UMBC’s 2023 Cybersecurity Exploratory Project Awardees Announced

Published: Jun 14, 2023

a researcher who's hands are only showing working with cybersecurity technology
UMBC's Nilanjan Banerjee, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, working in his lab in 2020. (Marlayna Demond '11/UMBC)

UMBC’s Cybersecurity Leadership Task Force has recently awarded funding to seven exploratory projects on cybersecurity education and research, with a goal of enhancing UMBC’s role as a leader in cybersecurity. 

Proposals were submitted by teams from all three academic colleges and several of UMBC’s research centers and institutes, covering a broad range of topics. Recipients were awarded up to $25,000 in funding, beginning May 1, 2023 through January 31, 2024. 

The selected exploratory projects include: 

  • “To Create a Course on the History of Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare,” led by Mary Laurents, associate professor of history, and Amy Froide, chair and professor of history.
  • “Policy Integrated Blockchain to Automate HIPAA Part 2 Compliance Applied to Medicaid Data,” led by Jim Clavin, chief technology and compliance officer at the Hilltop Institute, and Karuna Joshi, associate professor of information systems.
  • “Post-Quantum Cryptography: Will Quantum Memories help?” led by Todd Pittman, professor of physics.
  • “CyberCELL: Cybersecurity Curriculum Express Learning Library,” led by Ida Ngambeki, assistant professor of information systems, and Deborah Kariuki, director and clinical faculty of computer science education.
  • “Vulnerable Populations’ Perspectives on Data Security and Privacy of Mental Health Technologies,” led by Helena Mentis, professor of information systems.
  • “The UMBC Ethical Software Lab (ESL),” led by Mohammad Samarah, professor of information systems, and Melissa Morris, professor of information systems.
  • “Investigating Cybersecurity Educational Initiatives to Support Older Adults,” led by Ravi Kuber, associate professor of information systems. 

New cybersecurity courses, research, and outreach will result from these projects. This internal funding opportunity was created by the Cybersecurity Leadership Task Force, co-led by Keith J Bowman, dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), and Karl V. Steiner, vice president for research and creative achievement.

The task force is composed of cross-disciplinary members with diverse perspectives and extensive working knowledge across the UMBC community. It was established to conduct the ongoing search for the inaugural Director of the UMBC Cybersecurity Leadership Institute, and to review and approve exploratory projects on Cybersecurity Research and Education. Funding for the exploratory projects was provided by the Office of the Provost, with partial funding provided by COEIT.

Visit UMBC’s internal funding opportunities website for more information on open calls for proposals.

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