Justin Ruths

Justin Ruths is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, holding appointments in the Mechanical Engineering and Systems Engineering departments at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. He earned his PhD in Systems Science and Applied Mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis (2011), with prior degrees from Columbia University (MS Electrical Engineering), Rice University (BS Physics), and additional MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia.

His research focuses on control & optimization of complex dynamical systems, cyber-physical system security, neuroscience, and quantum control. Notable projects include the Applied Systems Lab, developing the zonoLAB MATLAB toolbox, and leading the Nova team for autonomous vehicle software. His work bridges theoretical control systems with practical applications in robotics safety, secure industrial control, and neural network analysis.

Ruths teaches MECH 4310 (Systems & Control) and SYSM 6302 (Dynamics of Complex Networks & Systems), with over 42k views on his YouTube lecture series. His recent publications emphasize cybersecurity in control systems, neural network verification, and resilient co-design frameworks. He advises graduate students through the RIDE program and undergraduate researchers via Nova's open-door policy.

His research tools include hybrid zonotopes for set-based analysis, emphasizing formal verification and anomaly detection in cyber-physical systems. Current interests span attack-resistant control architectures, quantum control algorithms, and interdisciplinary applications of network dynamics.