Usman A. Fiaz (IntlAssoc)

Usman A. Fiaz received his bachelor’s (BS) and master's (MS) degrees in Electrical Engineering from Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), respectively, in 2015 and 2017. He obtained his doctoral degree (PhD), also in Electrical Engineering, from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) in 2022, with a specialization in Robotics, Control, and Learning. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Autonomy and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA. He also holds an affiliate appointment with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Institute for Systems Research (ISR), at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD).

Dr. Fiaz’s research interests lie in some of the modern areas of control theory, robotics, and machine learning with special emphasis on autonomous multiagent systems. More specifically, he is interested in designing theory, algorithms, and physical implementations for achieving assured autonomy in multiagent systems, such as teams of autonomous robots and vehicles (across all terrains and space), that can provide simultaneous assurances on: for example, safety and finite-time completion etc., during various complex tasks. In addition to his contributions to academia and research, Dr. Fiaz also has an extended history of collaborations with world-renowned industry. He has held visiting research positions at Intel (2021), ABB (2020), Nokia Bell Labs (2019), Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs (2018), and CERN (2014).

Dr. Fiaz is a member of the IEEE, the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, and the IEEE Control Systems Society. He is a recipient of the Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship (2022), the Michael J. Pelczar Award for Graduate Excellence (2021), the Future Faculty Fellowship (2021), and the Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award (2018) from the University of Maryland; the Outstanding Achievement in Robotic Orchestration Award from Nokia Bell Labs (2019), the IFAC Young Author Award (Finalist) at the IFAC Mechatronics Symposium (2019), a 2nd Runner-up finish and a Bronze Medal at the MBZIRC Robotics Challenge (2017), and the President's Gold Medal for achieving the highest distinction during his BS from Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (2015).

• Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship, University of Maryland  (2022)
• Michael J. Pelczar Award for Graduate Excellence, University of Maryland  (2021)​
• Future Faculty Fellow, Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland  (2021)
• ECE Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Maryland  (2020)
• Outstanding Achievement in Robotic Orchestration Award from Nokia Bell Labs  (2019)
• IFAC Young Author Award (Finalist) at the IFAC Joint NOLCOS and MECHATRONICS  (2019)
• Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award from the University of Maryland  (2018)
• Second runner-up position and bronze medal in Challenge-II at MBZIRC  (2017)​
• President's Gold Medal for being topper in the EE department throughout the BS from PIEAS  (2015)
• Annual distinction certificates for outstanding academics, from PIEAS  (2012-15)​
• Best student of the college award from KRL Model College  (2011)