Was graduated with the degree in Mechanical Engineer in 1990 from the school of Industrial engineering (ICAI), Universidad Pontificia Comillas. He finished the PhD in 1998, writing a thesis on Incipient failure detection. He holds a position of Researcher at the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) and Full Professor at the Department of Computer Science, at ICAI School of Engineering. His research activities involve Advanced Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence applied to many different fields, including anomaly detection, image processing and GIS, Cybersecurity and Privacy, Telemedicine, Aviation Safety, etc.
2011-2024 Head of the Programs in Telecommunications Engineering and Computer Science at Comillas-ICAI.
2024-2025 Visiting Professor. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan – CAMS
2017-2018 Visiting Professor. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT Energy Initiative
2009-2010 Visiting Professor. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Aeronautics and Astronautics Department.
2001-2002 Visiting Scientist. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sloan School of Management.

Areas of interest:

Advanced data analysis (including vibration analysis, optical handwritten character recognition, image processing, artificial intelligence and data mining). Parallel processing. Thermoelectric applications. Failure detection and maintenance. Aviation safety. Cybersecurity.

Highlighted Publications

J. Jarauta Gastelu, R. Gesteira-Miñarro, J. Matanza, R. Palacios, G. López, "MitM Attack to Electric Vehicle AC Chargers", IEEE Internet of Things Journal, Vol. 12, nº. 19, pp. 39689 - 39700, October 2025. [Online: July 2025] doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2025.3589219
JCR-JIF: 8,700 Q1 (2025); - SJR: 2,144 Q1 (2025);
S. Rashid, E. Bollis, L. Pellicer, D. Rabbani, R. Palacios, A. Gupta, A. Gupta, "Evaluating Prompt Injection Attacks with LSTM-Based Generative Adversarial Networks: A Lightweight Alternative to Large Language Models", Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction, Vol. 7, nº. 3, pp. 77, September 2025. [Online: August 2025] doi: 10.3390/make7030077
JCR-JIF: 6,000 Q1 (2024) - SJR: 1,548 Q1 (2025); 1,548 Q1 (2025)
M. Matiello, A.C. Turner, J. Estrada, C.M. Whitney, B.T. Kitch, P.T. Lee, U.M. Girkar, R. Palacios, P. Singla, L.H. Schwamm, "Teleneurology-enabled determination of death by neurologic criteria after cardiac arrest or severe neurologic injury", Neurology, Vol. 96, nº. 15, pp. e1999 - e2005, April 2021. [Online: February 2021] doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011751
JCR-JIF: 11,800 Q1 (2021); 8,900 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 2,587 Q1 (2021); 2,045 Q1 (2025)
P. Ciller, D. Ellman, C.R. Vergara Ramírez, A. González-García, S.J. Lee, C. Drouin, M. Brusnahan, Y. Borofsky, C. Mateo, R. Amatya, R. Palacios, R.J. Stoner, F. de Cuadra, I.J. Pérez-Arriaga, "Optimal electrification planning incorporating on- and off-grid technologies: the Reference Electrification Model (REM)", Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 107, nº. 9, pp. 1872 - 1905, September 2019. [Online: July 2019] doi: 10.1109/JPROC.2019.2922543
JCR-JIF: 10,252 Q1 (2019); 30,900 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 2,329 Q1 (2019); 5,561 Q1 (2025)
L. Li, R.J. Hansman, R. Palacios, R. Welsch, "Anomaly detection via a Gaussian Mixture Model for flight operation and safety monitoring", Transportation Research Part C - Emerging Technologies, Vol. 64, pp. 45 - 57, March 2016. [Online: February 2016] doi: 10.1016/j.trc.2016.01.007
JCR-JIF: 3,805 Q1 (2016); 8,400 Q1 (2025) - SJR: Q1 (2016); 2,396 Q1 (2025)

show 5 highlighted publications

Journal Publications

show 61 journal publications

Projects

show 64 projects

Ph.D. Thesis

show 4 Ph.D. Thesis

Conference Papers

show 67 conference papers

Books and Book Chapters

show 4 books and book chapters

International Exchanges

Aug 2024 - Jul 2025, CAMS - Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cambridge (United States of America).
Aug 2017 - Aug 2018, MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and MIT TATA Center for Technology and Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cambridge (United States of America).
Jul - Aug 2011, International Center for Air Transportation (ICAT). Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cambridge (United States of America). Visting professor.
Sep 2009 - Aug 2010, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cambridge (United States of America).
Jul 2001 - Aug 2002, SLOAN School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cambridge (United States of America).

