Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

UMBC CSEE Colloquium

Advanced Computer Systems (ACS)
Machine Learning program

Mark McLean
Senior Researcher, Advanced Computer Systems group

1:00pm Friday, 30 November 2012, ITE 227, UMBC

My talk will discuss the ACS Machine learning program. The ACS ML program's focus is on three main areas; algorithm development, applied research and integration into efficient hardware. Our algorithm development work has created the Concurrent Learning Algorithm and Importance Map technologies. These technologies were developed in-house and have some unique capabilities which make it ideal for our purposes. I'll give some demos of these technologies learning on datasets from the UCI repository. For our current research effort, I will discuss our ideas of using neural networks to process complex digital algorithms, which is not a traditional focus for neural networks. Here, I will discuss our efforts to make a neural network learn the Advanced Encryption Standard encryption functionality and why this could impact the way we design digital systems in the future. For our hardware focus, I'll talk about our efforts to develop a Memristor-based neuromorphic processor and why we hope to succeed where others have failed.

Mark McLean has been a senior researcher in the Advanced Computer Systems group Since 2009. His main area of research is on neural network algorithms, application and neuromorphic processor development. Mr. McLean has done post-graduate work at UMD, Holds a MS degree in Computer Engineering from Loyola College and a BS degree in Computer Science. Previously, he held the position of technical director for the microelectronics and reverse engineering group in the DOD. He has work in industry as lead designer for re-configurable computing at Annapolis Micro-Systems and is a retired officer from the USAF.

— more information and directions —

Join a webcast of the Federal government's cybersecurity research and development strategies from 1:00pm to 3:00pm EST on Tuesday 27 November 2012. Senior Federal representatives will review Government activities in implementing the Federal cybersecurity R&D strategic plan and discuss emerging areas in cybersecurity research that may warrant further focus. The webcast session is part of the National Science Foundation's Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace PI Meeting. Addional information about the Federal Cybersecurity R&D program is available online.

MS Thesis Defense

Smartphone Application and Data Privacy Control Using Semantically Rich Reasoning and Context Modeling

Dibyajyoti Ghosh

9:00am Tuesday, 20 November 2012, ITE 325B, UMBC

We present our ongoing work on user data and contextual privacy preservation in mobile devices through semantic reasoning. Recent advances in context modeling, tracking and collaborative localization has led to the emergence of a new class of smartphone applications that can access and share embedded sensor data. Unfortunately, this also means significant amount of user context information is now accessible to applications and potentially others, creating serious privacy and security concerns. Mobile OS frameworks like Android lack mechanisms for dynamic privacy control. We show how data flow among applications can be successfully filtered at a much more granular level using semantic web driven technologies that model device location, surroundings, application roles as well as context-dependent information sharing policies.

Committee members:

• Prof. Anupam Joshi (Chair)
• Prof. Tim Finin
• Prof. Yelena Yesha
• Prof. Shujia Zhou

Assistant Director, CWIT

 

DATE POSTED: 11/12/12
POSITION TITLE: Assistant Director, CWIT
CATEGORY: Professional
PERSONNEL STATUS: Exempt, Full time, Regular Note:  Position in for a three-year term.
DEPARTMENT: Center for Women in Technology (CWIT)
CLOSING DATE: 11/26/12

RESPONSIBILITIES: The incumbent will provide for the administration of the Cyber Scholars Program and Cyber Living Learning Community (LLC), including all recruitment, retention, and graduation activities. The Cyber Scholars Program is housed in the new Cyber security Center and run in partnership with UMBC's Center for Women in Technology.

Specific duties include: planning and implementation of the Cyber Scholars Program; developing recruitment activities in coordination with UMBC’s Office of Admissions and Orientation, other UMBC Scholar programs, the Cyber Security Center, and departments within College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT); overseeing the Cyber LLC, including coordinating selection initiatives and working closely with the Resident Assistant to encourage community and a supportive learning environment; providing individual and group advising for all Cyber Scholars and LLC members; executing skill-building and professional development events for students; planning and instructing a seminar and bridge program for Cyber Scholars; advising and student planning committees for large events; serving as a liaison between the program and officials within and outside the institution; assisting in the formulation of the organization’s budgets and project proposals; supporting secondary school outreach, including executing CWIT’s annual outreach program, Bits & Bytes; supporting major CWIT and UMBC events to ensure their success; answering mail, phone and walk-in inquiries from prospective students; and performing other duties as assigned.

The UMBC Center for Cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary university center that unifies UMBC’s many cybersecurity capabilities. The Center aims to provide both Maryland and the nation with academic and research leadership, collaboration, innovation, and outreach in this critical discipline by streamlining our academic, research, workforce development, and technology incubation activities to advance UMBC’s position as a leading research university in cybersecurity-related disciplines.

CWIT is dedicated to increasing the representation of women among those who create technology in engineering and information technology fields. CWIT strives to nurture a strong group of Scholars (including CWIT, T-SITE and Cyber Scholars), build community resources for other women

in these majors, foster a healthy gender climate and ITE pedagogy in College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) departments, and conducts outreach activities to increase interest in technical careers.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Requires a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree in a student support or technical field preferred) and student support experience. Strong organizational, writing, and verbal communications skills required. Some experience interacting with organizations in the cyber sector is a plus.

SALARY: Starting salary range at $50,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

APPLICATION: For best consideration, submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references by November 26, 2012 by email to . Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.

As required by the 1986 Immigration Act, be prepared to present acceptable documentation showing your identity and that you are a U.S. citizen or an alien who is authorized to work.

