Laurent Lessard

Laurent Lessard is an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University, with courtesy appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Khoury College of Computer Sciences. He is a core faculty member of the Institute for Experiential AI. Previously, he was at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on control theory, optimization algorithms, machine learning, and decentralized systems. He holds a PhD from Stanford University (2011) and completed postdocs at Lund University and Berkeley.

Education:

• PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, 2011
• MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, 2005
• BASc in Engineering Science (Aerospace), University of Toronto, 2003

Research Interests: Control theory, optimization algorithms, machine learning, distributed systems, and robust control. His work bridges control theory and optimization, emphasizing algorithm design and analysis with applications to AI and autonomous systems.

Key Projects: Includes NSF-funded research on distributed optimization, Army-funded work on cognitive distributed sensing, and studies on algorithm equivalence and robustness.

Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2018), Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award (2013), Gerald Holdridge Teaching Excellence Award (2019).

Grants & Labs: Principal investigator on multiple NSF grants, including work on decentralized control and optimization. Active in the Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security. Leads a research group with a focus on theoretical and applied control systems.

Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including foundational work on optimization algorithms and control theory. Recent work emphasizes robustness, distributed systems, and machine learning integration.