Huirong Fu, Ph.D., Lead-PI, Oakland University (OU)
Dr. Huirong Fu is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Oakland University. Her research focuses on cybersecurity, particularly in the areas of network security, data privacy, and secure software development. Dr. Fu has contributed extensively to the field through her research on enhancing security protocols and developing innovative methods for protecting sensitive data. She is also deeply committed to education, playing a key role in guiding students and professionals in the evolving field of cybersecurity. Dr. Fu’s work is characterized by its practical impact, bridging the gap between theoretical research and real-world security challenges, making her a respected figure in both academic and professional circles.
Darrin Hanna, Ph.D., Lead co-PI, Oakland University (OU)
Dr. Hanna is a Professor at Oakland University, Director of the Engineering Institute, and the Director of the High-Performance Embedded Systems Laboratory. His work focuses on artificial intelligence and embedded systems, where he has contributed to both academic research and practical applications. Dr. Hanna is involved in the development of AI-driven technologies and the optimization of computing systems, bridging the gap between hardware and software in innovative ways. In addition to his research, he plays a vital role in mentoring engineering students, preparing them for careers in a rapidly evolving technological environment. His work in bringing technology to market has been recognized with the 2003 Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Commercialization Success Award, highlighting his ability to translate research into impactful, real-world applications.
Jun Dai, Ph.D., PI, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Dr. Jun Dai is currently an Associate Professor in Department of Computer Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). His research interests mainly lie in the intersections of network and distributed system, AI, and cybersecurity, with recent focus on intrusion detection, vulnerability analysis, secure programming, and cybersecurity education. Dr. Dai has published papers in prestigious academic venues, such as NDSS, ACM SIGMOD, IEEE TIFS, and ACM SIGCSE. He is the Workshop Chair of ACM CCS 2023, and has been a reviewer for top journals like TIFS, TDSC, TVT, and TMC. His projects are mainly funded by NSF and other federal agencies.
Xiaoyan (Sherry) Sun, Ph.D., co-PI, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Xiaoyan (Sherry) Sun is an Associate Professor with Department of Computer Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She received her Ph.D. degree in Information Sciences and Technology from the Pennsylvania State University in 2016. Her research interests lie in cybersecurity and digital forensics. She is currently also serving as the Vice President for Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes cybersecurity research and education.
Xiaozhong Liu, Ph.D., co-PI, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Dr. Xiaozhong Liu is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Computer Science and Data Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Prior to this role, he served as an Associate Professor at the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington. Dr. Liu’s research spans a wide array of areas, including natural language processing (NLP), healthcare AI, large language models (LLMs), AI security, text and graph mining, information retrieval and recommendation systems, and computational social science. In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Liu maintains strong industry connections. Notably, he served as a Senior Consultant and NLP Research Director at Alibaba DAMO Academy, where he led prestigious projects tackling cutting-edge, market-driven challenges. His dual engagement in academia and industry allows him to bridge theoretical advancements with real-world applications.
Ye Zhu, Ph.D., PI, Cleveland State University (CSU)
Dr. Zhu is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at Cleveland State University. His main research areas are IoT and wearable devices, security and privacy, and networking and distributed systems. Dr. Zhu is a dedicated researcher and educator passionate about advancing the field of vehicle technologies. Dr. Zhu is committed to pushing the boundaries of automotive innovation through rigorous research, extensive experiments, and collaboration with industry partners.
Andrew Shepherd, Ph.D., PI, Sinclair Community College (SCC)
Dr. Andrew Shepherd serves as the Chief Research Officer at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. With over 22 years of experience in the defense industry and academia focused on modeling and simulation, research, course development, accreditation, instruction, and mentorship, Shepherd offers expertise in many areas of technology, higher education, and workforce training and development. He has served as Managing Editor for the Journal of Unmanned Aerial Systems, President of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Wright Brothers Chapter, Chairperson of the National Science Foundation Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Industry Advisory Board, principal or co-principal investigator and senior personnel for multiple National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, and Department of Defense grants and contracts, and as First Vice President of the Aviation Trail Board of Trustees, a non-profit corporation in partnership with the National Park Service to promote Aviation Heritage in the Dayton region. Named by the Dayton Business Journal to Dayton’s Forty under 40 in 2014, the Who’s Who in Aerospace and Defense list seven times from 2014 through 2023, and a recipient of the Aerospace and Defense Award 2024, Shepherd is an active member of his community and broader aerospace industry. He earned his Associate of Applied Science degree in Aviation Technology – Professional Pilot and Airway Science Option from Sinclair Community College. He went on to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics with dual minors in Management and Aviation Safety and a Master of Aeronautical Science with dual specializations of Space Science and Human Factors in Aviation. He most recently earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration with a specialization in Management of Engineering and Technology from Northcentral University.