UMBC IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow, Dr. Rick Forno will be hosting a drop-in session to discuss UMBC's Graduate Cybersecurity Program. It will be held Wednesday, November 7 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm in ACIV-B WING Room 464. UMBC's Drop In sessions are a great way to meet Graduate Program Directors and chat about their programs, educational opportunities, and your interests in a given field.

RSVP for the Cybersecurity session at www.umbc.edu/rsvp/dropin

Cyber Security Mergers & Acquisitions — Striving for a
Successful Exit: Trends, Preparation, and Lessons Learned

9:00-10:30am, Friday 9 November 2012

RWD Building, UMBC Research Park
5521 Research Park Dr.
Baltimore, MD 21228

The Cyber Incubator at bwtech@UMBC will host a third CYBERInnovation Briefing on Friday 9 November 2012 in the RWD Building of UMBC's Research Park. Registration begins at 8:30am.

Cyber security acquisitions continue to heat up. Join the CyberHive community as we host a distinguished panel of cyber security executives and capital markets experts who will share their recent merger and acquisition experiences in the cyber security industry. Learn from buyers, sellers, and deal flow managers – how to drive a successful deal and be best prepared. Our panel will explore recent trends in activity, acquisition characteristics, attributes that enhance company valuation, lessons learned, process and financial preparation, retention of key employees, and offer words of wisdom.

Acquisition activity involving cyber security companies will continue to influence the economic growth of our region, as innovators from the National Security Agency, US Cyber Command, and the Defense Industrial Base launch creative business opportunities. These sessions are very interactive and we look forward to and welcome your participation.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Alexandra Gold, .

The UMBC Cyberdawgs triumphed at the Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3) yesterday. The team placed second at the MDC3 finals, held Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center. This is the first year that UMBC’s Cyberdawgs have placed in MDC3. In its second year, it is already the state’s biggest Cybersecurity battle.  

The UMBC winners include team captain Rob Waters, Brad Isbell, Christopher Moy, Jennifer Olk, Kevin Yu, and Patrick Ly. The win comes with a $2,000 cash prize for each student to be used to further their education and training in field of Cybersecurity.

First place went to the University of Maryland, College Park. “Throughout most of the day, UMBC and UMCP wrestled neck-in-neck for first place, and it was very, very close,” wrote Dr. Richard Forno, UMBC’s Cybersecurity graduate program director, in an e-mail announcement. “In a nutshell, UMBC entered 5 teams in the competition, 4 of them qualified for the finals, and 1 ‘took the silver’”.

The final challenge tasked teams with securing a number of systems on their own network while also attempting to gain (and keep) control of other “targets” that were provided as the day progressed. Points were earned by how well teams defended both their systems and those they gained control over.

UMBC is partnering with the Northrop Grumman Foundation to launch the UMBC Cyber Scholars Program. Funded by a generous $1 million grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation, and facilitated by the new UMBC Center for Cybersecurity and the UMBC Center for Women in Technology, the scholarship program is slated to launch this January, according to this morning's press release.

The scholarship program will support 15 to 20 scholars each year, with a focus on women and underrepresented minorities. Along with financial support, scholars will have the opportunity to do advanced research, internships, and take both management-oriented and technical courses.

To learn more about the new UMBC Cyber Scholars Program, read Northrop Grumman and UMBC's joint press release.
To learn more about the new UMBC Center for Cybersecurity, click here.

Northrop Grumman Foundation announced $1 million grant to launch the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Cyber Scholars program. Pictured from left are Freeman Hrabowski, president of UMBC; Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation; Alex Markowski, UMBC CWIT Scholar; Alec Pulianas, UMBC CWIT Scholar; and Anupam Joshi, director of UMBC’s Cybersecurity Center and head of the Cyber Scholars program.

This morning, UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski announced the creation of the new UMBC Center for Cybersecurity.

The aim of the center is to provide both Maryland and the nation with academic and research leadership, collaboration, innovation, and outreach in this critical discipline by streamlining UMBC's academic, research, workforce development, and technology incubation activities to advance the University's position as a leading research university in cybersecurity-related disciplines.

CSEE Professor Dr. Anupam Joshi will be the new center's director. Dr. Richard Forno, director of UMBC's Cybersecurity graduate programs, will serve as Assistant Director.

The center is made up of UMBC faculty across many disciplines, including Computer Science, Information Systems, Public Policy, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics. It will expand upon UMBC's pre-existing Cybersersecurity efforts like the Center for Information Security and Assurance (CISA), and the Cync Program run by the Cyber Incubator@bwtech.

In partnership with UMBC's Center for Women in Technology, the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity will also facilitate a new scholarship program called the UMBC Cyber Scholars program. Set to launch this January, the scholarship program is funded by a generous $1 million grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

To learn more about the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity, visit: cybersecurity.umbc.edu and follow the center on Facebook and Twitter.

*UPDATE*

Four out of the five UMBC teams who competed in the Maryland Cyber Challenge & Competition's (MDC3) second qualification round this weekend have made it through to the finals. These teams will compete at MDC3 2012 on October 17 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Congratulations to all five UMBC teams who made it past the first qualifier round of this year's Maryland Cyber Challenge & Competition (MDC3), which took place the weekend of September 20-21. The five teams will move on to the second qualifier round this weekend. They will be up against teams from UMUC, UMCP, Towson, Capitol College, Montgomery College, and FSU. The MDC3 finals will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center from October 16-17. To learn more about the upcoming competition, visit the website.