "Programming Coordinated Scenarios in Java", Proc. 24th European Conference on Object-Oriented Programming (ECOOP 2010), 2010. [PDF]

4.    K. Ko, A. Marron, W.G. Tzeng,  "Learning String Patterns and Tree Patterns from Examples", Proc. of 7th Int’l Conf. on Machine Learning, Porter and Mooney, Editors, Austin, Texas, 1990

3.    A. Marron, "Learning Pattern Languages from a Single Initial Example and from Queries",  Proc. 1st Int’l Workshop on Computational Learning Theory, MIT, Cambridge, Mass. 1988.

2.    A. Marron, K. Ko, "Identification of Pattern Languages from Examples and Queries", Information and Computation, Vol 74, #2, 1987 [PDF]

1.    S. Huang, A. Marron, "Finding the Median of a Distributed Set", Computer Science Conference, Johns Hopkins University, 1983.

Patents

1.      R. Galbraith, S. Glassen, A. Marron, K. Oakes, D. Stucki, L. Wyman, "Channel Measurement Methods and Means", IBM, 1993 (US 5,265,240)

2.      A. Marron, "Method of Operating a Data Processing System Having a Dynamic Software Update Facility", IBM, Issued 1994 (US 5,359,730).

3.      L. Wyman, R. Hough, R. Cwiakala, A. Marron, S. John, K. Fredericks, C. Shapley, R. Hollar, J. Mazourowski, M. Halma, K. Oakes, M. Brown, "Asynchronous Command Support for Shared Channels for a Computer Complex Having Multiple Operating Systems"
IBM, 1995 (US 5,452,455)

4.      F. Johnson, A. Marron, A. Meritt, “System for coordinating execution of multiple concurrent channel programs without host processor involvement using suspend and resume commands to control data transfer between I/O devices”, IBM, 1996 (US 5,584,039).

5.      A. Marron, A. Meritt, “Method and system for predefined suspension and resumption control over I/O programs”, IBM, 1997 (US 5,613,163).

6.      Y. Ding, A. Marron, F. Johannessen, patent application “Automated Capacity Provisioning Method Using Historical Performance Data”, BMC Software, 2015 (US 9,065,783).

 

Links and Resources

·        Behavioral Programming web site: https://www.wisdom.weizmann.ac.il/~bprogram/ .

·        Tips for shortening a paper: Suggestions for things to look for when you want to reduce the number of words or pages in your article or report, when it is too long relative to some limits.