Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a focus on Computer Vision (CV), Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI), Virtual Reality (VR), Cybersecurity, and Biometrics.

15+ years of experience in designing AI algorithms, including pattern recognition, deep learning, and information fusion techniques to enhance security. I have been serving as the Lead Principal Investigator (PI) for grants provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF). I am an Inventor holding patents in biometric-based multi-factor authentication, hyperspectral biofluid analysis technologies. I am a recipient of the Mason Innovation Awards (2023, 2025). I serve as an Associate Editor for Pattern Recognition and Image and Vision Computing, Elsevier.

Academic Appointments

• 2025–Present: Senior Research Scientist, Department of Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University

• 2024–2025: Faculty Affiliate, Department of Computer Science, George Mason University

• 2023–2025: Public–Private Partnership Faculty Fellow, Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA), George Mason University

• 2017–2025: Assistant Professor, Department of Information Sciences and Technology & Center for Secure Information Systems, George Mason University

• 2015–2017: Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Supervisor: Prof. Bojan Cukic)

• 2015–2017: Adjunct Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• 2013–2014: Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University  (Supervisor: Prof. Bojan Cukic)

• 2011–2012: Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University  (iProbe Lab, Supervisor: Prof. Arun Ross)

Education

• 2007–2010: PhD, Computer and Automation Engineering, University of Naples Federico II (Ph.D. Thesis "Secure Multibiometric Systems", Advisor: Prof. Carlo Sansone)

• 2000-2006: Five-Years degree (B.Sc. and M.Sc.), Computer Engineering, University of Naples Federico II (Master’s Thesis in Artificial Intelligence, Advisor: Prof. Carlo Sansone)

Visiting Positions

• 2024 (July): Visiting Faculty, Department of Computer Science, New York University 

• 2012 (Dec.): Visiting Scholar, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University (Prof. Anil K. Jain Lab)

• 2010 (Aug.): Visiting Scholar, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clarkson University  (Advisor: Prof. Stephanie Schuckers)

• 2009-2010: Visiting Scholar, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University  (Advisor: Prof. Arun Ross)