Dr. Serdar Yuksel

Biography

Serdar Yuksel is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Mathematics and Engineering at Queen's University. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.Sc. from Bilkent University. His research interests are primarily focused on stochastic control theory, probability theory, and information theory, with applications across several domains. He explores problems related to stochastic control analysis of complex systems, which include incomplete models and non-Markovian dynamics. Yuksel's work emphasizes the development of probability control theoretic methods that can yield near-optimal solutions for challenging complex systems. His research also involves reinforcement learning theory, where he investigates techniques to achieve optimal solutions when system dynamics are not fully known. Additionally, he delves into the interaction between control and information, applying concepts from game theory to optimize decision-making under partial information. Yuksel's academic contributions include substantial work in the areas of stochastic stability, ergodicity, and the application of information theory to control systems. He is committed to addressing fundamental open problems within the stochastic control landscape, particularly regarding information structures in general state-action spaces.

Research Interests