Nikhil Yadav

Nikhil Yadav, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of San Diego's Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering. He holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame, an MS from the University of Florida, and a BEng from the National University of Lesotho. His research focuses on pervasive computing, AI-driven context-aware systems, and healthcare technology innovation.

Previously, Dr. Yadav served as computer science faculty at St. John's University in New York, where he led ABET accreditation efforts and developed internship programs. He currently advises Collidescope Inc. as their consulting CTO, focusing on social impact through ESG-oriented digital solutions. His industry experience includes software engineering roles and founding a startup leveraging speech biomarker analysis for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) assessment.

Research themes span IoT security, healthcare informatics, and AI ethics. Notable projects include CRADLE—a psychophysiological analytics platform—and work on mobile health applications in underserved regions. His publications address edge AI deployment, cybersecurity in federated learning, and mental health prediction during public health crises.

Teaching contributions include pioneering Python pedagogy in graduate data science curricula and integrating mobile healthcare projects in undergraduate courses. Professional service includes conference program committees and advocacy for secure ecological momentary assessments in clinical research.