Yu Cai

Biography

Dr. Yu Cai is a Professor and Associate Dean of the College of Computing. He also serves as Associate Director of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) and Director of the Computing Education Center.

Dr. Cai’s research interests include cybersecurity, machine learning, and computing education. He has served as lead principal investigator on externally funded projects totaling more than $8 million, with his overall research funding exceeding $10 million. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Security Agency (NSA),  State of Michigan, national labs, and other organizations.

His research focuses on developing practical cybersecurity and AI solutions, advancing computing education, and strengthening the cybersecurity/AI workforce. He has led initiatives that integrate research, education, and workforce development to address real-world challenges and broaden participation in computing.

Dr. Cai received Michigan Tech's Provost's Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence in 2024. He serves as a Commissioner for the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET and holds the GIAC/SANS Machine Learning Engineer certification. He has also served as a consultant for industry partners, including IBM and Ford.

Dr. Cai is actively involved in student development and outreach, serving as faculty advisor to Michigan Tech's RedTeam, CyberHusky, and Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA).