Invited Speaker

My T. Thai (University of Florida, USA)
E-mail: mythai [a-t] cise.ufl.edu

Title: Heterogenous Interdependent Networks: Critical Elements and Cascades Analysis

Abstract: Modern complex networked systems, such as power grids, communication networks, and transportation networks are interdependent in such a way that a failure of an element in one system may cause multiple failures of elements in other systems. This process can propagate back and forth between interdependent systems in a cascading fashion, resulting in a catastrophic widespread failure. Another notable example would be a complex system of social networks where users can have their accounts on many networks simultaneously. Since users can automatically synchronize their posts on all networks, the social contagion is not only propagated between several layers from friends to his colleagues but also cascading across many social networking sites. Therefore, it is urgently call for new models and analytical techniques to understand the dynamics of these cascades and assess the systems vulnerability.

In this talk, we will discuss the cascading behaviors in different networked systems, mathematically quantifying the "depth" and "breadth" of cascades. Based on these models, we present techniques to identify the critical elements whose failures yields the most significant loss of resilience of the interdependent systems.

Bio: Dr. My T. Thai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering at the University of Florida. She received her PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota in 2005. Her current research interests include algorithms and optimization on network science and engineering, including communication networks, smart grids, social networks, and their interdependency. The results of her work have led to 5 books and 100+ articles published in leading journals and conferences on networking and combinatorics.

Dr. Thai has engaged in many professional activities. She has been a TPC-chair for many IEEE conferences, has served as an associate editor for Journal of Combinatorial Optimization (JOCO), Optimization Letters, Journal of Discrete Mathematics, IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, and a series editor of Springer Briefs in Optimization. Recently, she has co-founded and co-EiC of a Computational Social Networks journal. She has received many research awards including an UF Provosts Excellence Award for Assistant Professors, a Department of Defense (DoD) Young Investigator Award, and an NSF (National Science Foundation) CAREER Award.