Venugopal V. Veeravalli

Venugopal V. Veeravalli is the Henry Magnuski Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), affiliated with the Grainger College of Engineering, Coordinated Science Laboratory (CSL), Department of Statistics, and Discovery Partners Institute (DPI). He holds a Ph.D. from UIUC (1992) and has been on the faculty since 2000, previously at Cornell University. His research spans statistical inference, machine learning, information theory, and their applications in wireless communications, sensor networks, and cyberphysical systems. He has authored/co-authored influential books like Statistical Inference for Engineers and Data Scientists and Interference Management in Wireless Networks, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Notable awards include the IEEE Fellow (2006), PECASE (1998), and twice the Abraham Wald Prize in Sequential Analysis (2016, 2023). He advises students on topics like robust learning, distributed algorithms, and adaptive sensing. Current research focuses on sequential change detection, non-stationary environments, and IoT resilience.

• Education: B.Tech. (IIT Bombay, 1985), M.S. (Carnegie Mellon, 1987), Ph.D. (UIUC, 1992)
• Professional Roles: Editor-in-Chief (IEEE Transactions on Information Theory), NSF Program Director (2003–2005), Fulbright-Nokia Chair (2023)

Research Interests: His work bridges theoretical foundations and practical applications, including quickest change detection, robust machine learning, and distributed systems. Recent projects involve anomaly detection in power grids, pandemic monitoring via wastewater data, and adaptive algorithms for wireless networks.

Grants & Collaborations: Active in NSF-funded projects on robust learning and IoT resilience. Collaborates internationally, including with Aalto University (Finland) under the Fulbright-Nokia Chair.

Teaching: Teaches courses on probability, optimization, communication theory, and data science. Recognized with the Michael Tien Excellence in Teaching Award (1999).