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Michael KaessView profile

Associate Professor

• Robotics
• Computer Vision
• SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)
• +6 more

Michael Kaess is an Associate Professor at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), within the School of Computer Science. He leads the Robot Perception Lab (RPL) and contributes to the Field Robotics Center (FRC) and Computer Vision Group (CV). His research focuses on efficient perception algorithms for mobile robots, particularly in 3D mapping, SLAM, and sensor fusion using vision, LiDAR, inertial, and sonar data. Kaess holds a PhD in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and was a postdoc at MIT's Marine Robotics Lab. Education: Georgia Institute of Technology, PhD in Computer Science (2008) MIT, Postdoctoral Associate (2008–2010) Research Interests: Kaess develops algorithms for robust and efficient inference in robotics, emphasizing factor graphs and linear algebra. His work spans underwater robotics, aerial systems, tactile SLAM, and multi-sensor integration. Key areas include SLAM with planes/lines, imaging sonar reconstruction, and neural field methods for LiDAR-visual fusion. Publications: Over 145 papers, including work on EDPLVO (visual odometry), HoloOcean (underwater simulation), and neural radiance fields with LiDAR. Recent trends focus on robust incremental smoothing, acoustic-optical fusion, and real-time volumetric mapping. Awards: Recognized with the RSS Test of Time Award (2020), Outstanding Associate Editor (2022), and paper awards at ICRA/ICRA. Active in conference organization (IROS/ICRA program committees). Advising & Grants: Supervises 10+ current PhD/MSc students, with past advisees contributing to CoRL/ICRA work. Manages grants in perception, autonomy, and marine robotics. Teaches courses like Robot Localization and Mapping (16-833). Labs/Teams: Directs RPL, collaborates with FRC on field robotics. Develops open-source tools like GTSAM (GNU Toolkit for Smoothing and Mapping).

Sicun GaoView profile

Associate Professor

• Algorithms and Optimization
• Automated Reasoning
• Cyber-Physical Systems
• +3 more

Sicun Gao is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering department at the University of California, San Diego. His research focuses on practical algorithms for NP-hard search and optimization problems in computational systems, emphasizing combinatorial perspectives in numerical and statistical contexts to achieve reliable autonomy. Research Interests: Automated reasoning, Hamilton-Jacobi reachability, safe reinforcement learning, control barrier functions, and optimization in cyber-physical systems. Teaching: Courses on AI search, optimization, and graduate research seminars. The 15 most recent publications highlight advancements in safe AI control, motion planning, and policy optimization, often integrating neural networks with formal verification. Awards include the IEEE Power & Energy Society Technical Committee Prize Paper Award and the IROS RoboCup Best Paper Award. He advises PhD students working on AI-driven control and robotics, with alumni placed at institutions like Seoul National University, Amazon, and Apple. Grants include NSF Career, Air Force Young Investigator, and DARPA Assured Autonomy funding. His lab develops tools like dReal for automated reasoning in nonlinear theories over the reals.

J. Andrew BagnellView profile

Professor

• Machine Learning
• Robotics
• Control Theory
• +7 more

J. Andrew Bagnell is a Professor at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). His research bridges planning, control theory, and computational learning, focusing on systems that can self-optimize under partial models. Key projects include the LAIRLab (Learning Applied to Intelligent Robotics) and initiatives in the ARM-S and BIRD MURI programs. Research domains: Machine Learning, Robotics, Control Theory, Optimization, Probabilistic Modeling Key applications: Mobile Robotics, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Multi-Robot Decision Making Recent work emphasizes imitation learning, trajectory optimization, and game-theoretic algorithms for decision-making. His publications highlight collaborations with students and researchers on topics like online learning, planning under uncertainty, and autonomous systems. Notable affiliations include advising Gokul Swamy and past students such as Wen Sun and Anirudh Vemula. Labs: LAIRLab, ARM-S, BIRD MURI team.

