Sara Honarvar, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Learning and Collaboration in Distributed Human-Robot Systems

Sara Honarvar’s interdisciplinary research integrates biomechanics, kinesiology, and robotics to develop algorithms that enable humans and robots to work more effectively together. As a Ph.D. candidate in the Collaborative Controls and Robotics Laboratory, Honarvar has studied interaction behavior in distributed intelligent systems, producing insights that contribute to safer and more intuitive human-robot collaboration.

Her path to ISR includes dual bachelor’s degrees in biomedical and mechanical engineering and an M.A. in Kinesiology from UMD, reflecting a deep, cross-disciplinary foundation. After graduation, Honarvar will join Apple Inc. as a Control System Engineer on the Platform Architecture team, where she will apply her expertise to next-generation technology integration.

Xiaomin Lin, Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Vision-Based Robotics for Sustainable Environmental Monitoring

Xiaomin Lin’s doctoral research has focused on intelligent robotic systems that support long-term environmental monitoring in remote and underwater environments. As a member of the Perception and Robotics Group led by Professor Yiannis Aloimonos, Lin has made significant contributions to the USDA-funded Smart Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture Management (S3AM) project, where he helped design autonomous vision-based solutions for sustainable shellfish farming.

Currently a postdoctoral research associate at Johns Hopkins University, Lin will join the University of South Florida as an Assistant Professor this fall. His faculty research group will focus on energy-efficient AI for autonomous systems operating in austere environments—extending his mission to design resilient, intelligent platforms that benefit environmental science and sustainability.

Mahshid Noorani, Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

AI and Machine Learning for Secure Cyber-Physical Systems

Mahshid Noorani’s doctoral work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and network security, with a strong emphasis on cyber-physical systems (CPS) and networked CPS. Under the mentorship of ISR Founding Director and Distinguished University Professor John Baras, Noorani has developed novel approaches for trust, learning, and resilience in critical infrastructure—research that is gaining traction with industry leaders including Comcast, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin.

A Clark Fellow, the Clark School’s most prestigious honor for graduate students, Noorani brings six years of industry experience to her academic portfolio. One of her  key and novel accomplishments is detection of, and defense against, anomalous behavior of real-life autonomous CPS systems, like an autonomous ground vehicle; anomalies due to internal and external attacks on the sensor data  flows and/or the robot computer systems. Her work bridges foundational systems theory with real-world security challenges and positions her as a future leader in trusted AI systems for connected technologies. 

Yiling Qiao, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics

Foundations of Simulation for Generalist Robots and Embodied AI

Yiling Qiao’s Ph.D. research, advised by Professor Ming Lin and conducted within the UMD GAMMA Group, blends physically based simulation, machine learning, and computer graphics to develop training environments for embodied artificial intelligence. His groundbreaking work has earned recognition through the Meta PhD Fellowship and the Larry S. Davis Dissertation Award.

Among Qiao’s major contributions is Genesis, a generative simulation platform that creates complex virtual environments for robotics and AI training. Shortly before graduating, Qiao co-founded a startup to commercialize this technology for generalist robot development. Backed by significant venture capital investment, the company is advancing scalable simulation for autonomous systems across industries.