Prospective Students

I am actively recruiting highly motivated Ph.D. students to join my research group at the University of Arkansas, with positions starting in Spring 2027.

My research focuses on building secure, resilient, and trustworthy autonomous systems that operate reliably in real-world environments. This includes autonomous driving, humanoid robotics, drones, and other embodied AI systems, at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cyber-physical systems (CPS).

Key Research Areas

• Security and Privacy
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cyber-Physical Systems
• Embodied AI/Physical AI
• Autonomous Systems
• Critical Infrastructure

Application Domains

• Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
• Humanoid Robotos
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Smart Grid
• Maritime Systems

Who Should Apply

I am looking for students with:

• Strong background in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields
• Experience in at least one (more will be preferred) of: AI/ML, cybersecurity, CPS domain, etc.
• Strong programming skills (Python required; C/C++ preferred)
• Hands on experience in ML libraries such as Torch, Tensor flow, Keras, SkLearn, etc.
• Demonstrated research potential through publications, projects, thesis work, or internships
• Driven and diligent, with strong analytical thinking and clear communication skills

How to Apply

Please email me the following materials to hshahriar@vt.edu with the subject as “Prospective PhD Student - [LastName]”

• CV
• Brief research statement (1–2 paragraphs)
• Academic Transcript