Wei Yu, Ph.D., has been elevated to an IEEE Fellow, one of the highest honors awarded by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is the first person from Towson University to receive the honor. The distinction, effective Jan. 1, recognizes his significant research contributions to security and artificial intelligence (AI) in cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things (IoT), specifically his work in security and AI-powered edge devices in critical infrastructure systems. 

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization, and elevation to fellow is reserved for an exceptionally small group of members each year—fewer than 0.1% of voting members—following a rigorous evaluation process. 

Yu’s research focuses on advancing secure, AI-enabled cyber-physical and IoT systems that underpin energy, transportation, manufacturing and smart-city infrastructure. Over a 16-year tenure at TU, he has led major interdisciplinary research initiatives, secured significant external funding and helped bridge computing theory, systems and AI technologies. His scholarship includes nearly 400 publications, approximately 20,000 citations and seven best paper awards. 

In addition to the IEEE Fellow announcement, Yu’s prior honors include the NSF CAREER Award, the USM Endowed Wilson Elkins Professorship and the USM Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Research. He recently edited and co-authored Edge Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Systems: Foundations and Applications, the first comprehensive roadmap for Edge AI research and education in the field. 

Yu directs the Cyber-Physical Systems and Security Research Laboratory and has mentored 24 doctoral graduates from Towson University; 16 of them are faculty at universities conducting research and teaching. Since January 2023, he has served as the doctoral program director for the Information Technology doctorate program, the university’s largest doctoral program.