Ann B LeeView profile

Professor

• Scientific Machine Learning
• Trust-Worthy UQ
• Likelihood-Free Inference
• +1 more

Ann B. Lee is a Professor and Co-Director of the PhD Program in Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University , with a joint appointment in the Department of Statistics & Data Science and the Machine Learning Department. Prior to joining CMU, she held positions as a J.W. Gibbs Assistant Professor at Yale University and a visiting research associate at Brown University. PhD in Physics, Brown University MSc/BSc in Engineering Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden Her research focuses on statistical methodology for complex data in the physical sciences , emphasizing trustworthy inference, uncertainty quantification, and integration of classical statistics with machine learning. Recent work includes likelihood-free inference, calibrated forecasting, and diagnostics for generative models. The STAMPS research group , which she co-founded in 2018, hosts weekly meetings and public webinars. In Fall 2024, STAMPS will transition into a CMU Research Center. Recent publications span likelihood-free inference , climate modeling , and astronomy . Notable collaborations include applications to hurricane intensity guidance , galaxy redshift estimation , and cosmological parameter biases . She mentors PhD students and has advised multiple award-winning researchers, including ASA Best Student Paper Award winners. Her teaching includes advanced courses on probability, regression, and AI for climate sciences.

• Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence
• Explainability of AI
• +3 more

Carlos Guestrin is the Fortinet Founders Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and serves as Director of the Stanford AI Lab (SAIL) and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI). He holds dual roles as Chief Scientist at Visual Layer and Virtue AI. His research focuses on machine learning methods, explainability, fairness, and ethics of AI, alongside systems for scalable AI deployment. Education details are not explicitly provided, but his work spans foundational contributions to machine learning systems (e.g., XGBoost) and explainable AI frameworks like Anchors and LIME. He emphasizes ethical AI through projects like CheckList for model testing and Model Equality Testing for API transparency. His scientific contributions include advancing optimization techniques (AdaScale SGD, TVM compiler) and ethical benchmarks for generative AI. He has been recognized as a Member of the National Academy of Engineering for his transformative impact on AI systems and their societal applications. Guestrin leads interdisciplinary initiatives at SAIL and HAI, fostering collaboration between technical innovation and human-centered design. His work bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in healthcare (diabetes management systems) and AI security.

Norman SadehView profile

Professor

• cybersecurity
• online privacy
• Human-AI Interaction
• +11 more

Norman Sadeh is a Professor in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he has made significant contributions to cybersecurity, privacy, and AI research. He has co-founded and co-directed several groundbreaking graduate programs at CMU, including the Privacy Engineering Program (2012-present), the Ph.D. Program in Societal Computing (2003-2013), and the MBA track in Technology Strategy and Product Management (2005-2017). Carnegie Mellon University, School of Computer Science Software and Societal Systems Department CyLab Security and Privacy Institute Manufacturing Futures Institute Dr. Sadeh received his Ph.D. in Computer Science at CMU with a major in Artificial Intelligence and a minor in Operations Research. He holds an M.Sc. in computer science from the University of Southern California and a BS/MS degree in electrical engineering and applied physics from the Free University of Brussels (Belgium) as 'Ingénieur Civil Physicien.' Professor Sadeh's research spans cybersecurity, online privacy, Human-AI Interaction, AI governance, mobile computing, the Internet of Things, user-oriented machine learning, and language technologies. He is particularly known for his pioneering work on AI-based privacy enhancing technologies, including privacy assistants, automated privacy compliance tools, and NLP-based privacy solutions. His work has influenced the design of privacy features at major technology companies including Apple, Google, and Facebook/Meta, as well as privacy policies at regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and the California Office of the Attorney General. Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong focus on practical privacy solutions, particularly in mobile and IoT contexts, with an emphasis on making privacy more usable and understandable for end users. His work bridges technical innovation with policy implications, addressing both the technological and human aspects of privacy protection. 2018 Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association Test of time award by the AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) Gartner Group's Magic Quadrant leader in Security Awareness Computer-Based Training for 4 consecutive years Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 recognition for 3 consecutive years Professor Sadeh has advised numerous students, including PhD candidates like Aerin (Shikhun) Zhang, whose dissertation focused on understanding diverse privacy attitudes. His research has been funded through various grants, including NSF SaTC projects, and has resulted in technologies that protect tens of millions of users worldwide. He also founded Wombat Security Technologies, which was acquired by Proofpoint in 2018 and whose technologies are used by over 75% of Fortune 100 companies. Professor Sadeh leads several research initiatives including the Privacy Engineering Program, the Usable Privacy Policy Project, the Personalized Privacy Assistant Project, and CMU's Privacy Infrastructure for the Internet of Things. His Mobile Commerce Lab and E-Supply Chain Management Lab have produced influential research that has been commercialized by major organizations including IBM, Raytheon, Boeing, and the U.S. Army.

