Directory

• Ph.D., Face Recognition (Biometrics), Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Surrey, U.K., 2006
• M.Sc. in Medical Imaging with Distinction, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Surrey, U.K., 2002
• B.S. (M.Eng. Equivalent), Electrical & Computer Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 1999

• Associate Professor, University of Georgia College of Engineering, 2020 – present
• Adjunct Associate Professor (LCSEE), West Virginia University, 2020 – present
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, 2013 – present
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, Department of Chemical Engineering (Biomedical Engineering), 2017 – present
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, 2014 – present
• Associate Professor, West Virginia University, 2017 – 2020
• Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, 2012 – 2017
• Research Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, 2009 – 2012

• Founder and Director of the Multispectral Imagery Laboratory
• Board of Directors of the Document Security Alliance
• VP on Education IEEE Biometric Council
• SME on Biometric at HDIAC (a component of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Information Analysis Center)
• SME on Biometrics at DSIAC (a component of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Information Analysis Center)
• Academic Research and Innovation Expert Group of the Biometrics Institute
• Springer Book Series Editor of the Advanced Sciences & Technologies for Security Applications

Research

The primary focus of Bourlai’s research is on designing and developing technology for supporting, confirming and determining human identity in challenging conditions using primarily face images, captured across the imaging spectrum (including ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, short-wave IR, mid-wave IR and long-wave IR) and secondarily, other hard or soft biometrics including iris, fingerprints, ears and tattoos. Additionally, he has worked on liveness detection problems using face and pupil dynamics; mobile biometrics; multi-spectral eye and pupil detection; and matching mugshots from government ID documents (e.g. passports or driver’s licenses) to live face images, which includes the development of image restoration techniques to recover the original mugshot behind the watermarks. Bourlai has collaborated with experts from academia, industry and the government on projects that involve the collection of various biometric data (including multi-spectral face images, irises and tattoos) and the design and development of biometric- and forensic-based algorithms that can support law enforcement and military operations. Recently he has been working on applications of ML and DL algorithms on NASA and AFRL related projects.

Research Focus

• Biometrics and Continuous Human Identification in the wild
• Advanced Data Collection, Generation and Augmentation Activities
• Development of Prediction and Detection Models for Biometrics, Healthcare, Surveillance and Space Datasets
• Multispectral Imaging and Analysis using Machine and Deep Learning Algorithms

Areas of Specialty

• Multispectral Imaging (UV, Visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR)
• Biometrics
  • Face Recognition
  • Fingerprint Recognition
  • Ear Recognition
  • Iris Recognition
  • Periocular
• Object Detection and Recognition
• Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition
• Deep Learning
• Prediction and Data Analytics

Google Scholar Page

• Apparatuses, systems, and methods for confirming identity
  U.S. Patent 9,922,238
• Image authentication
  U.S. Patent 9,449,217

• Multispectral Imagery Laboratory
• LinkedIn Profile

• Human Computer Interaction and Programming (LCSEE 500 and 400 Level Course. Offered to both Graduate and Undergraduate Students) – 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010
• CS 677 – Pattern Recognition (LCSEE – Core Course, Graduate): yearly from 2012 – 2020
• Computer Systems Security (LCSEE – 500 Level Graduate Course) – 2011
• BMEG 310 – Biomedical Imaging (Chemical Engineering Department – 2015, 2016
• BMEG 393A – Biomedical Imaging Labs, part of the Biomedical Engineering Course (Chemical Engineering Department): yearly from 2015 – 2018
• BIOM 426 – Biometric Systems: 2018, 2019