2010-2014年，南京邮电大学 (NJUPT)，通信与信息工程学院，通信工程专业，本科（导师：周亮 [长江，FIEEE]）；
2014-2019年，香港大学 (HKU)，工程学院机械工程系，控制工程专业硕博连读（导师：Prof. James Lam [欧洲科学院院士，长江，FIEEE]、 Dr. Michael Z. Q. Chen [青千]）。
2010-2014 BEng in Communication Engineering, School of Communications and Information Engineering, Nanjing Univ. of Posts & Telecomm.
2014-2019 PhD in Control Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Univ. of Hong Kong (HKU)
Information Sciences Letters、Complex Engineering Systems编委，多个国内外著名学术期刊和会议审稿人，入选科技部和江苏省专家库，中组部第九批援藏干部-西藏民族大学网安学科学术带头人，IEEE Member，ACM Member，SIAM Member，中国人工智能学会人工智能与安全专委会委员，中国指挥与控制学会网络科学与工程专委会委员，中国计算机学会网络弹性专委会委员，中国工业与应用数学学会数学生命科学专委会委员，中国电子学会网络空间安全专委会委员，江苏省网络空间安全学会会员，江苏省自动化学会青工委委员。
Serving as Editorial Board Member for Information Sciences Letters and Complex Engineering Systems, and holding memberships in IEEE, ACM, SIAM, and multiple technical committees of academic societies including artificial intelligence, command and control, computer science, industrial mathematics, and cybersecurity.
群体智能决策与强化学习, 网络弹性优化与控制，无人系统安全，大数据因果推断与系统辨识，数学生命科学及密码学。
Research Interests: Swarm Intelligence and Reinforcement Learning, Network Resilient Control and Optimization, Security of Cyber-Physical Systems, Causal Inference and System Identification, Mathematical Life Sciences and Cryptography.
现任东南大学网络空间安全学院智能安全系副研究员、博导，区块链应用与监管教育部工程研究中心委员，江苏省应用数学科学研究中心课题共同负责人，江苏省网络群体智能重点实验室（暨华为-东南大学网络群体智能联合创新实验室）成员，智能计算与安全研究所成员，在IEEE Transactions系列, Neural Networks等国际权威期刊发表论文30余篇，先后5篇论文入选ESI高被引论文。
Currently working as an Associate Professor at the Intelligent Computing and Security Group of the School of Cyber Science and Engineering, Southeast University (SEU), Nanjing, China. Research has yielded over 30 research papers in various esteemed journals.
主持2项国家自然科学基金项目（面上项目、青年基金项目）、1项国家重点研发计划项目子课题、1项江苏省自然科学基金项目（青年基金）、1项南京市留学回国人员择优资助课题等，代表性课题和项目包括：
(1) 国家自然科学基金面上项目 （62573122）, 时空约束下复值耦合群智系统的协同弹性感控与博弈对抗决策, 主持；
(2) 国家自然科学基金青年科学基金项目 （62103103）, 基于强化学习的多智能体网络安全的博弈策略和弹性一致性研究, 主持；
(3) 科技部国家重点研发计划 （2020YFA0714304）, 服役性能指标海量数据高效处理与衰变临界状态判定, 子课题主持；
(4) 江苏省自然科学基金青年科学基金项目 （BK20210223）, 基于强化学习的多智能体博弈和弹性一致性, 主持；
(5) 工业控制技术全国重点实验室开放基金项目 （ICT2025B37）, 基于超图和Stackelberg博弈的分布式储能系统安全控制与优化, 主持；
(6) 大规模复杂系统数值模拟教育部重点实验室开放基金A类项目（NSLSCS202502）, 多层网络中混合威胁下分数阶系统的动态分析与控制研究, 主持；
(7) 能源化工过程智能制造教育部重点实验室开放基金（2026SMECP02）, 多能源化工连续生产过程多智能体协同控制与全局优化, 主持；
(8) 南京市留学人员科技创新项目择优资助 （2021批次）, 多智能体博弈与弹性一致性, 主持。
Serving as Principal Investigator for multiple research grants, including projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (General and Youth Programs), the Ministry of Science and Technology's National Key R&D Program, Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and Nanjing's Talent Support Program.
