Abhishek Dubey is a leader in cyber-physical systems and artificial intelligence. He is Vanderbilt University College of Connect Computing’s dynamic Associate Dean for Research, Chancellor Faculty Fellow, and Director of SCOPE lab.
With a foundation in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and doctoral training from Vanderbilt University Institute for Software Integrated Systems, Dubey develops advanced AI-driven frameworks and decision-making methods to improve transportation operations, public safety response, and infrastructure resilience.
A visionary academic leader, Dubey’s work has been funded by prestigious entities like NSF, NASA, DOE, ARPA-E. AFRL, DARPA, Siemens, Cisco, and IBM. As the co-founder of MobiusAI, Dubey remains committed to bridging academia and industry, ensuring that his innovative AI research translates into tangible societal advancements.
Forging a Path in Engineering Excellence
From a young age, Dubey was fascinated by complex problem-solving, leading him to pursue electrical engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Banaras Hindu University. After graduating, he joined IBM’s consulting division, where he significantly impacted global business and research collaborations.
Seeking greater challenges, he moved to the United States to pursue his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and subsequently his Ph.D.
Dubey states, "As an electrical engineer, my goal was to challenge software infrastructures and control complex machines. I chose Vanderbilt for its renowned Institute for Software Integrated Systems, a top US institution then and still highly regarded today."
Dubey fully embraced Vanderbilt's ethos of conducting impactful, practical research under the mentorship of Gabor Karsai, VUSE’s Distinguished Professor of Computer Science. Reflecting on his experience, Dubey states, "I was encouraged not only to excel in academic journals and publications, but also to tackle real-world problems and make a tangible impact in society."
Community-Centric AI Research
Transitioning into a faculty role, Dubey leaned on his academic ecosystem, highlighting the vital contributions of his team of graduate students and research scientists. Dubey’s work centers on long-term partnerships with public agencies and local communities. His approach is to transform collaboration at local and state levels, connecting academia, industry, and government.
Under his leadership, Vanderbilt is actively partnering with WeGo Public Transit and Metro Nashville Government to integrate AI decision systems into Nashville’s transportation, enhancing reliability, efficiency, and emergency response. This project was bolstered by Nashville’s role in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Global Cities Team Challenge, linking NSF, DOE, and FTA-funded research with city partners, and laying the groundwork for Mobius AI’s neuro-symbolic systems in complex urban settings.
At the state level, Dubey worked with Tennessee’s Departments of Transportation and Safety to predict crash risks and aid emergency response statewide. Currently, his team partners with Williamson County Emergency Management and TN-Go to modernize school bus systems with AI routing, scheduling, and safety tools improving student safety and coordination.
Through Vanderbilt’s Institute for Software Integrated Systems, Dubey partnered with Nissan’s Advanced Technology Center in AI-driven sustainable energy research. The project integrated real fleet data with Vanderbilt’s expertise in AI, multi-agent systems, and neuro-symbolic control, and the research has progressed from simulation platforms to human-centered negotiation mechanisms, achieving cost savings for both building operators and EV users.
Facilitating Real-world Solutions with MobiusAI
Dubey’s startup, MobiusAI, emerged from his research on applying AI to practical transit optimization, gaining traction through the 2014 Smart America government initiative in Nashville. This success led to his tenure-track position at Vanderbilt and collaborations with organizations like Chattanooga's CARTA.
Guided by the Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, Dubey translated foundational research in AI-driven transit optimization into a broader commercial vision that became Mobius AI, Vanderbilt’s first AI-focused startup.
Mobius AI is a neuro-symbolic artificial intelligence company that combines data-driven machine learning with symbolic reasoning and formal methods to deliver trustworthy, interpretable, and decision-aware AI systems.
Dubey states, "Mobius' AI models are trained for safe, quick decision-making, supporting dynamic interactions and timely alerts. This training is central to our mission of redefining on-demand mobility with user-friendly software.”
Building on Dubey’s work in infrastructure cyber-physical systems, the company develops AI platforms capable of reasoning over complex operational constraints while continuously learning from real-world data—enabling applications in transportation, infrastructure resilience, and safety-critical systems.
With support from the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, the research evolved into a structured venture and started working with clients in the Non-emergency Medical Transport Area. To date company has raised 800K in pre-seed rounds.
Strategic Leadership in Technological Advancements
As National Science Foundation (NSF) Program Director, Dubey expanded his national influence by leading the Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart and Connected Communities programs. He promoted sustainable tech solutions, enhancing research strategies by integrating AI with the physical world. This approach influenced key partnerships at Vanderbilt, including expanding the relationship with Nissan Motor Corporation.
Dubey states, "Serving at the NSF was a significant milestone in my career, and I would have loved to continue, especially during this challenging time for the organization. However, I had to step away to focus on my responsibilities at Vanderbilt, where I lead an outstanding group of talented researchers.”
Collaborating with Humility and Impact
Dubey combines academia and industry collaborations to showcase the power of engineering and AI in addressing local and national challenges. With over 300 publications and more than 5900 citations, his work enabled by over $60M in grants and contracts, highlighting Vanderbilt's impact-driven innovation. Dubey also acknowledges leaders like Dan Work, Jonathan Sprinkle, Gabor Karsai, Ayan Mukhopadhyay and the students and researchers from Scopelab, for their contributions to transportation solutions. He advises colleagues to embrace collaboration and to humbly acknowledge knowledge gaps.
Dubey states, "In business, it's crucial to listen and admit what you don't know, despite being an expert in your field.” He continues, "Experience boosts confidence, but initially, a supportive team is crucial. I was fortunate to have that backing; and anyone looking to build anything should seek support and clearly articulate their vision."
Furthermore, Dubey gratefully acknowledges and credits the unwavering support of his family—including his late mother, his in-laws, his sister, and especially his wife and children—for standing beside him throughout his career and innovation-driven pursuits. Their patience, encouragement, and quiet sacrifices have been the foundation that enabled his professional journey.
Bridging academic expertise with an entrepreneurial vision, Dubey's journey exemplifies the pathway for aspiring innovators. His story demonstrates how Vanderbilt supports impactful advancements locally and nationally through a culture of innovative excellence.