show 5 international exchanges

Invited Conferences and Seminars

Round table "Building and developing your data analytics and monitoring programs" AI & Compliance Summit 2024. Boston University. Boston (United States of America). Oct 2024.
Chair in "Session n.1. Energy smart meters for energy poverty assessment" III Sesión del Seminario Interdisciplinar. Cátedra de Energía y Pobreza. Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jan 2020.
Round table " Quantum computing" Eventos CIC 2019. Quantum Computing. Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Cátedra de Industria Conectada. Madrid (Spain). Oct 2019.
Round table "The importance of training and certifications in the security world" Mundo Hacker Day 2016. Instituto Nacional de Ciberseguridad (incibe); y Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Turismo. Madrid (Spain). Apr 2016.
Round table "Dialogues with the technology: universal design applied to technology for life" Aula de opinión. Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Mar 2016.
Seminar "Scientific computing with Matlab". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Feb 2014.
Chair in "2nd International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications -ICRERA 2013" Publicity & Public Relations Chair and Chairman in: «Communications». Universidad Pontificia Comillas e International Journal of Renewable Energy Research (IJRER). Madrid (Spain). Oct 2013.
Seminar "Developing web-based applications". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jan 2013.
Seminar "Scientific computing with Matlab". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jan 2013.
Seminar "Developing web-based applications". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Feb 2012.
Seminar "Saca partido a tu nuevo iPad con iCloud y iOS5". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jan 2012.
Seminar "Scientific computing with Matlab". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2011.
Conference "Aircraft-based complexity assessment for radar controllers" 7th Workshop on Industrial Systems and Energy Technologies - JOSITE'2011. Instituto de Investigación Tecnológica. Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jun 2011.
Seminar "Developing web-based applications". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Feb 2011.
Seminar "Scientific computing with Matlab". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2010.
Seminar "Sensibilidad del tráfico aéreo en EEUU al fallo de las comunicaciones radio" Aula de investigación. Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Oct 2010.
Seminar "Reconocimiento de caracteres en imágenes minimizando fallos" Aula de Investigación. Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jan 2009.
Seminar "Programación Web". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2008.

show 18 invited conferences and seminars

Organization of Scientific Meetings

Organization of " Digital Spain 2026 - Cybersecurity and compliance". Observatorio Legaltech & NewLaw Garrigues-ICADE; y Máster en Ciberseguridad ICAI. Madrid (Spain). Oct 2022.
Organization of "Cybersecurity and Covid-19. Why has the pandemic made us more vulnerable?". Máster en Ciberseguridad ICAI. Madrid (Spain). May 2021.
Organization of " Presentation of the Master's Degree in Cybersecurity Comillas-ICAI ". Máster en Ciberseguridad ICAI. Madrid (Spain). Jun 2019.
Organization of "GSICKMINDS 2016 Madrid". Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería (ICAI). Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Oct 2016.
Organization of "Cyberbullying in minors: prevention, detection and action". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Apr 2016.
Organization of "GSICKMINDS 2015 Madrid". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2015.
Organization of "Technical Program Committee «Power System Computation Conference 2008»". Glasgow (United Kingdom). Feb 2008.
Organization of "4th European Workshop on Thermoelectrics". European Thermoelectric Society (ETS); e Instituto de Investigación Tecnológica (IIT). Madrid (Spain). Sep 1998.