国际Obada杰出青年学者奖（Obada-Prize 2023- Young Distinguished Researchers）；
江苏省“双创博士”；
东南大学“至善学者”A类；
IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics 杰出审稿人；
香港大学博士生奖学金（2014-2019）；
江苏省普通高等学校优秀本科毕业论文一等奖。
Awarded with multiple international and national academic honors for research excellence, including awards from the Obada Foundation, Jiangsu Province, SEU, HKU and IEEE societies.
编译方法（双语，专业主干课，华为通用软件开发基座课程，国产化教学创新实践课程）（本科，大三秋季学期）；
人工智能安全（研究生，秋季学期（南京））。
Methodology of Compiling (Bilingual, Core Major Course) (Undergraduate Level, Fall Semester of Junior)
AI Security (Graduate Level, Fall Semester（Nanjing Jiulonghu Campus）)
Journal
[J1] S. Dharani, T. Narenshakthi, and Y. Cao*, “Event-triggered non-fragile H∞ control for uncertain networked control systems with time-varying delay,” Asian J. Control, 2026. DOI:10.1002/asjc.70151
[J2] S. Luo, Y. Cao*, and J. Zhang, “Dynamic trust-based fault isolation for multi-agent descriptor systems using interval observers,” Nonlinear Anal. Hybrid Syst., vol. 61, Art. no. 101720, 2026.
[J3] Y. Cao*, A. R. Subhashri, A. Chandrasekar, and T. Radhika, “Nonfragile state estimation for memristor based competitive neural networks subject to sensor saturation and stochastic cyber attacks,” Sci. China Technol. Sci., vol. 69, no. 4, Art. no. 1420401, 2026.
[J4] P. Guo, T. Wu, Y. Cao*, and X. Gong, “Parameter-adaptive estimation-based H∞ consensus control for multi-agent systems under DoS attacks,” J. Franklin Inst., vol. 363, no. 7, Art. no. 108568, 2026.
[J5] Z. Wang, Z. Cai, Z. Guo, Y. Cao, and X. Tan, “A preassigned-time distributed optimization protocol for resource allocation via a novel convergence theorem,” IEEE Trans. Comput. Social Syst., vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 2615–2625, 2026.
[J6] Z. Wang, Y. Dou, Y. Cao, M. Xiao, G. P. Jiang, and G. Chen, “Consensus of multiagent systems with input delay and communication restriction: A delay-dependent quantization control approach,” IEEE Syst. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 52–62, 2026.
[J7] X. Jiang, Y. Wei, X. Ni, H. Zhang, and Y. Cao, “Nabla fractional distributed aggregative optimization algorithm,” J. Franklin Inst., vol. 363, no. 6, Art. no. 108522, 2026.
[J8] Y. Cao*, J. Jacob, S. Dharani, and M. Sivakumar, “Improved stability analysis for quaternion-valued neural networks with proportional and mixed time-varying delays,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 242, pp. 270–278, 2026.
[J9] M. Tamil Thendral, T. R. Ganesh Babu, A. Chandrasekar, and Y. Cao*, “Synchronization of Markovian jump neural networks for sampled data control systems with additive delay components: Analysis of image encryption technique,” Math. Methods Appl. Sci., vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 1879–1895, 2026.
[J10] T. M. C. Priyanka, A. Gowrisankar, T. Sathiyaraj, and Y. Cao, “Multifractal analysis on fractal-fractional repellors,” J. Environ. Account. Manag., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 25–33, 2026.
[J11] F. Shen, W. Qi, Y. Cao, J. Cheng, and K. Shi, “SMC for discrete singular semi-Markov switching systems with bilateral dwell time,” Int. J. Robust Nonlinear Control, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 3621–3631, 2026.
[J12] Y. Cao*, A. Chandrasekar, T. Radhika, K. Przybyszewski, and K. Cpalka, “Input-to-state stable sampled-data synchronisation of Markovian jump Lur’e networks under actuator saturation,” J. Artif. Intell. Soft Comput. Res., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 73–90, 2026.
[J13] X. Gong, Y. Cao, X. Li, H. Lin, Z. Shu, and G. Wen, “Resilient output containment of heterogeneous multi-agent systems against Byzantine attacks,” IEEE Trans. Signal Inf. Process. Netw., vol. 11, pp. 938–951, 2025.
[J14] Y. Liu, Z. Gao, Y. Cao*, and D. Zhou*, “Two-stage unidirectional fusion network for RGBT tracking,” Knowl.-Based Syst., vol. 310, Art. no. 112983, 2025.
