Reza Jafari
Reza Jafari is a collegiate associate professor of computer science at Virginia Tech’s Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria. His research brings together machine learning, adaptive and nonlinear control, and autonomous systems, with a focus on using artificial intelligence on real-world platforms. His current work explores deep learning for time-series and sequential data, multimodal perception and onboard intelligence for autonomous aerial systems, the stability of neural network-based controllers, and emerging applications of machine learning in biomedical and genomic data analysis.
Jafari serves as faculty champion for a Virginia Tech College of Engineering Major Grants Initiative team focused on intelligent autonomous systems for resilient infrastructure. He also collaborates with researchers at George Washington University and the American University of Sharjah on adaptive control for aerial robotic systems. Before joining Virginia Tech, he served on the faculty and as electrical and computer engineering program director at ECPI University and as a professional lecturer in George Washington University’s data science program. He is an active peer reviewer for IEEE Transactions, IJCNN, and control systems publications and conferences, and is a two-time recipient of the Innovator of the Year Award, in 2014 and 2016.
- Machine learning and deep learning for prediction, classification, and time-series analysis
- Adaptive and nonlinear control of autonomous systems (UAVs and robotic platforms)
- Edge-deployed AI and multi-modal perception (RGB / thermal / LiDAR)
- Neural-network-based controllers and their stability analysis
- Sequential-data and signal modeling (Box–Jenkins, deep temporal models)
- Applied ML for biomedical and genomic data analysis
- Ph.D., Computer and Electrical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 2012
- M.S., Applied Mathematics, Oklahoma State University, 2011
- M.S., Mechatronics, American University of Sharjah, 2005
- B.S., Engineering, University of Tehran, 2001
For Professor Jafari's recent publications, please visit his Google Scholar page.