Jianli Pan

Dr. Jianli Pan is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. His research focuses on enhancing cybersecurity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices using blockchain and smart contracts to mitigate vulnerabilities. He collaborated with PhD candidate Jianyu Wang on a patent-pending solution to automate policy enforcement for IoT security, recognized with the 202X Inventor of the Year Award by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Their work addresses critical issues like unencrypted IoT traffic and outdated device software.

Supported by UMSL’s Office of Research Administration, Pan’s research has advanced through provisional patents and licensing discussions with a Kansas City-based investor. He credits collaborators Tamara Wilgers, Kevin Kercher, and Thaddeus Blenke for guiding the patent process. His team also includes former undergraduate student Austin Hester, who contributed to prototyping the technology.

Pan’s contributions align with broader efforts to secure emerging technologies like smart homes and transportation systems, emphasizing automated security measures to counteract botnet threats and distributed denial-of-service attacks.