[J15] Y. Cao*, S. Dharani, M. Sivakumar, A. Cader, and R. Nowicki, “Mittag-Leffler synchronization of generalized fractional-order reaction-diffusion networks via impulsive control,” J. Artif. Intell. Soft Comput. Res., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 25–36, 2025.
[J16] Y. Cao*, P. Guo, and L. Guerrini, “Dynamical behaviour of a two prey and one predator system with indirect effect and time delay,” Alexandria Eng. J., vol. 124, pp. 257–264, 2025.
[J17] Y. Cao*, V. K. Khan, M. Sarfaraz, A. Arbi, and M. K. Ahmad, “Second-order dynamical system to solve the sum of monotone operators via the KM algorithm,” Alexandria Eng. J., vol. 123, pp. 341–345, 2025.
[J18] Y. Cao*, A. Chandrasekar, T. Radhika, and V. Vijayakumar, “Input-to-state stability of stochastic Markovian jump genetic regulatory networks,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 222, pp. 174–187, 2024.
[J19] Y. Cao*, P. Guo, and L. Guerrini, “Hopf bifurcation of the ring unidirectionally coupled Toda oscillators with distributed delay,” Int. J. Bifurcation Chaos, vol. 34, no. 12, Art. no. 2450148, 2024.
[J20] Y. Cao*, A. R. Subhashri, A. Chandrasekar, T. Radhika, and K. Przybyszewski, “Exponential state estimation for delayed competitive neural network via stochastic sampled-data control with Markov jump parameters under actuator failure,” J. Artif. Intell. Soft Comput. Res., vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 373–385, 2024.
[J21] Z. Chen and Y. Cao*, “A polishing model for machine-generated ancient Chinese poetry,” Neural Process. Lett., vol. 56, no. 2, Art. no. 77, 2024.
[J22] A. Kumar, S. Singh, S. Das, and Y. Cao*, “Projective quasi-synchronization of complex-valued recurrent neural networks with proportional delay and mismatched parameters via matrix measure approach,” Eng. Appl. Artif. Intell., vol. 126, Art. no. 106800, 2023.
[J23] S. Ramajayam, S. Rajavel, R. Samidurai, and Y. Cao*, “Finite-time synchronization for T–S fuzzy complex-valued inertial delayed neural networks via decomposition approach,” Neural Process. Lett., vol. 55, pp. 5885–5903, 2023.
[J24] Y. Cao*, K. Maheswari, and S. Dharani, “Improved summation inequality based state estimation for stochastic semi-Markovian jumping discrete-time neural networks with mixed delays and quantization,” Neural Process. Lett., vol. 55, pp. 1919–1935, 2023.
[J25] S. A. Samy, R. Ramachandran, P. Anbalagan, and Y. Cao*, “Synchronization of nonlinear multi-agent systems using a non-fragile sampled data control approach and its application to circuit systems,” Front. Inf. Technol. Electron. Eng., vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 553–566, 2023.
[J26] Y. Cao*, K. Udhayakumar, K. P. Veerakumari, and R. Rakkiyappan, “Memory sampled data control for switched-type neural networks and its application in image secure communications,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 201, pp. 564–587, 2022.
[J27] R. Saravanakumar, A. Amini, R. Datta, and Y. Cao*, “Reliable memory sampled-data consensus of multi-agent systems with nonlinear actuator faults,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II, Exp. Briefs, vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 2201–2205, 2022.
[J28] S. A. Samy, Y. Cao*, R. Ramachandran, J. Alzabut, and M. Niezabitowski, “Globally asymptotic stability and synchronization analysis of uncertain multi-agent systems with multiple time-varying delays and impulses,” Int. J. Robust Nonlinear Control, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 737–773, 2022.
[J29] Y. Cao*, R. Colucci, and L. Guerrini, “On the stability analysis of a delayed two-stage Cournot model with R&D spillovers,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 201, pp. 543–554, 2022.
[J30] R. Manivannan, Y. Cao*, and K. T. Chong, “Active vibration on offshore steel jacket platforms including delayed probabilistic actuator failures and resilient reliable sampled-data control,” IET Control Theory Appl., vol. 16, no. 15, pp. 1531–1547, 2022.
