Illinois Tech Computer Science Researcher Honored by IEEE Chicago Section
Assistant Professor Binghui Wang given the 2025 Distinguished Junior R&D Award for his impactful research in AI security and trustworthy machine learning
CHICAGO—Illinois Tech Assistant Professor of Computer Science Binghui Wang has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Junior R&D Award by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Chicago Section for his work in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
“This recognition reflects not only my work, but also the support of my students, collaborators, and colleagues at Illinois Tech and beyond,” Wang says. “It was both a meaningful acknowledgment of past efforts and a strong motivation to continue pursuing impactful research. I felt deeply honored and grateful.”
The IEEE Chicago Section feted its 2025 award winners at its annual awards dinner on March 24, 2026. The Junior R&D Award recognizes an IEEE member with fewer than 10 years of experience who has made significant progress in research and development.
The awards committee cited Wang’s impactful research in AI security and trustworthy machine learning as setting his work apart from his peers. Wang’s published catalogue of 114 papers and his CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation also caught the committee’s attention.
“My current research is focused on developing provably secure and trustworthy AI systems, especially in the context of large-scale models and real-world deployment,” Wang says. “This includes understanding and mitigating emerging risks such as backdoor attacks, data leakage, and unreliable model behavior, as well as designing new frameworks for privacy-preserving and robust learning. More broadly, I am interested in bridging rigorous theoretical guarantees with practical, deployable systems that can be trusted in critical applications.”
The IEEE Chicago Section honored 10 researchers and educators for their work in areas including quantum computing and cybersecurity, as well as volunteer leadership and community partnerships that advance STEM education.
The IEEE Chicago Section Awards Committee said that the winners represent the very best of what the local engineering community has to offer.
“This award is especially meaningful to me, as it is presented annually to a single recipient,” Wang says. “I was both surprised and deeply honored to receive it. It serves as a strong motivation to continue advancing my research and mentoring students.”
Photo: Assistant Professor of Computer Science Binghui Wang
Illinois Institute of Technology
Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, and law. Illinois Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university's one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.
College of Computing
Illinois Tech created the College of Computing in 2020 as part of an effort to drive Chicago’s thriving tech ecosystem by educating a future diverse workforce that is rigorously trained in data and computation. Illinois Tech is home to the Midwest's only Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree, and the numerous cybersecurity and intelligence pathways at Illinois Tech explore not only the deep foundations of fast-growing fields of computer science, but also emphasize societal ethics in developing this technology. The United States Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency have designated Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The university’s Center for Cyber Security and Forensics Education (C2SAFE) is at the core of Illinois Tech’s designation. Additionally, the center is a member of the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Academic Alliance and North American Defense and Security Academic Alliance (NADSAA).
Media contacts
Kevin Dollear
Communications Manager
Illinois Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.860.5712
kdollear@illinoistech.edu