show 8 organization of scientific meetings

Technical Reports

show 4 technical reports

Working Papers

show 12 working papers

External Training Courses

show 18 external training courses

Media and research dissemination

"An innovative arsenal to curb the rampant “voice deepfake” virus". ABC Economía (Sep 2026)
"Magnificent Humanity. Artificial Intelligence". Rtve. Ultimas preguntas (Sep 2026)
"Scams using AI-generated voices". Telemadrid. Telenoticias fin de semana. (Sep 2026)
"Artificial Intelligence is already the largest expense for companies, setting a record and surpassing employee payrolls". Rtve. Noticias. Economía (Jul 2026)
"The dangers of AI". Canal 24 Horas. La economía. A partir del min 24:45 (May 2026)
"Comillas: the smart university". Revista Comillas. Nº115, p.23. (Jan 2026)
"Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence: an increasingly serious issue". El mundo está loco, loco, loco (Nov 2025)
"Artificial intelligence and warfare skyrocket cyber attacks". La Razón. Madrid. (Jan 2024)
"The complex mission of shielding the cybersecurity of connected factories". ABC Economía. (Jan 2024)
"2X09 - Cybersecurity in telecommunications". Casting the Future. (Nov 2022)
"This is how a "hybrid war" like that of the US and Russia is gestated: "cyber armies organized by governments"". Cadena Cope. La linterna. (Jan 2022)
"The increase in cyberattacks against companies and organizations in Spain". Cadena Cope. La linterna. Desde el min 10.50 (Sep 2021)
"Internet security and payment security through Bizum". La Sexta Noticias. (Desde el min. 20:15). (Jun 2021)
"Cybersecurity and cyberdefense: needs of the future". El Confidencial. (Jul 2019)
"Cybersecurity: a new regulatory framework to protect Europeans". Euroefe. (Jan 2017)
"Cyberbullying: this is not a child's play". Revista Comillas. Nº 89, p. 442-43. (Jun 2016)

show 16 media and research dissemination

Fellowships and Awards

"3rd Award to the Master's Degree in Cybersecurity (MCS) in the 1st Escudo Digital Ránking of the 25 best másters in cybersecurity in Spain". Publicaciones Digitales de Seguridad, SL. Pozuelo de Alarcón (Spain). Jun 2025.
"3rd Technology and Innovation Award to the Master's Degree in Cybersecurity (MCS)". Diario La Razón. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2019.
"The 100 Best Ideas of the Year 2009". Actualidad Económica. Madrid (Spain). Jun 2009.

show 3 fellowships and awards

Other Activities

Doctoral Defense Committee of "Lal Rajora, G. «An Intelligent Environment for Asset Management in Power Grids Based on Machine Learning Models»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jun 2026.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "De Santos Yubero, H. «Nuevos enfoques para la monitorización y el dimensionamiento de aisladores de alta tensión»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Apr 2024.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "González García, A. « A comprehensive decision support framework for the provision of universal access to modern power services in developing countries»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Mar 2024.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Calvo Bascones, P. «Inclusive methodologies for anomaly detection and prognosis of industrial systems based on behavior patterns, smart indicators and digital twin ecosystems»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Sep 2022.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "San Miguel Carrasco, R. «Unsupervised intrusion detection with cross-domain artificial intelligence methods»". Universidad de Alcalá. Alcalá de Henares (Spain). Jul 2021.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Fernández Rodríguez , A. «Train eco-driving optimisation based on simulation models»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2018.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Prada y Nogueira, I. «Aerodynamic design optimization based on multi-attribute structured hybrid direct-search. Application to industrial problems»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jun 2017.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Carvajal Carreño, W. «Efficient driving of CBTC ATO operated trains»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Mar 2017.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Alonso Martínez, I. «Análisis y optimización del recurso UMLS en la recuperación de información biomédica mediante métricas de similitud semántica»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jan 2016.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Arranz Domingo, A. «Visual odometry and mapping using stereo vision and registration algorithms»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jan 2016.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Andrade Vieira, R. J. «Life centered maintenance: a new methodology for maintenance management and planning applied to wind turbines»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Sep 2015.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Alvar Miró, M. «Behavior detection models using computer vision applied to security systems»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Mar 2015.
Doctoral Defense Committee of "Lishuai Li. «Anomaly detection in airline routine operations using flight data recorder data»". Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge (United States of America). May 2013.

show 13 other activities

Dr. Rafael Palacios Hielscher

Highlighted Publications

Journal Publications

R. Gesteira-Miñarro, T. Yoshizawa, R. Palacios, G. López, "Highway to Hack - Security gaps in ETSI ITS standards", Computer Standards & Interfaces, Vol. 97, pp. 104133, April 2026. [Online: January 2026] doi: 10.1016/j.csi.2026.104133 JCR-JIF: 4,600 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,021 Q1 (2025)