David WettergreenView profile

Research Professor

• Space Robotics
• Robotic Exploration
• Autonomous Navigation
• +7 more

David Wettergreen is a Research Professor at the Robotics Institute within Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science , where he has been a faculty member since 2000. He directs the PhD Program in Robotics and holds a courtesy appointment in Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on robotic exploration systems for extreme environments, spanning planetary surfaces, underwater caves, and terrestrial deserts. Key areas include autonomous navigation , science autonomy , multi-modal perception , and resource-cognizant planning . Field validation drives his work, with deployments in the Atacama Desert, Antarctic volcanoes, and lunar analog sites. Co-founder of Mesh Robotics LLC for off-road autonomy Former Research Fellow at Australian National University Former National Research Council Research Associate at NASA Ames Research Center His 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate expertise in autonomous path planning , machine learning applications , terrain modeling , and science-driven exploration . Collaborations span planetary science, environmental monitoring, and space systems engineering. He has advised 17 PhD and 33 MS students , many of whom now work in space exploration or field robotics, and teaches courses in Robotics Systems Engineering . Current projects include the MoonRanger lunar micro-rover and technologies for autonomous resource mapping .

Rebecca NugentView profile

Professor

• Clustering Methodology
• Record Linkage
• Educational Data Mining
• +5 more

Rebecca Nugent is the Stephen E. and Joyce Fienberg Professor of Statistics & Data Science and Department Head at Carnegie Mellon University. She holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Washington (2006), an MS in Statistics from Stanford (2006), and a BA in Mathematics, Statistics, and Spanish from Rice University (2002). Her research spans clustering methodology , record linkage , educational data mining , public health , and semantic organization , with a focus on high-dimensional data and adaptive learning environments. She leads the Integrated Statistics Learning Environment (ISLE) and Corporate Capstone programs, emphasizing low-barrier data platforms for education and industry collaboration. Academic Roles : Department Head, Carnegie Mellon; Affiliated Faculty, Block Center for Technology and Society Research Grants : NSF (2017-2019), NIH (2018), Carnegie Mellon ProSEED/Simon Initiative (2020, 2018), Berkman Fund (2014) Her 15 most recent publications focus on data science pedagogy, clustering algorithms, record linkage applications in historical and medical data, educational data mining, and semantic organization studies. Awards include the ASA Waller Education Award (2015) and the William H. and Frances S. Ryan Award (2015) . She mentors a diverse group of PhD, Master's, and undergraduate students, with alumni pursuing careers in academia, industry, and sports analytics.

Amritanshu PandeyView profile

Assistant Professor

• Grid Simulation and Optimization
• Grid Cybersecurity
• Modeling of Future Energy Systems
• +3 more

Amritanshu Pandey is an Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering at the University of Vermont, with a part-time adjunct appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and security of electric grids through methods in circuit theory, optimization, and machine learning. He pioneered the SUGAR simulation engine for power systems and collaborates globally on grid challenges. Research Interests: Pandey's work spans renewable integration, grid cybersecurity, digital twins, and decarbonization. Key projects include developing algorithms for large-scale grid optimization, anomaly detection, electric vehicle infrastructure modeling, and cyber-resilient energy systems. His research addresses real-world challenges in rapidly evolving grids across Asia and Africa. Awards: Best Paper Award, IEEE PES General Meeting (2017, 2021) Best-of-the-Best Paper Award, IEEE PES General Meeting (2021) Best Student Paper Runner-up, ECML-PKDD (2018) Students & Labs: He advises 7 PhD students and has graduated 11 advisees (PhD/MS/BS). His lab focuses on power systems innovation, including the SUGAR simulation framework and projects on grid cybersecurity and sustainable electrification.

