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 **Fall 2026 / 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