Salvatore J. Stolfo

Professor of Computer Science

Salvatore J. Stolfo is a leading expert in computer security.

He is known for his research in machine learning applied to computer security, intrusion detection systems, anomaly detection algorithms and systems, fraud detection, active authentication and parallel computing for large data centric applications. His most recent work has focused on cybersecurity for quantum computing.

Stolfo is regarded as creating the area of machine learning applied to intrusion detection and has created several anomaly-detection algorithms and systems addressing some of the hardest problems in securing computer systems. Of particular note is his work on detecting zero-day attacks that has been widely deployed by a commercial cybersecurity company. The patented technology was successfully defended in court. 

Stolfo has been granted over 109 patents. He has been named an IEEE Fellow and an ACM Fellow.

Stolfo received a BS in Computational Information Sciences from Brooklyn College, CUNY, in 1975 and a PhD in Computer Science from Courant Institute, New York University, in 1979. 

Research Areas


  • Security and privacy
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
  • Data privacy
  • Cybersecurity
  • Quantum computing

Additional Information


  • Professional Experience
    • Professor of Computer Science, Columbia University, 1997-
    • Chair of Computer Science, Columbia University, 1986-1987
    • Tenured Associate Professor of Computer Science, Columbia University, 1987-1997
    • Associate Professor of Computer Science, Columbia University, 1984-1987
    • Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Columbia University, 1979–1984
  • Professional Affiliations
    • IEEE
    • ACM
  • Honors & Awards
    • Popular Science Award of “What Best of what’s new”, 2016.
    • IBM Faculty Career Development Award
    • Numerous best paper awards and IEEE Security & Privacy “most influential” paper. 
    • IEEE and ACM Fellow.