John S. Baras

John S. Baras is a Professor at the University of Maryland, holding joint appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Institute for Systems Research (ISR). He is a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the TUM Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS), hosted by Sandra Hirche, focusing on Networked Cyber-Physical Systems (NetCyPhy). His research spans systems theory, communication networks, cyber-physical systems, and quantum control, with notable contributions to trust models in networks and hybrid communication systems. Baras has pioneered interdisciplinary research, founding ISR and directing the Maryland Hybrid Networks (HyNet) Center. He has over 90 patents, including foundational work on satellite internet delivery (HughesNet®), earning him prestigious awards like the AAAS and SIAM Fellowships. His work emphasizes bridging theory and practice in complex systems, with applications in security, smart grids, and healthcare.

Education & Career:

• Founding Director of the Institute for Systems Research (ISR)
• Lockheed Martin Chair in Systems Engineering
• Guest Professor at Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm
• Over 40 years of academic leadership and industry collaboration

Research Focus: Baras's work addresses multi-disciplinary challenges in networked systems, integrating control theory, information science, and computing. Recent projects include trust-aware crowdsourcing, event-triggered control, and optimal sensor scheduling. His contributions to quantum control and systems biology reflect his interest in emerging interdisciplinary frontiers.

Awards & Recognition:

• AAAS Fellow (2014), SIAM Fellow (2014)
• IEEE Life Fellow (2013)
• Outstanding Invention Awards (2008, 1998, 1994, 1991)

Grants & Labs: Leads HyNet Center, focusing on hybrid networks, and collaborates on projects like trust evaluation in ad-hoc networks. His research is funded by NSF, DoD, and industry partners.