Weisong Shi, Ph.D., PI of University of Delaware (UD)
Weisong Shi is an Alumni Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware (UD), where he leads the Connected and Autonomous Research (CAR) Laboratory. He is an internationally renowned expert in edge computing, autonomous driving, and connected health. His pioneer paper, “Edge Computing: Vision and Challenges,” has been cited more than 7700 times. Before joining UD, he was a professor at Wayne State University (2002-2022). He served in multiple administrative roles, including Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Engineering and Interim Chair of the Computer Science Department. Dr. Shi also served as a National Science Foundation (NSF) program director (2013-2015). Dr. Shi is the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Internet Computing Magazine and Elsevier Smart Health. He is the founding steering committee chair of three conferences, including the ACM/IEEE Symposium on Edge Computing (SEC), the IEEE/ACM International Conference on Connected Health (CHASE), and the IEEE International Conference on Mobility (MOST). He is the General Chair of ACM MobiCom’24, the flagship conference on Mobile Computing and Wireless Networking. He is a fellow of IEEE, a distinguished scientist of ACM, a member of the NSF CISE Advisory Committee and CCC Council.
Xing Gao, Ph.D., co-PI of University of Delaware (UD)
Xing Gao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware. Before that, he worked as an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Memphis. He obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the College of William and Mary in 2018. His research interests lie in the areas of cybersecurity, with specific focuses on cloud and system security, software supply chain security, autonomous driving security, and Internet measurement. He has published papers on leading system security venues, and is the recipient of the NSF CAREER award, NSF CRII award, and the Distinguished Poster Award in NDSS 2016.
Weidong Xiang, Ph.D., PI of University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD)
Weidong Xiang is a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD). He established and led the Center for Vehicular Communications and Network Laboratory at UMD, focusing on applying machine learning to wireless communications, the Internet of Things, vehicular networks, and autonomous robotics. His research is particularly pertinent to the local auto industry in the Detroit region, known for automotive innovation. Collaborations with major companies such as General Motors, Ford, LGE and CISCO, along with support from institutions like the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DoE), demonstrate the practical impact of his work in advancing vehicular communications and networks.
Paul Richardson, Ph.D., co- PI of University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD)
Paul Richardson has been a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD) since 2000. From 2015 to 2022 he was chair of the ECE Department. He has been active in the area of vehicular networks and intervehicle communications, receiving numerous grants from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and vehicle related companies such as General Motors and Ford Motor Company. He has studied diverse issues such as network capacity, wireless channel capacity, fault tolerance in vehicular networks, and ad hoc networks to support autonomous aircraft and ground vehicles. Prior to this, he was a senior researcher for the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Center.
Sridhar Lakshmanan, Ph.D., co- PI of University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD)
Sridhar Lakshmanan is an Educator, Researcher, Mentor and Entrepreneur. He is on the faculty of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. His expertise lies in intelligent systems: autonomous-connected vehicles, robots, intelligent transportation systems, and smart cities. He has won many awards for his work at the University. His publications on automotive radar won the 2001 Best Paper Award from the IEEE Vehicular Electronics Society, on semi-truck platooning won the 2019 GVSETS Conference Best Paper Award from NDIA, and on lightweight transport robot the 2021 GVSETS Conference Best Paper Award from NDIA. He has served as a Project Director and Principal Investigator on a number of grants and contracts from various U.S. Government agencies, Defense Contractors, and Automotive Companies. Sridhar got his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst in 1991.