Lalitha Sankar
Professor,
School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering
Other ASU affiliations
Center for Cybersecurity and Trusted Foundations Affiliates
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Phone: 480-965-4953
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650 E TYLER MALL, GWC 436 TEMPE, AZ 85281
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Mail code: 5706Campus: Tempe
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Long Bio
Lalitha Sankar is a Professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University. She joined ASU as an assistant professor in fall of 2012, and was an associate professor from 2018-2023. She received a bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, a master's degree from the University of Maryland, and a doctorate from Rutgers University in 2007. Following her doctorate, Sankar was a recipient of a three-year Science and Technology Teaching Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Council on Science and Technology at Princeton University, following which she was an associate research scholar at Princeton. Prior to her doctoral studies, she was a senior member of technical staff at AT&T Shannon Laboratories.
Sankar's research interests are at the intersection of information and data sciences including a background in signal processing, learning theory, and control theory with applications to the design of machine learning algorithms with algorithmic fairness, privacy, and robustness guarantees. Her research also applies such methods to complex networks including the electric power grid and healthcare systems.
For her doctoral work, she received the 2007-2008 Electrical Engineering Academic Achievement Award from Rutgers University. She received the IEEE Globecom 2011 Best Paper Award for her work on privacy of side-information in multi-user data systems. She was awarded the National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2014 for her project on privacy-guaranteed distributed interactions in critical infrastructure networks such as the Smart Grid. She has led an NSF Institute on Data-intensive Research in Science and Engineering (I-DIRSE), is a recipient of an NSF SCALE MoDL (Mathematics of Deep Learning) grant, and a Google AI for Social Good grant. Sankar was a distinguished lecturer for the IEEE Information Theory Society from 2020-2022. She serves as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, IEEE Information Theory Transactions, and was an AE for the IEEE BITS Magazine until August 2024.
Education
- Ph.D Rutgers University 2007
- M.S. University of Maryland
- B.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Research Website URL
ORCID Profile ID
Research Interests
- Robust, fair, and private machine learning --- theory and algorithms
- Grid cyber-security in the smart grid including evaluating robustness of data-driven algorithms and design of defense mechanisms.
- Game-theoretic methods for incentivizing data sharing in distributed systems.
- Non-asymptotic (finite blocklength) universal compression for storage and private data publishing.
Research Group
Research Activity
Current active grants: 6 NSF grants including several from the CISE/CIF directorate, an NSF Directorate of Mathematical Sciences (DMS)+Simons Foundations grant on Deep Learning, and a Google AI for Social Good grant.
- O. Kosut (PI, ASU ECEE), L. Sankar (co-PI), and F. Calmon (co-PI, Harvard), “Collaborative Research: CIF: Medium: Fundamental Limits of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies,” National Science Foundation CIF-2312666, $764, 000, Oct. 2023 - Sep. 2027.
- L. Sankar (PI), O. Kosut (co-PI, ASU ECEE), and R. Anguluri (SP, ASU ECEE), “Exploiting Physical and Dynamical Structures for Real-time Inference in Electric Power Systems,” National Science Foundation EPCN-2246658, $360, 000, Jul. 2023 - Jun. 2026.
- S. Koyejo (PI, Stanford), L. Sankar (co-PI), and J. Sun (co-PI, UIUC), “Collaborative Research: SCH: Fair Federated Representation Learning for Breast Cancer Risk Scoring,” National Science Foundation SCH-2205080, $1, 100, 000, Oct. 2022 - Sep. 2025.
- L. Sankar (PI), A. Nedich (co-PI, ASU ECEE), G. Pedrielli (co-PI, ASU SCAI), and S. Lan (co-PI, ASU SoMMS), “Unifying Information and Optimization-theoretic Approaches for Modeling and Train- ing Generative Adversarial Networks,” National Science Foundation DMS-2134256, $1, 100, 000, Oct. 2021 - Sep. 2024.
- Y. Weng (PI), L. Lai, L. Sankar (member of the three faculty ASU team), “Comprehensive Cybersecu- rity Technology for Critical Power Infrastructure: AI-Based Centralized Defense and Edge Resilience,” Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD), (this is a consortium of three universities, two in the USA and one in Israel, and nearly 20 industry partners) $900,000, Nov. 2021.
- L. Sankar (PI), “Applying Federated Analytics to COVID-19 Contact Tracing, with an On-campus Pilot,” Google University Grant, $150, 000, Oct. 2020.
- L. Sankar (PI) and G. Dasarathy (co-PI, ASU), “Alpha Loss: A New Framework for Understanding and Trading Off Computation, Accuracy, and Robustness in Machine Learning,” National Science Foundation CIF-2007688, $499, 999, Oct. 2020 - Sep. 2023.
- L. Sankar (PI) and G. Dasarathy (co-PI, ASU), Research Experience in Undergraduate Education Supplement for: “Alpha Loss: A New Framework for Understanding and Trading Off Computation, Accuracy, and Robustness in Machine Learning,” National Science Foundation CIF- 2007688, $16, 000, Oct. 2021 - Sep. 2023.
Courses
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 598 | Special Topics |
2025 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| CEN 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 598 | Special Topics |
| DSE 792 | Research |
| DSE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| CEN 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| DSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 549 | Statistical ML: Theory to Prac |
| DSE 790 | Reading and Conference |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| CEN 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| CEN 599 | Thesis |
| CEN 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 584 | Internship |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| DSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 350 | Random Signal Analysis |
| CEN 580 | Practicum |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| CEN 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| DSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 549 | Statistical ML: Theory to Prac |
| DSE 790 | Reading and Conference |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| CEN 599 | Thesis |
| CEN 584 | Internship |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 350 | Random Signal Analysis |
| CEN 580 | Practicum |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 598 | Special Topics |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 598 | Special Topics |
| CEN 792 | Research |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CSE 599 | Thesis |
| CSE 792 | Research |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| CSE 580 | Practicum |
| CEN 792 | Research |
| EEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| EEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| EEE 498 | Pro-Seminar |
| EEE 591 | Seminar |
2020 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EEE 690 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| EEE 592 | Research |
| EEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 599 | Thesis |
| EEE 792 | Research |
| EEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
| EEE 799 | Dissertation |
| EEE 590 | Reading and Conference |