Associate Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
University of Arizona
boulat@arizona.edu
Education
A. B. Economics – Dartmouth College, June 2001
M. S. Computer Science – University of Massachusetts – Amherst, May 2008
Ph. D. Computer Science – University of Massachusetts – Amherst, February 2015 (thesis: Fundamental Limits of Covert Communication, advisors: Don Towsley [CS] and Dennis Goeckel [ECE])
Google Scholar profile. LinkedIn profile. Full Curriculum Vitae (updated September 2025).
Research assistantships and post-doctoral opportunities
I am always looking for motivated graduate students and post-docs to work on the theoretical and experimental aspects of secure communication and sensing. Perspective graduate students should review the requirements for admission and apply on the UofA website, indicating on the application that they are interested in working with me. Unfortunately, I cannot consider hiring graduate research assistants before a formal admission decision is made (thus, I cannot answer such questions as “will I be hired as a research assistant” over email).
Research Interests
My reseach mainly focuses on classical and quantum covert or low probability of detection/intercept (LPD/LPI) communications and sensing. However, I am broadly interested in applications of information theory to practical problems of reliability and security. Specifically, I study the limits of communications and sensing with signals that are mathematically secure, and push towards these limits by engineering experimental and prototype systems. I collaborate closely with experts in radio and optical systems engineering. While most of my work focuses on electronic systems, I am also keenly interested in applications of information-theoretic approaches to securing biomechanical and very large distributed computing systems.
Teaching
- ECE340A “Introduction to Communications” (Spring 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025; Fall 2019-2021)
- ECE540 “Quantum Sensing and Quantum Machine Learning” (Spring 2020)
- ECE639 “Detection and Estimation in Engineering Systems” (Spring 2020 and Fall 2022)
- At UMass: CMPSCI691WS seminar on wireless network security (Spring 2011, with Shane Clark and Dennis Goeckel)
Previous work
I spent the three+ years between graduating UMass and being appointed at the University of Arizona working as the Scientist with the Quantum Information Processing Group at Raytheon BBN Technologies in Cambridge MA. I worked with Saikat Guha (now at the University of Maryland) and Jon Habif (now at USC ISI) on the theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum-secure communication and sensing. I spent from June 2013 until October 2013 with the same group as an intern, and worked on the implementation of the proof-of-concept covert optical communication system as well as theoretical aspects of quantum noise limited covert communication. I was a Research Assistant in Advanced Computer Networking Group at UMass CS from September 2005 until February 2015. From March 2004 until August 2005 I was a Research Associate in the Web, Internet and Networking Group at Boston University Computer Science Department under the supervision of John W. Byers.
Previous life
My main research effort during and immediately after college was in financial economics. The empirical studies which I carried out required efficient design and implementation of data analysis algorithms and dealing with gargantuan data sets. While working as a research assistant for the late Prof. Kent Womack at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, I was interested in market microstructure-based long-term initial public offering (IPO) returns predictors. In other words, I looked at sequences of trades on stock exchange and tried to forecast returns of IPOs. This work resulted in an SSRN working paper: “Post-IPO Flipping and Turnover: Predictive Factors for Long-Run Returns,” Boulat A. Bash, Social Science Research Network working paper 623502, May 2001.
When I joined Quantitative Strategies Group in Investment Management Division at Goldman, Sachs & Co. as an analyst, I conducted research into risk factors in long-short portfolios and took major role in managing an experimental long-short strategy.
Personal
I am fond of watching baseball, and am a big fan of the Boston Red Sox. The incomplete (through 2007) listing of the Red Sox (and their minor league affiliates) games that I saw in person can be found here. In the summer of 2010, I saw a game at all of the MiLB baseball parks in New England.
I am also a Dartmouth and UMass sports nut, in particular ice hockey (and football, to a lesser extent). One of the things I wanted to do before leaving Amherst is to see Dartmouth and UMass hockey games at all of their respective league opponents’ rinks. As of March 2015, I’ve seen Dartmouth hockey play at all ECAC arenas, and UMass hockey at all Hockey East arenas. At the Sacred Heart Pioneers men’s home game against Niagara Purple Eagles on January 3rd, 2016 I completed my tour of all New England Division I hockey arenas that existed then. Since then several venues have been added/replaced.
My other hobbies include running, swimming, listening to heavy metal, and visiting National Parks Service sites. I’ve also enjoyed cross-country skiing before moving to Arizona.