A. Pérez-Sánchez, R. Palacios, G. López, "COMISET: Dataset for the analysis of malicious events in Windows systems", Data in Brief, Vol. 61, pp. 111723, August 2025. [Online: May 2025] doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2025.111723 JCR-JIF: 1,400 Q3 (2024) - SJR: 0,606 Q1 (2025); 0,606 Q1 (2025)

R. Nagpal, U. Usua, R. Palacios, A. Gupta, "FairRAG: A Privacy-Preserving Framework for Fair Financial Decision-Making", Applied Sciences, Vol. 15, nº. 15, pp. 8282, August 2025. [Online: July 2025] doi: 10.3390/app15158282 JCR-JIF: 2,900 Q2 (2025); - SJR: 0,555 Q2 (2025);

R. Gesteira-Miñarro, G. López, R. Palacios, "Clonable key fobs: Analyzing and breaking RKE protocols", International Journal of Information Security, Vol. 24, nº. 3, pp. 150, June 2025. [Online: May 2025] doi: 10.1007/s10207-025-01063-7 JCR-JIF: 5,000 Q1 (2025); - SJR: 1,019 Q1 (2025);

R. Gesteira-Miñarro, G. López, R. Palacios, "Revisiting Wireless Cyberattacks on Vehicles", Sensors, Vol. 25, nº. 8, pp. 2605, April 2025. [Online: April 2025] doi: 10.3390/s25082605 JCR-JIF: 4,000 Q2 (2025); - SJR: 0,802 Q1 (2025);

R. Palacios, R.J. Hansman, "Filtering enhanced traffic management system (ETMS) altitude data", Metrology and Measurement Systems, Vol. XX, nº. 3, pp. 453 - 464, 2013. [Online: September 2013] doi: 10.2478/mms-2013-0039 JCR-JIF: 0,609 Q4 (2013); 1,300 Q4 (2025) - SJR: Q3 (2013); 0,278 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, D. de la Fuente, "A straightforward method for creating and verifying digital signatures in HTML forms", Dr Dobbs Journal, Nº. 417, pp. 1 - 36, 2009. [Online: January 2009] JCR-JIF: 0,077 (2009); 0,115 (2010) - SJR: Q4 (2012)

R. Palacios, A. Doshi, A. Gupta, "Computing aircraft position prediction", The Open Transportation Journal, Vol. 2, pp. 94 - 97, December 2008. doi: 10.2174/1874447800802010094 SJR: 0,329 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, A. Gupta, "A system for processing handwritten bank checks automatically", Image and Vision Computing, Vol. 26, nº. 10, pp. 1297 - 1313, October 2008. doi: 10.1016/j.imavis.2006.04.012 JCR-JIF: 1,496 (2008); 5,000 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,881 Q1 (2025)

A. Arenas, J. Vázquez, R. Palacios, R.R. Pecharromán, F.L. Pagola, "Paramento transparente activo (PTA) en aplicaciones de climatización", RA. Revista de Arquitectura, Nº. 36-37, pp. 100 - 109, December 2007. JCR-JIF: 0,400 (2024) - SJR: 0,101 Q4 (2025)

R. Palacios, A. Gupta, P.S.P. Wang, "Handwritten bank check recognition of courtesy amounts", International Journal of Image and Graphics, Vol. 4, nº. 2, pp. 203 - 222, April 2004. doi: 10.1142/S0219467804001373 JCR-JIF: 0,900 Q4 (2024) - SJR: 0,292 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, A. Gupta, P.S.P. Wang, "Feedback-based architecture for reading courtesy amounts on checks", Journal of Electronic Imaging, Vol. 12, nº. 1, pp. 194 - 202, January 2003. [Online: January 2003] doi: 10.1117/1.1526105 JCR-JIF: 1,000 Q4 (2025) - SJR: 0,249 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, "Remote Automatic Doorman via the Internet", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 45, nº. 10, pp. 23 - 25, October 2002. doi: 10.1145/570907.570923 JCR-JIF: 1,497 (2002); 7,100 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,540 Q1 (2025)

Projects

Ph.D. Thesis

Developed:

Supervised:

In progress:

A. Pérez Sánchez, "Detección de Ciberataques mediante algoritmos de aprendizaje y clasificación en la matriz de MITRE ATT&CK", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain.

