Reza R. Derakhshani is an Iranian-born American inventor and professor of computer science and electrical engineering at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). He is known for inventing and developing a biometric security system that uses the patterns of blood vessels in the eyes. His research has encompassed biometrics, biometric spoofing, biomedical signal and image processing, and computational intelligence.

Life and career

After earning his B.S. at

Iran University of Science and Technology Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) (, ''Dâneshgâh-e 'elm va San'at-e Irân'') is a research institution and university of engineering and science in Iran. The university is home to 15 faculties offering undergraduate and postgr ...

in Tehran, Derakhshani continued his studies at

West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Ins ...

in Morganstown, where he earned his Ph.D. He later taught at

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...

, Washington, D.C., and then UMKC. His courses include advanced biomedical signal analysis, neural and adaptive systems courses and overseeing senior robotics design projects. Along with biometrics, he also researches biomedical signal and image processing and computational intelligence. Much of his research has been funded by the

National Science Foundation The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an Independent agencies of the United States government#Examples of independent agencies, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that su ...

's Center for Identification Technology Research. He also is chief science officer of EyeVerify, a Missouri-based startup company that develops and markets biometric security software based on Derakhshani's research.

Eye vein verification

Derakhshani identified the potential usefulness of the patterns of blood vessels in the sclera — the white part of the eyes — which are unique to each person. The pattern can be imaged and turned into a digital template, and then encoded with mathematical and statistical algorithms. These allow confirmation of the identity of the proper user and the rejection of anyone else. Derakhshani holds several patents on the technology, including a 2008 patent for the concept of using the blood vessels seen in the whites of the eye as a unique identifier.

Honors and awards

* 2014 UMKC N.T. Veatch Award for Distinguished Research and Creative Activity. * 2013 Silicon Prairie Technologist of the Year finalist. * Privacy by Design Ambassador (August 2013 – Present). * The 2008 UMKC Trustees’ Faculty Scholar Fellowship Award for distinguished research and creativity * January 2002 – January 2004. Lane Fellowship for highest academic achievement in field of study, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University.

References

External links

Personal website
at UMKC {{DEFAULTSORT:Derakhshani, Reza Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Biometrics Iranian emigrants to the United States Iran University of Science and Technology alumni West Virginia University alumni University of Missouri–Kansas City faculty