• Algorithms
• Data Streams
• Machine Learning
• +3 more

David P. Woodruff is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, part of the Theory Group within the School of Computer Science. He is actively involved in academic leadership roles, including chairing the CATCS (Conference on Theoretical Computer Science) and serving as PC chair for SODA 2024 and ICALP 2022. His research focuses on algorithms, data streams, machine learning, numerical linear algebra, sketching, and sparse recovery. He has been recognized with awards such as the Herbert Simon Award for teaching and the PODS Best Paper Award. Woodruff has advised numerous students and postdocs, including notable scholars like Ainesh Bakshi, Rajesh Jayaram, and Hongyang Zhang. His work often addresses foundational challenges in theoretical computer science, with contributions to distributed computing, streaming algorithms, and privacy-preserving techniques. He has published extensively in top conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, FOCS, and STOC, covering topics ranging from low-rank approximation to adversarial robustness in data streams. His teaching includes courses like Algorithms for Big Data and core algorithms courses, reflecting his commitment to both research and education. Collaborations span academia and industry, with applications in genomics and secure computation. Woodruff is a key contributor to the Foundations of Data Science program at the Simons Institute.

David GarlanView profile

Professor

• Software Engineering
• Software Architecture
• Self-Adaptive Systems
• +4 more

David Garlan is a Professor at the Software and Societal Systems Department within the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University , where he also serves as Associate Dean for Master’s Programs . He received his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon in 1987 after working in industry as a software architect. His research focuses on controlling complexity in large software systems through formalized architectural design, self-adaptive systems, and cyber-physical systems. He developed AcmeStudio , a widely used architecture design environment, and pioneered formal representation and analysis of software architecture. Education : Ph.D. in Computer Science (Carnegie Mellon, 1987) Research Interests include: Software Architecture: Formal methods for architectural design, end-user composition, and architectural styles Self-Adaptive Systems: Stochastic planning, model checking, security adaptation, and uncertainty reduction Cyber-Physical Systems: Multi-view design methods, consistency checking, and automotive systems Recent Article Trends address microservice resiliency, hybrid planning (combining formal methods and ML), simulation-augmented robotics, and sustainable machine translation. Themes include stochastic modeling , probabilistic verification , and adaptive decision-making . Scientific Awards : Stevens Award Citation (2005) ACM SIGSOFT Outstanding Research Award (2011) Allen Newell Award for Research Excellence (2016) IEEE TCSE Distinguished Education Award (2017) Nancy Mead Award (2017) Fellow of IEEE and ACM Advising and Grants : He has advised 25+ graduate students and collaborated on projects with Toyota and the Software Engineering Institute. His work includes model-based adaptation, automated planning, and formal verification of adaptive systems. Labs & Teams : Affiliated with the Institute for Software Research and works on tools like AcmeStudio, Rainbow, and IPL for architectural modeling and self-adaptation.

Feras SaadView profile

Assistant Professor

• Probabilistic Programming
• Artificial Intelligence
• Programming Languages
• +4 more

Feras Saad is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University, affiliated with the Principles of Programming and Artificial Intelligence groups. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2022, where his dissertations on probabilistic programming systems earned him the George M. Sprowls PhD Thesis Award and Charles & Jennifer Johnson MEng Thesis Award. His research focuses on developing scalable computing systems for probabilistic modeling and inference, integrating ideas from programming languages and probabilistic AI. Key research themes include probabilistic programming languages, automated probabilistic model discovery, statistical estimation and testing, random sampling algorithms, and applications in science and engineering. His lab explores new techniques to improve reasoning systems through automation, accuracy, and scale. Dr. Saad has published extensively in top venues including PLDI, POPL, ICML, and Nature Communications. His work spans foundational computational questions to practical software systems for probabilistic inference. Research trends show consistent focus on bridging theoretical computer science with practical applications in probabilistic modeling, with recent advances in random sampling algorithms and probabilistic programming systems. Awards and honors include: George M. Sprowls PhD Thesis Award in Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making (2023) Charles & Jennifer Johnson MEng Thesis Award in Computer Science (2017) Editor's Highlight for Nature Communications paper (2024) He currently advises graduate students Gaurav Arya and Thomas Draper in the Probabilistic Computing Systems Lab. His research is supported by software libraries including GenSQL, BayesNF, and SPPL that enable practical applications across scientific domains.

