Expertise

• The SMART-5G project, or Secure Multichannel Automated opeRations Through 5G Networks project, led by IBM with a team that includes IST Assistant Professor Aiping Xiong and two other Penn State faculty members, was selected by the National Science Foundation as one of 16 multidisciplinary teams for the Convergence Accelerator program 2022 cohort for the research topic "Track G: Securely Operating Through 5G Infrastructure."
• A paper authored by Md Ehtesham-Ul-Haque, doctoral student, and Syed Masum Billah, assistant professor, received the Best Paper Award at the 2022 ACM User Interface Software and Technology Conference. The paper, “Grid-Coding: An Accessible, Efficient, and Structured Coding Paradigm for Blind and Low-Vision Programmers,” introduces a new tool that could help make code reading, navigating and editing more accessible and efficient for blind and low-vision computer programmers.
• Rajiv Thummala, a fourth-year Schreyer Honor Scholar studying cybersecurity analytics and operations, presented his first-ever published paper at the 2022 ASCEND (Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery) conference. Thummala’s paper, co-authored with Peng Liu, and Raymond G. Tronzo, professor of cybersecurity, presents a novel method he created to secure CubeSats — a type of satellite — from cyberattacks.
• Chris Sebora, lecturer and U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, has served as co-lead of the Penn State Military Events Committee for the past six years. As part of the larger Penn State Military Appreciation Committee, Sebora works to support the local military and veteran community through events during the annual Penn State Military Appreciation Week. This year, the State College Borough issued a proclamation officially recognizing Military Appreciation Week from Nov. 4-12. Sebora served as a stand-in for the Veteran’s Center director during the proclamation announcement. He was also in attendance during the Centre County proclamation on Nov. 1, through which county commissioners announced recognition of Military Appreciation Month in November.

Alumni achievements

• Rylee Smith, class of 2022, is one of 14 recent graduates named 2022-23 Young Alumni Ambassadors by the Penn State Alumni Association. Smith and her cohort will share a yearlong experience aimed at developing their skills to become the University’s future volunteer leaders. She currently serves as a cyber risk analyst with Deloitte.
• Darin Carter, class of 2014, was a recent guest on Following the Gong, a podcast of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State. In the episode, “Understanding and Making an Impact with Blockchain and Cryptocurrency,” Carter shared his perspective working in consulting, big tech, and careers in the pioneering spaces of Web3, including blockchain and cryptocurrency. He is currently a program manager on the Coinbase Giving Team, managing a portfolio of social impact investments from humanitarian aid to education.