Biography
I am a Visiting Researcher in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology. I earned my Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Illinois Tech in 2024 under the supervision of Prof. Yu Cheng.
I will join the School of Computer Science & Engineering at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) as a tenure-track assistant professor, starting from August, 2025.
My research focuses on information freshness (Age of Information), wireless network optimization, generative AI, machine learning, network security, and blockchain.
Education
-
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2024
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Dissertation: Machine Learning-Assisted Age of Information Optimization in Practical CSMA-Based Wireless Networks
Advisor: Prof. Yu Cheng -
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2017
GPA: 4.0/4.0 - B.S. in Telecommunications Engineering, Xidian University, 2015
Research Interests
- Age of Information (AoI) in CSMA networks
- Wireless network optimization
- Generative AI
- Network Security
- Blockchain
Updates
- May 2025: I will join California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science & Engineering.
- May 2025: Serving as a TPC member for IEEE MASS 2025.
- April 2025: Serving as a TPC member for ICCCN 2025.
- January 2025: Serving as a Publicity Co-chair for IEEE MASS 2025.
- December 2024: Paper accepted to IEEE INFOCOM 2025: "Deep Learning-augmented SHS Model for Accurate AoI Analysis in Heterogeneous Unsaturated CSMA Networks."
- November 2024: Serving as a TPC member for IEEE ICC 2025 (CRAIN Symposium).
- September 2024: Gave a seminar talk at Illinois Institute of Technology on “Optimizing the Age of Information in CSMA Networks.”
- August 2024: Served as a Limited-Term Lecturer in the Computer Science Department at Purdue University Northwest.
- May 2024: Received Student Travel Grant to attend IEEE INFOCOM 2024 in Vancouver.
- April 2024: Won Best Presentation Award at ECE DAY, Illinois Tech.
- December 2023: Paper accepted to IEEE INFOCOM 2024: "An Analytical Approach for Minimizing the Age of Information in a Practical CSMA Network."
- September 2023: Received Bronze Medal Award at IEEE ComSoc Excellence Camp.
- September 2023: Awarded Travel Grant for ARA Public Launch, Iowa State University.
Publications
- S. Wang, Y. Cheng, “Deep Learning-augmented SHS Model for Accurate AoI Analysis in Heterogeneous Unsaturated CSMA Networks,” IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM), London, UK, May 2025. (acceptance rate: 272/1458 = 18.65%) [Link]
- S. Wang, O. Ajayi, Y. Cheng, “An Analytical Approach for Minimizing the Age of Information in a Practical CSMA Network,” IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM), Vancouver, Canada, May 2024. (acceptance rate: 256/1307 = 19.58%) [Link]
- O. Ajayi, S. Wang, Y. Cheng, “Topology-Aware Self-Supervised Learning for Expediting Wireless Network Optimization: Exploring and Exploiting the Scheduling Structure,” to be submitted to IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing.
- A. Alibotaiken, S. Wang, O. Ajayi, Y. Cheng, “Optimizing Age of Information in Wireless Networks: A Survey of Reinforcement Learning Approaches,” to be submitted to IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials.
- S. Wang, Y. Cheng, “A Machine Learning-assisted Age of Information Minimization Framework in CSMA Networks,” to be submitted to IEEE Internet of Things Journal.
- O. Ajayi, S. Wang, Y. Cheng, “COLA: Combinatorial Optimization Learning Approach for Energy-Efficient Backhauling in UAV-Assisted B5G/6G Wireless Networks,” submitted to IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology.
- S. Wang, Y. Cheng, L. X. Cai, X. Cao, “Minimizing the Age of Information for Monitoring over a WiFi Network,” IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dec. 2022. [Link]
- S. Wang, Y. Cheng, “A Deep Learning Assisted Approach for Minimizing the Age of Information in a WiFi Network,” The 19th IEEE International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Smart Systems (MASS), Denver, CO, Oct. 2022. (invited paper) [Link]
- S. Wang, B. Yin, S. Zhang, Y. Cheng, “An Analytical Study of Selfish Mining Attacks on Chainweb Blockchain,” The 19th Annual International Conference on Privacy, Security & Trust (PST), Fredericton, Canada, Aug. 2022. [Link]
- S. Wang, B. Yin, S. Zhang, Y. Cheng, L. X. Cai, X. Cao, “A Selfish Attack on Chainweb Blockchain,” IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), Taipei, China, Dec. 2020. [Link]
- S. Zhang, B. Yin, S. Wang, Y. Cheng, “Robust Deep Learning for Wireless Network Optimization,” IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), Dublin, Ireland, Jun. 2020. [Link]
Teaching
Instructor:
- CS 59000-004 Advanced Computer Communication Networks, Purdue University Northwest, Fall 2024
Teaching Assistant:
- ECE 213 – Circuit Analysis II (Laboratory), Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2021
- ECE 543 – Computer Network Security, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Spring 2021
- ECE 545 – Modern Internet Technologies, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
- ECE 211 – Circuit Analysis I, Spring 2022
- ECE 505 – Applied Optimization for Engineers, Fall 2021
- ECE 541 – Communications Networks Performance Analysis, Fall 2021
Guest Lecturer:
- ECE 543 – Computer Network Security, “Hashes and Message Digests” (Spring 2025)
- ECE 541 – Communications Networks Performance Analysis, “Open Introduction” (Fall 2024)
- ECE 543 – Computer Network Security, “Impact of Quantum Computing on Network Security” (Spring 2024)
- ECE 543 – Computer Network Security, “Blockchain Technologies and Bitcoin” (Spring 2021)
Services
Professional Service:
- TPC Member, IEEE MASS 2025
- Publicity Co-chair, IEEE MASS 2025
- TPC Member, IEEE ICC 2025 (CRAIN Symposium)
- TPC Member, ICCCN 2025
Reviewer:
Reviewed 80+ manuscripts for journals and conferences:
- Journals: IEEE TCOM, IoT Journal, TVT, TDSC, Intelligent Systems, WCM, IEEE Network
- Conferences: IEEE INFOCOM, GLOBECOM, ICC, WCNC, TrustCom, ICCCN
Speaker:
- ECE Seminar, Illinois Tech, Sep 2024: “Optimizing the Age of Information in CSMA Networks”
Judge:
- Armour R&D Expo, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2024