Zizhan Zheng

Zizhan Zheng is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Tulane University. His recent work has centered on:

• developing automated red-teaming and proactive defense and alignment techniques to enhance the security and safety of both single-agent and cooperative AI systems, and
• integrating reinforcement learning and generative AI for efficient and trustworthy decision-making, along with their applications in various science and engineering domains.

Previously, he also worked on the optimization and economics of networked systems, including computer networks, cloud computing systems, and cyber-physical systems, and he contributed to the science of security using tools from machine learning and game theory.

Research Interests

AI Security and Safety, Reinforcement Learning, Networks

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles:

[J1] “The Impact of Stealthy Attacks on Smart Grid Performance: Tradeoffs and Implications”, Yara Abdallah, Zizhan Zheng, Ness B. Shroff, Hesham El Gamal, and Tarek M. El-Fouly; IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems (TCNS), accepted for publication.

[J2] “Ensuring Predictable Contact Opportunity for Scalable Vehicular Internet Access On the Go”, Zizhan Zheng, Zhixue Lu, Prasun Sinha, and Santosh Kumar; IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (TON), 23(3), pp. 768-781, June 2015.

[J3] “Submodular Utility Maximization for Deadline Constrained Data Collection in Sensor Networks”, Zizhan Zheng and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control (TAC), 59(9), pp. 2400-2412, 2014.

[J4] “Maximizing System Throughput by Cooperative Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks”, Shuang Li, Zizhan Zheng, Eylem Ekici, and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (TON), 22(4), pp. 1245-1256, 2014.

[J5] “Maximizing Information in Unreliable Sensor Networks under Deadline and Energy Constraints”, Srikanth Hariharan, Zizhan Zheng, and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control (TAC), 58(6), pp. 1416-1429, 2013.

[J6] “Sparse WiFi Deployment for Vehicular Internet Access with Bounded Interconnection Gap”, Zizhan Zheng, Prasun Sinha, and Santosh Kumar; IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (TON), 20(3), pp. 956-969, June 2012.

[J7] “Perpetual and Fair Data Collection for Environmental Energy Harvesting Sensor Networks”, Ren-Shiou Liu, Kai-Wei Fan, Zizhan Zheng, and Prasun Sinha; IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (TON), 19(4), pp. 947-960, Aug. 2011.

[J8] “Buffer Coding for Reliable Transmissions over Wireless Networks”, Zizhan Zheng and Prasun Sinha; Elsevier Computer Communications (COMCOM), 32(1), pp. 111-123, Jan. 2009.

Refereed Conference Publications

[C1] “Stealthy Attacks with Insider Information: A Game Theoretic Model with Asymmetric Feedback”, Xiaotao Feng, Zizhan Zheng, Derya Cansever, Ananthram Swami, and Prasant Mohapatra; MILCOM, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 2016.

[C2] “Trust Exploitation and Attention Competition: A Game Theoretic Model”, Hao Fu, Hongxing Li, Zizhan Zheng, Pengfei Hu, and Prasant Mohapatra; MILCOM, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 2016.

[C3] “FlowIntent: Detecting Privacy Leakage from User Intention to Network Traffic Mapping”, Hao Fu, Zizhan Zheng, Aveek Kumar Das, Parth H. Pathak, and Prasant Mohapatra; IEEE SECON, London, UK, June 2016.

[C4] “Online Multi-Resource Allocation for Deadline Sensitive Jobs with Partial Values in the Cloud”, Zizhan Zheng and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE INFOCOM, San Francisco, CA, Apr. 2016.

[C5] “VSync: Cloud Based Video Streaming Service for Mobile Devices”, Eilwoo Baik, Amit Pande, Zizhan Zheng, and Prasant Mohapatra; IEEE INFOCOM, San Francisco, CA, Apr. 2016.

[C6] “A Game Theoretic Model for Defending Against Stealthy Attacks with Limited Resources”, Ming Zhang, Zizhan Zheng, and Ness B. Shroff; GameSec, London, UK, Nov. 2015.

[C7] “Stealthy Attacks Meets Insider Threats: A Three-Player Game Model”, Xiaotao Feng, Zizhan Zheng, Pengfei Hu, Derya Cansever, and Prasant Mohapatra; MILCOM, Tampa, FL, Oct. 2015.

[C8] “Provably Delay Efficient Data Retrieving in Storage Clouds”, Yin Sun, Zizhan Zheng, C. Emre Koksal, Kyu-Han Kim, and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE INFOCOM, Hong Kong, Apr. 2015.

[C9] “Stealthy Attacks and Observable Defenses: A Game Theoretic Model Under Strict Resource Constraints”, Ming Zhang, Zizhan Zheng, and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE GlobalSIP (invited), Atlanta, GA, Dec 2014.

[C10] “Online Welfare Maximization for Electric Vehicle Charging with Electricity Cost”, Zizhan Zheng and Ness B. Shroff; ACM e-Energy, Cambridge, UK, June 2014.

[C11] “Maximizing Social Welfare in Operator-based Cognitive Radio Networks under Spectrum Uncertainty and Sensing Inaccuracy”, Shuang Li, Zizhan Zheng, Eylem Ekici, and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE INFOCOM, Turin, Italy, Apr. 2013.

[C12] “On the Efficiency-vs-Security Tradeoff in the Smart Grid”, Yara Abdallah, Zizhan Zheng, Ness B. Shroff, and Hesham El Gamal; IEEE CDC, Hawaii, Dec. 2012.

[C13] “Maximizing System Throughput Using Cooperative Sensing in Multi-Channel Cognitive Radio Networks”, Shuang Li, Zizhan Zheng, Eylem Ekici, and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE CDC, Hawaii, Dec. 2012.

[C14] “Maximizing a Submodular Utility for Deadline Constrained Data Collection in Sensor Networks”, Zizhan Zheng and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE WiOpt, Paderborn, Germany, May 2012.

[C15] “Maximizing System Throughput by Cooperative Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks”, Shuang Li, Zizhan Zheng, Eylem Ekici, and Ness B. Shroff; IEEE INFOCOM, Orlando, Florida, Mar. 2012.

[C16] “Maximizing the Contact Opportunity for Vehicular Internet Access”, Zizhan Zheng, Zhixue Lu, Prasun Sinha, and Santosh Kumar; IEEE INFOCOM, San Diego, Mar. 2010.

[C17] “Trap Coverage: Allowing Coverage Holes of Bounded Diameter in Wireless Sensor Networks”, Paul N. Balister, Zizhan Zheng, Santosh Kumar, and Prasun Sinha; IEEE INFOCOM, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Apr. 2009.

[C18] “Alpha Coverage: Bounding the Interconnection Gap for Vehicular Internet Access”, Zizhan Zheng, Prasun Sinha, and Santosh Kumar; IEEE INFOCOM Mini-Conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Apr. 2009.

[C19] “Steady and Fair Rate Allocation for Rechargeable Sensors in Perpetual Sensor Networks”, Kai-Wei Fan, Zizhan Zheng, and Prasun Sinha; ACM SENSYS, Raleigh, NC, Nov. 2008.

[C20] “Distributed Roadmap Aided Routing in Sensor Networks”, Zizhan Zheng, Kai-Wei Fan, Prasun Sinha, and Yusu Wang; IEEE MASS, short paper, Atlanta, GA, Sep. 2008.

[C21] “XBC: XOR-based Buffer Coding for Reliable Transmissions over Wireless Networks”, Zizhan Zheng and Prasun Sinha; IEEE BROADNETS, Raleigh, NC, Sep. 2007.