Dr.  Sathish A.P. Kumar

Dr. Sathish A.P. Kumar is a Full Professor of Computer Science at Cleveland State University (CSU) in Cleveland, Ohio, where he also serves as Director of the Ph.D. in Computer Science Program and Director of the Intelligent Secure Cyber Systems and Applications Research (ISCAR) Lab. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Louisville, where he also completed M.S. and M.B.A. degrees in Information Systems, after a B.E. in Computer Science and Engineering from Bharathiar University, India.

Dr. Kumar’s research focuses on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, with specific emphasis on reinforcement learning (RL), post-quantum cryptography, space and IoT communication security, adversarial robustness, and quantum-enhanced machine learning. His interdisciplinary contributions span intelligent cyber-physical systems, healthcare informatics, environmental modeling, and AI policy enablement. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, including in IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems, and Elsevier Information Security and Applications.

His research leadership is supported by more than $5 million in external funding as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Dr. Kumar currently leads NSF- and DOE-funded projects on RL-driven quantum sensor circuit design and AI-driven autonomous laboratories, collaborating with national labs and universities across the U.S.

Dr. Kumar has over 25 years of combined academic and industry experience, having served as a Senior Technical Architect and Data Scientist for Fortune 500 companies prior to entering academia. He has supervised numerous Ph.D., M.S., and undergraduate research students, many of whom have co-authored publications in top-tier venues. He is deeply committed to mentoring diverse students and fostering inclusive research environments bridging AI, quantum, and cybersecurity.

At CSU, Dr. Kumar has spearheaded several educational initiatives, including the Quantum Machine Learning and Hack Lab courses, the establishment of the CSU T.E.C.H. Hub, and the development of transdisciplinary computing curricula. He has received multiple Merit Awards for Research and Teaching, the Dean’s Award for Faculty Excellence, and the Leadership & Innovation Fellowship for Transformation.

Dr. Kumar is an ACM Distinguished Speaker (2025–2028) and an IEEE Senior Member, with sustained service to both professional societies. He has been an active ACM member since 2013, contributing as a speaker, reviewer, and advocate for computing education and research. He regularly delivers invited talks and workshops on AI security, quantum machine learning, and the intersection of technology and policy at IEEE and ACM forums.
He has presented at the ACM SIGITE Conference, IEEE QCE, and IEEE SSCI, and serves as a reviewer for ACM Transactions on Privacy and Security, ACM Transactions on Cyber-Physical Systems, and ACM Computing Surveys. Through the ACM Distinguished Speaker Program, Dr. Kumar aims to promote cross-disciplinary dialogue on trustworthy AI, quantum innovation, and cybersecurity resilience, inspiring students, educators, and practitioners to explore ethical and secure computing frontiers.

• AI for Autonomous Systems
  Autonomous systems—ranging from self-driving vehicles to intelligent laboratories—are redefining how machines perceive, learn, and act. This lecture examines how Artificial...
• AI for Secure Space Communication
  As space communication systems evolve toward intelligent, interconnected networks, ensuring security across satellite, IoT, and ground segments has become critical. This lecture focuses on...
• Reinforcement Learning for Quantum Sensor Circuit Design
  Quantum sensors promise revolutionary improvements in precision measurement, but their optimization remains one of the grand challenges in quantum engineering. This lecture introduces a...
• Shaping the Future: AI, Cybersecurity, and Quantum Computing in the Next Decade
  This talk explores the powerful convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, and Quantum Computing—the three defining technologies of the next decade. While AI...