[J31] Y. Cao*, K. Maheswari, S. Dharani, and K. Sivaranjani, “New event based state estimation for discrete-time recurrent delayed semi-Markov jump neural networks via a novel summation inequality,” J. Artif. Intell. Soft Comput. Res., vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 207–221, 2022.
[J32] R. Manivannan, Y. Cao*, and K. T. Chong, “Unified dissipativity state estimation for delayed generalized impulsive neural networks with leakage delay effects,” Knowl.-Based Syst., vol. 254, Art. no. 109630, 2022.
[J33] R. Saravanakumar, A. Kazemy, and Y. Cao, “Robust reliable H∞ control for offshore steel jacket platforms via memory sampled-data strategy,” Math. Methods Appl. Sci., vol. 48, no. 7, pp. 6987–6999, 2022.
[J34] R. Saravanakumar, R. Datta, and Y. Cao*, “New insights on fuzzy sampled-data stabilization of delayed nonlinear systems,” Chaos Solitons Fractals, vol. 154, Art. no. 111654, 2022.
[J35] Y. Cao*, S. Ramajayam, R. Sriraman, and R. Samidurai, “Leakage delay on stabilization of finite-time complex-valued BAM neural network: Decomposition approach,” Neurocomputing, vol. 463, pp. 505–513, 2021.
[J36] X. Jin, Z. Wang, X. Chen, Y. Cao, and G. P. Jiang, “Stochastic synchronization of multiplex networks with continuous and impulsive couplings,” IEEE Trans. Netw. Sci. Eng., vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 2533–2544, 2021.
[J37] J. Dianavinnarasi, Y. Cao*, R. Raja, G. Rajchakit, and C. P. Lim, “Delay-dependent stability criteria of delayed positive systems with uncertain control inputs: Application in mosquito-borne morbidities control,” Appl. Math. Comput., vol. 382, Art. no. 125210, 2020.
[J38] Y. Cao*, R. Sriraman, N. Shyamsundarraj, and R. Samidurai, “Robust stability of uncertain stochastic complex-valued neural networks with additive time-varying delays,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 171, pp. 207–220, 2020.
[J39] Y. Cao*, R. Sriraman, and R. Samidurai, “Stability and stabilization analysis of nonlinear time-delay systems with randomly occurring controller gain fluctuation,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 171, pp. 36–51, 2020.
[J40] R. Sriraman, Y. Cao*, and R. Samidurai, “Global asymptotic stability of stochastic complex-valued neural networks with probabilistic time-varying delays,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 171, pp. 103–118, 2020.
[J41] C. Aouiti, M. B. Rezeg, and Y. Cao*, “New results on impulsive type inertial bidirectional associative memory neural networks,” Front. Inf. Technol. Electron. Eng., vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 324–339, 2020.
[J42] R. Kumar, S. Das, and Y. Cao*, “Effects of infinite occurrence of hybrid impulses with quasi-synchronization of parameter mismatched neural networks,” Neural Netw., vol. 122, pp. 106–116, 2020.
[J43] Y. Cao*, “Bifurcations in an Internet congestion control system with distributed delay,” Appl. Math. Comput., vol. 347, pp. 54–63, 2019.
[J44] Y. Cao*, R. Samidurai, and R. Sriraman, “Robust passivity analysis for uncertain neural networks with leakage delay and additive time-varying delays by using general activation function,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 155, pp. 57–77, 2019.
[J45] Y. Shi, X. Wang, X. Zeng, and Y. Cao, “Function matrix projective synchronization of non-dissipatively coupled heterogeneous systems with different-dimensional nodes,” Adv. Differ. Equ., 2019, Art. no. 198.
[J46] Y. Cao*, R. Samidurai, and R. Sriraman, “Stability and dissipativity analysis for neutral type stochastic Markovian jump static neural networks with time delays,” J. Artif. Intell. Soft Comput. Res., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 189–204, 2019.
[J47] C. Pradeep, Y. Cao, R. Murugesu, and R. Rakkiyappan, “An event-triggered synchronization of semi-Markov jump neural networks with time-varying delays based on generalized free-weighting-matrix approach,” Math. Comput. Simul., vol. 155, pp. 41–56, 2019.
[J48] H. Huang, T. Huang, and Y. Cao, “Reduced-order filtering of delayed static neural networks with Markovian jumping parameters,” IEEE Trans. Neural Netw. Learn. Syst., vol. 29, no. 11, pp. 5606–5618, 2018.