Conference Papers

R. Gesteira-Miñarro, T. Yoshizawa, R. Palacios, G. López, "Highway to Hack - Security gaps in ETSI ITS standards", Computer Standards & Interfaces, Vol. 97, pp. 104133, April 2026. [Online: January 2026] doi: 10.1016/j.csi.2026.104133
JCR-JIF: 4,600 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,021 Q1 (2025)

A. Pérez-Sánchez, R. Palacios, G. López, "COMISET: Dataset for the analysis of malicious events in Windows systems", Data in Brief, Vol. 61, pp. 111723, August 2025. [Online: May 2025] doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2025.111723
JCR-JIF: 1,400 Q3 (2024) - SJR: 0,606 Q1 (2025); 0,606 Q1 (2025)

R. Nagpal, U. Usua, R. Palacios, A. Gupta, "FairRAG: A Privacy-Preserving Framework for Fair Financial Decision-Making", Applied Sciences, Vol. 15, nº. 15, pp. 8282, August 2025. [Online: July 2025] doi: 10.3390/app15158282
JCR-JIF: 2,900 Q2 (2025); - SJR: 0,555 Q2 (2025);

R. Gesteira-Miñarro, G. López, R. Palacios, "Clonable key fobs: Analyzing and breaking RKE protocols", International Journal of Information Security, Vol. 24, nº. 3, pp. 150, June 2025. [Online: May 2025] doi: 10.1007/s10207-025-01063-7
JCR-JIF: 5,000 Q1 (2025); - SJR: 1,019 Q1 (2025);

R. Gesteira-Miñarro, G. López, R. Palacios, "Revisiting Wireless Cyberattacks on Vehicles", Sensors, Vol. 25, nº. 8, pp. 2605, April 2025. [Online: April 2025] doi: 10.3390/s25082605
JCR-JIF: 4,000 Q2 (2025); - SJR: 0,802 Q1 (2025);

R. Palacios, R.J. Hansman, "Filtering enhanced traffic management system (ETMS) altitude data", Metrology and Measurement Systems, Vol. XX, nº. 3, pp. 453 - 464, 2013. [Online: September 2013] doi: 10.2478/mms-2013-0039
JCR-JIF: 0,609 Q4 (2013); 1,300 Q4 (2025) - SJR: Q3 (2013); 0,278 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, D. de la Fuente, "A straightforward method for creating and verifying digital signatures in HTML forms", Dr Dobbs Journal, Nº. 417, pp. 1 - 36, 2009. [Online: January 2009]
JCR-JIF: 0,077 (2009); 0,115 (2010) - SJR: Q4 (2012)

R. Palacios, A. Doshi, A. Gupta, "Computing aircraft position prediction", The Open Transportation Journal, Vol. 2, pp. 94 - 97, December 2008. doi: 10.2174/1874447800802010094
SJR: 0,329 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, A. Gupta, "A system for processing handwritten bank checks automatically", Image and Vision Computing, Vol. 26, nº. 10, pp. 1297 - 1313, October 2008. doi: 10.1016/j.imavis.2006.04.012
JCR-JIF: 1,496 (2008); 5,000 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,881 Q1 (2025)

A. Arenas, J. Vázquez, R. Palacios, R.R. Pecharromán, F.L. Pagola, "Paramento transparente activo (PTA) en aplicaciones de climatización", RA. Revista de Arquitectura, Nº. 36-37, pp. 100 - 109, December 2007.
JCR-JIF: 0,400 (2024) - SJR: 0,101 Q4 (2025)

R. Palacios, A. Gupta, P.S.P. Wang, "Handwritten bank check recognition of courtesy amounts", International Journal of Image and Graphics, Vol. 4, nº. 2, pp. 203 - 222, April 2004. doi: 10.1142/S0219467804001373
JCR-JIF: 0,900 Q4 (2024) - SJR: 0,292 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, A. Gupta, P.S.P. Wang, "Feedback-based architecture for reading courtesy amounts on checks", Journal of Electronic Imaging, Vol. 12, nº. 1, pp. 194 - 202, January 2003. [Online: January 2003] doi: 10.1117/1.1526105
JCR-JIF: 1,000 Q4 (2025) - SJR: 0,249 Q3 (2025)

R. Palacios, "Remote Automatic Doorman via the Internet", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 45, nº. 10, pp. 23 - 25, October 2002. doi: 10.1145/570907.570923
JCR-JIF: 1,497 (2002); 7,100 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,540 Q1 (2025)