Paul FischbeckView profile

Professor

• Risk Analysis
• Decision Analysis
• Policy Modeling
• +7 more

Paul Fischbeck is a Professor in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy and the Department of Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, where he applies decision analysis and behavioral social science to complex policy challenges. His research focuses on risk analysis, uncertainty communication, and regulatory design, with applications in energy, environment, and public safety. He directs the Center for the Study and Improvement of Regulation and actively collaborates with graduate students on interdisciplinary research. Education: Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering/Engineering Management, Stanford University (1991) M.S. in Operations Research, Naval Postgraduate School (1981) B.S. in Architecture, University of Virginia (1974) Fischbeck's research interests lie at the intersection of decision science and public policy. He specializes in modeling and communicating uncertainty, improving risk communication, and designing decision support systems for regulators and the public. His work spans climate change policy, energy systems, environmental regulation, and behavioral responses to risk. He has contributed to understanding the effectiveness of warning labels, insurance behavior, and the risks of aging infrastructure. His recent publications and media engagements reflect a strong focus on climate communication, energy policy alignment across political parties, and innovative environmental monitoring using IoT and machine learning. Themes across his work include the importance of behavioral insights in policy design, the challenges of long-term infrastructure planning, and the need for transparent communication of scientific uncertainty. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Fischbeck advises graduate students and leads an active research program at CMU. His work is supported by institutional affiliations and collaborative projects, though specific grants are not detailed. He contributes to public discourse through media appearances and policy-relevant research. He is involved with the Center for the Study and Improvement of Regulation, where he leads efforts to enhance regulatory decision-making through rigorous analysis and systems thinking. Labs and Research Centers: Center for the Study and Improvement of Regulation (Director)

• Cybersecurity
• Cognitive Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• +3 more

Tyler Malloy is a Research Fellow in the Department of Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University's Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. His work focuses on the intersection of cybersecurity, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. He investigates how human decision-making processes can be modeled computationally, particularly in adversarial environments like cyber defense scenarios. His research also explores the application of generative AI to understand user behavior and improve cybersecurity training. Key research areas include cognitive models of decision-making under uncertainty, adversarial machine learning, and the development of frameworks to measure human-AI interaction in cybersecurity contexts. He has contributed to studies on human-autonomy collaboration in cyber defense teams, detection of generative AI-generated social engineering attacks, and reinforcement learning in multi-agent systems. Malloy's publications highlight trends in leveraging cognitive architectures to address modern cybersecurity challenges, such as simulating attacker-defender dynamics and evaluating the effectiveness of training programs against evolving threats. His work bridges computational models with real-world applications, emphasizing both theoretical advancements and practical security solutions. His research has been supported by grants focusing on AI-driven cybersecurity solutions and human factors in technology. Collaborations involve interdisciplinary teams from computer science, behavioral economics, and cognitive neuroscience departments. Malloy is affiliated with CMU's social computing initiatives and contributes to developing next-generation cyber defense strategies through his postdoctoral research.

Liu YangView profile

Research Fellow

• Theoretical Machine Learning
• Theoretical Computer Science
• Statistical Learning Theory
• +5 more

Liu Yang is a postdoctoral fellow in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University , with a PhD from CMU under Avrim Blum and Jaime Carbonell. His research focuses on Theoretical Machine Learning and Theoretical Computer Science , exploring areas like Statistical Learning Theory , Property Testing , and Algorithmic Economics . He has contributed to active learning , transfer learning , and online pricing problems through mathematical frameworks. Research Interests : Liu's work bridges Computational Learning Theory with Algorithmic Economics , including: Mathematical theories for active property testing of Boolean functions Transfer learning with applications to online allocation and pricing Analysis of convex losses and statistical identifiability in learning Developing Buys-in-Bulk models for active learning efficiency Service and Teaching : He has served on program committees for ICML 2012-2013 , reviewed for top-tier venues, and taught courses like Graduate Algorithms and Modern Computer Algebra at CMU. He also co-developed the DistLearnKit MATLAB toolkit for distance metric learning.