Walid Saad

Walid Saad is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Next-G Wireless Lead at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. He leads the Network sciEnce, Wireless, and Security (NEWS) laboratory, focusing on wireless networks, machine learning, quantum communications, and cybersecurity. His research spans 5G/6G systems, game theory, UAVs, and semantic communications.

Education: Ph.D. (University of Oslo, 2010), M.E. (American University of Beirut, 2007), B.E. (Lebanese University, 2004).

Key awards include the IEEE Fellow distinction, NSF CAREER Award (2013), and multiple best paper awards. He serves as an Area Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Communications and Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Machine Learning in Communications and Networking.

Research interests emphasize resilient networks, quantum-enabled systems, and AI-driven communication protocols. His work addresses challenges in next-generation wireless infrastructure and networked cyber-physical systems.

Advising and grants include leadership in the NSF-funded NEWS lab and collaborations with the Office of Naval Research. He has been annually recognized as a Clarivate Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher since 2019.

Labs/Teams: NEWS laboratory, Virginia Tech Innovation Campus initiatives.