Foundations of Blockchain

Ahmed Imteaj is currently a PhD Candidate and Graduate Assistant at the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences, Florida International University, under the supervision of Professor M. Hadi Amini. He is also a research lab member of Sustainability, Optimization, and Learning for InterDependent networks laboratory (solid lab) at Florida International University. His research interests span federated learning, machine learning, internet of things (IoT), smart systems, and Blockchain. He holds a B.Sc. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Bangladesh in 2015. From 2015 to 2018, he worked as a Lecturer at International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC), Chittagong, Bangladesh. Ahmed’s work on federated learning for IoT environments is the recipient of the best paper award from "2019 IEEE Conference on Computational Science & Computational Intelligence" and won the second place at 2021 Florida International University Graduate Student Appreciation Week. He has published more than 30 referred journals and conference papers.

M. Hadi Amini is an Assistant Professor at School of Computing and Information Sciences at Florida International University. He is the director of Sustainability, Optimization, and Learning for InterDependent networks laboratory (www.solidlab.network). He received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2019, where he received his M.Sc. degree in 2015. He also holds a doctoral degree in Computer Science and Technology. Prior to that, he received M.Sc. degree from Tarbiat Modares University in 2013, and the B.Sc. degree from Sharif University of Technology in 2011. His research interests include distributed optimization and learning algorithms, distributed computing and intelligence, sensor networks, interdependent networks, and cyber-physical-social resilience. Application domains include smart cities, energy systems, transportation electrification, and healthcare. Prof. Amini is a member of ACM and IEEE, and life member of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN), the honor society of IEEE. He served as President of Carnegie Mellon University Energy Science and Innovation Club; as technical program committee of several IEEE and ACM conferences; and as the lead editor for a book series on ‘‘Sustainable Interdependent Networks’’ since 2017. He also serves as Associate Editor of SN Operations Research Forum and International Transactions on Electrical Energy Systems.  He has published more than 100 refereed journal and conference papers, and book chapters. He edited/authored six books. He is the recipient of Excellence in Teaching Award from the School of Computing and information Sciences at Florida International University in 2020, the best paper award from 2019 IEEE Conference on Computational Science & Computational Intelligence", best reviewer award from four IEEE Transactions, the best journal paper award in “Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy", and the dean's honorary award from the President of Sharif University of Technology. (Homepage: www.hadiamini.com Lab website: www.solidlab.network)

Panos M. Pardalos serves as Distinguished Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida. Additionally, he is the Paul and Heidi Brown Preeminent Professor in Industrial & Systems Engineering. He is also an a_liated faculty member of the Computer and Information Science Department, the Hellenic Studies Center, and the Biomedical Engineering Program. He is also the Director of the Center for Applied Optimization. Dr. Pardalos is a world leading expert in global and combinatorial optimization. His recent research interests include network design problems, optimization in telecommunications, e-commerce, data mining, biomedical applications, and massive computing. He has co-authored and co-edited more than 30 books, as well as publishing more than 600 journal articles and conference proceedings. Prof. Pardalos is a Fellow of AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and EUROPT. He is a Distinguished International Professor by the Chinese Minister of Education; Honorary Professor of Anhui University of Sciences and Technology, China; Elizabeth Wood Dunlevie Honors Term Professor; Honorary Doctor, V.M. Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics of The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Foreign Associate Member of Reial Academia de Doctors, Spain; and Advisory board member of the Centre for Optimisation and Its Applications, Cardi_ University, UK. He is also the recipient of UF 2009 International Educator Award; Medal (in recognition of broad contributions in science and engineering) of the University of Catani, Italy; EURO Gold Medal (EGM); Honorary Doctor of Science Degree, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada; Senior Fulbright Specialist Award; University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship; and IBM Achievement Award.