AI and Cloud Systems Lab
The lab conducts research at the intersection of AI, cloud, and edge computing, with emphasis on robust performance, energy efficiency, and security in modern distributed systems.
Research direction
AI for Systems and Systems for AI
Our work explores how artificial intelligence can automate and optimize computing systems, and how middleware and system software can support scalable, low-latency, energy-efficient AI inference in resource-constrained settings.
People
Lab members
Current students
- Adiba Masud, PhD student, 2025 - present
- Kyle Wilkerson, MS student
- Nicholas Foley, undergraduate student
- Durga Rajarajan, undergraduate student
- Ryan Bonnet, undergraduate student
- Perfect Sylvestor, undergraduate student
Alumni
- Hasanul Mahmud, PhD, 2020 - 2025
- Peng Kang, PhD, 2019 - 2024; Assistant Professor, California State University, Sacramento
- Xue Li, PhD, 2019 - 2024; Assistant Professor, Webster University
- Vasudha Vedula, PhD, 2019 - 2024; Assistant Professor, University of Texas Permian Basin
- Kumar Thumappudi, PhD, 2019 - 2024; Assistant Professor of Instruction, UTSA
- Joy Rahman, PhD, 2014 - 2019; Esri
- Ridwan Rashid Noel, PhD, 2014 - 2019; Assistant Professor, Texas Lutheran University
Sponsored projects
Research funding
Expanding Genomic Data Science Access via Cloud Computing and Dynamic Learning Modules
National Institute of Health, Co-PI, $474,136, September 2024 - August 2027.
Collaborative Research: SaTC:EDU: Small: Integrating Cybersecurity in Computing Curricula: A Software PBL Driven Approach with Focus on Identity and Access Management (IAM)
National Science Foundation, Co-PI, $100,001, September 2023 - August 2026.
Mobilizing the Emerging Diverse AI Talent through Design and Automated Control of Scientific Laboratories
Department of Energy, Co-PI, $600,000, July 2023 - June 2026.
Secure Federated Learning at the Tactical Edge
Department of Defense, PI, $149,850, November 2022 - October 2023.
Automated Techniques for Cyber Risk Detection and Mitigation in the Presence of Malicious AI Attacks
National Security Agency, Co-PI, $494,702.51, September 2021 - August 2023.
CNS Core: Small: Robust Performance Guarantee of Containerized Microservices in the Cloud
National Science Foundation, Single PI, $243,940, October 2019 - September 2022.
Detection and Visualization of DDoS Attacks on Software-Defined Networks
UTSA & ITESM Seed Funding Program, Co-PI, $80,000, September 2019 - August 2020.
VENOM-Aided Adaptive Denial of Service Attacks on Software Defined Networks
National Security Agency, Co-PI, $215,142, September 2018 - August 2019.
NSF CREST Center for Security and Privacy Enhanced Cloud Computing (C-SPECC) grant
National Science Foundation, Investigator, $5 million to UTSA, September 2017 - August 2022.
NSF Travel Grant Support for IEEE/ACM CCGrid 2015 Conference
National Science Foundation, Single PI, $25,000.
Locality-Aware Fair Scheduling of ZeroVM in Multi-tenant Cloud
RackSpace Inc., Investigator, one PhD student support, 2014 - 2015.
Analysis and Training for the Defense of Biological and Digital Threats
Department of Homeland Security, Co-PI, $400,000, September 2014 - August 2019.
Collaborative Research: Chameleon: A Large-Scale, Reconfigurable Experimental Environment for Cloud Research
National Science Foundation, Senior Key Personnel/Faculty Associate, $599,387 to UTSA, October 2014 - September 2017.