[J49] H. Su, Y. Ye, Y. Qiu, Y. Cao, and M. Z. Q. Chen, “Semi-global output consensus for discrete-time switching networked systems subject to input saturation and external disturbances,” IEEE Trans. Cybern., vol. 49, no. 11, pp. 3934–3945, 2018.
[J50] R. Manivannan and Y. Cao*, “Design of generalized dissipativity state estimator for static neural networks including state time delays and leakage delays,” J. Franklin Inst., vol. 355, no. 9, pp. 3990–4014, 2018.
[J51] Y. Cao*, L. Zhang, C. Li, and M. Z. Q. Chen, “Observer-based consensus tracking of nonlinear agents in hybrid varying directed topology,” IEEE Trans. Cybern., vol. 47, no. 8, pp. 2212–2222, 2017.
Conference
[C1] X. Ai and Y. Cao*, “SATA: A Distributed Stealthy and Persistent Backdoor Attack via Trigger Association in Federated Learning,” 2025 IEEE 24th International Conference on Trust, Security and Privacy in Computing and Communications (TrustCom), pp. 2598-2605, 2025.
[C2] X. Lu and Y. Cao*, “Adaptive Neuron Honeypot: Trapping Malicious Backdoors in Federated Learning,” 2025 IEEE 24th International Conference on Trust, Security and Privacy in Computing and Communications (TrustCom), pp. 1733-1741, 2025.
[C3] X. Lu and Y. Cao*, “FABA: Breaking Defenses in Production-Grade Federated Learning for Mobile Malware Detection Services,” 2025 IEEE 24th International Conference on Trust, Security and Privacy in Computing and Communications (TrustCom), pp. 1307-1316, 2025.
[C4] H. Cheng and Y. Cao*, “Control strategy of complex pattern formations of malware nodes in Cyber-Physical Systems,” 2025 IEEE International Conference on Real-time Computing and Robotics (RCAR), pp. 162-167, 2025.
[C5] P. Guo, Y. Cao*, and Y. Wei, “Output Reachable Set Synthesis of Multi-Agent Systems Under Multiple Cyber-Attacks,” 2025 37th Chinese Control and Decision Conference (CCDC), pp. 3298-3303, 2025.
[C6] H. Cheng and Y. Cao*, “Fractional-Order Diffusion of Complex Turing Pattern Formations of Malware Nodes in Cyber-Physical Systems,” 2025 37th Chinese Control and Decision Conference (CCDC), pp. 230-235, 2025.
[C7] P. Guo, Y. Cao*, and X. Liu, “The Stabilization of Cohen-Grossberg BAM Neural Network System,” 2024 IEEE 18th International Conference on Control & Automation (ICCA), pp. 968-974, 2024.
[C8] X. Gong, Y. Cao, and H. Lin, “Resilient leader-following consensus of multi-agent systems against Byzantine attacks with a non-autonomous leader,” China Conference on Command and Control, pp. 26-36, 2024.
每年招收 2-3 名博士研究生（电子信息（专业）、网络空间安全（学术）（1.网络弹性控制与优化；2.群体博弈与强化学习），优秀博士生可申请香港城市大学联合培养）， 3-6 名硕士研究生（南京无锡学硕专硕均有名额，拥有保研资格同学欢迎提前联系），同时欢迎对于科研创新有热情的本科生（专业不限）提前加入课题组。课题组倡导教学相长、亦师亦友、互助互信、注重一对一的科研指导和沟通交流，课题组支持学生参与国内外知名学术会议和院所的交流访问。欢迎对人工智能安全、网络空间安全、强化学习、通信网络与智能感知、群体智能、网络化决策与控制、信息论与密码学、生物数学等方向充满热情、学习态度端正、理论基础扎实、具备相关专业背景的同学与我联系，联系时请将个人简历+主要研究成果（论文、专利、软著、奖励、学科竞赛、项目经历）等能体现个人科研能力和学术水平材料发到邮箱。（邮件标题请注明：硕士/博士+姓名+单位）
办公地点：江苏省南京市江宁区秣周东路9号紫金山实验室（中国·江宁无线谷） A6 212。
PhD & MSc Opportunity:
Seeking self-motivated PhD, MSc (both SEU Nanjing Jiulonghu & Wuxi Campus), and undergraduate students passionate about Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity, and Network Control Systems—please email CV if interested.
Contact Information:
