UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Anna Squicciarini, Frymoyer Chair in Information Sciences and Technology, has been named a program director in the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) cluster of the National Science Foundation (NSF), effective Sept. 26.
As a SaTC program director, Squicciarini will shape research opportunities in the areas of information and user privacy. She will be actively involved in the review and funding of proposals within the SaTC program through the NSF’s rigorous system of merit review. Specifically, Squicciarini will offer her perspective as an expert in user and data privacy as well as access control research, in addition to perspective based on her international experience, most recently as a Fulbright Scholar.
“I’m honored to be selected for this role,” said Squicciarini. “It really broadens the perspective of what I can do with the expertise and experience I’ve gained over the past 15 years at Penn State.”
Many of the NSF’s program directors, science advisers and leadership come from the research community on temporary leave from their home institutions. These appointments bring fresh perspectives from across the country, helping influence new direction for research, research infrastructure and education.
“I’ve been on the other side, having submitted and reviewing submitted proposals for the past 15 years, developing a strong research portfolio that was primarily funded by SaTC, and learning about the foundation through service on various panels,” said Squicciarini. “I think I’m uniquely qualified based on the combination of being a research expert in the area in which they are looking for expertise as well as having a deep understanding of how the foundation works.”
Squicciarini joined the College of Information Sciences and Technology in 2008 and currently serves as professor-in-charge of the college’s cybersecurity analytics and operations research area. Her main research interests include data privacy, access control and system security, with her current work exploring security issues in the context of social networks with emphasis on users’ privacy and online deviance. Her teaching activities cover topics in security and database systems.
She is the author or co-author of more than 90 conference papers and journal articles, with several of her published research works honored with best paper awards at technical conferences. Her research is currently supported by funding agencies and industrial support, including an NSF CAREER Award.
Squicciarini regularly serves as a program committee member for many relevant security and privacy conferences, and she is an associate editor for leading journals by the ACM and IEEE.