{"689973":{"#nid":"689973","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cybersecurity School Takes Home Multiple Awards ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESeven members of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/a\u003E (SCP) community were recognized for their leadership and excellence on Monday afternoon at the 35th Annual College of Computing Awards Ceremony.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am pleased to be able to recognize all of this hard work,\u201d said Dean \u003Cstrong\u003EVivek Sarkar\u003C\/strong\u003E during the ceremony.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne student, two staff members, and four faculty members were nominated by their SCP peers and received awards for their achievements over the past year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EStudent Solves Real World Problems\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYibin Yang\u003C\/strong\u003E (Ph.D. CS 2025) was awarded a 2025 Dissertation Award for his thesis on zero-knowledge proofs in real-world problems. SCP Professor and Senior Associate Chair \u003Cstrong\u003EVlad Kolesnikov\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eadvised Yang and acknowledged that Yang\u2019s work advances the field of cryptography.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYang contributed to the advancement of zero-knowledge proofs and multi-party computations, while also building toolchains that are faster and more usable than existing systems. His work earned a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/cryptographic-research-receives-distinguished-paper-award-acm-ccs-23\u0022\u003Edistinguished paper award\u003C\/a\u003E at the 2023 ACM CCS, and he also served as an RSAC Security Scholar.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EStaff Lead the Way\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the staff category, \u003Cstrong\u003EMary Helen Hayes\u003C\/strong\u003E was awarded the Outstanding Staff Leadership Award, and \u003Cstrong\u003EGina Anderson\u003C\/strong\u003E received the Ruthie Book Outstanding Staff Team Member Award.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Outstanding Staff Leadership Award is given to a full-time administrative staff member in recognition of an outstanding record of leadership that has resulted in a significant positive impact on the College of Computing, the Institute, or the computing community. Hayes was nominated by four faculty and staff members for this award for her steady presence in SCP since she began her role as director of research operations in 2024.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Ruthie Book Outstanding Staff Team Member Award is presented to a staff member in recognition of their outstanding performance in honor of Ruthie Book, who exemplified excellence in her work. Anderson was nominated by SCP faculty and staff for her outstanding leadership and mentorship as assistant director of business operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth received praise for their hard work from the college as well as from their supervisor, Senior Academic Officer \u003Cstrong\u003EJan Morian\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am so incredibly proud of our staff in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy who won awards this year at the College of Computing Annual Awards ceremony,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMary Helen Hayes and Regina Anderson are truly outstanding staff members who exemplify Georgia Tech\u2019s values. Their leadership has contributed substantially to the success of the school.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECybersecurity Faculty Net Four Awards\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Computing also recognized four SCP faculty members for excellence in teaching and research during the college\u2019s annual award ceremony.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssistant Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/external-news\/new-faculty-wants-secure-ai-wild\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETeodora Baluta\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E received the Junior Faculty Teaching Award for developing a new graduate-level course that brought together generative artificial intelligence (AI) security, adversarial machine learning, cryptography, and differential privacy. Her nominator, SCP Associate Professor Vassilis Zikas, said the course bridged a critical gap in a rapidly evolving area of computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor his role in leading \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/team-atlanta.github.io\/\u0022\u003ETeam Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E to victory in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-makes-history-wins-darpa-challenge\u0022\u003EDARPA AI Cyber Challenge\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETaesoo Kim\u003C\/strong\u003E received the Outstanding Senior Faculty Research Award. His nominator, Regents Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EWenke Lee\u003C\/strong\u003E, praised the team\u2019s performance, which not only won the competition but also beat the combined score of all other competitors. The AI developed by Team Atlanta is now open sourced with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/competition-community-how-team-atlantas-ai-cybersecurity-breakthrough-going-open-source\u0022\u003EOpen Source Security Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssociate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFrank Li\u003C\/strong\u003E received the Junior Faculty Research Award for establishing world-class research \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~frankli\/beeslab.html\u0022\u003EBEES Lab\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech. One of his nominators, Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003ESaman Zonouz\u003C\/strong\u003E, put Li\u2019s name forward for his work empirically evaluating and improving internet security and privacy from an operational standpoint.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, Associate Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBrendan Saltaformaggio\u003C\/strong\u003E received\u0026nbsp;the Mid-Career Faculty Research Award. Zikas nominated him for establishing internationally recognized research in cybersecurity forensics, malware analysis, AI security, and software supply chain security. Saltaformaggio\u2019s research highlights include the discovery of over \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/follow-money-2-billion-crypto-scams-found-ethereum\u0022\u003E$2 billion in stolen funds\u003C\/a\u003E on the Ethereum blockchain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We know SCP faculty conduct highly impactful research that is of the highest quality,\u201d said SCP Interim Chair \u003Cstrong\u003EMustaque Ahamad\u003C\/strong\u003E. \u201cOur faculty receiving research awards at all levels recognizes this and shows how we are working to realize SCP\u2019s vision of creating security for everyone and everything.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESeven members of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/a\u003E (SCP) community were recognized for their leadership and excellence on Monday afternoon at the 35th Annual College of Computing Awards Ceremony.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Seven members of the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP) community were recognized for their leadership and excellence on Monday afternoon at the 35th Annual College of Computing Awards Ceremony."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-04-23 17:30:25","changed_gmt":"2026-04-24 13:54:18","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680047":{"id":"680047","type":"image","title":"CoC-Awards-Spring-webcopy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1776965449","gmt_created":"2026-04-23 17:30:49","changed":"1776965449","gmt_changed":"2026-04-23 17:30:49","alt":"A photo of a group of people","file":{"fid":"264281","name":"CoC-Awards-Spring-webcopy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/CoC-Awards-Spring-webcopy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/CoC-Awards-Spring-webcopy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1800631,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/23\/CoC-Awards-Spring-webcopy.jpg?itok=8JGy7wzZ"}},"680046":{"id":"680046","type":"image","title":"Teodora-CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_MG_0187.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAssistant Professor Teodora Baluta receiving the Junior Faculty Teaching Award. Photos by Terence Rushin\/College of Computing\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776965449","gmt_created":"2026-04-23 17:30:49","changed":"1777037484","gmt_changed":"2026-04-24 13:31:24","alt":"A woman accepting a certificate.","file":{"fid":"264280","name":"CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_MG_0187.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_MG_0187.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_MG_0187.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":8044523,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/23\/CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_MG_0187.jpg?itok=VOZBsEp8"}},"680057":{"id":"680057","type":"image","title":"Gina-CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_86A0051-1-.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECollege of Computing Dean Vivek Sarkar\u0026nbsp;(left) stands with Assistant Director of Business Operations\u0026nbsp;Regina Anderson, recipient of the Ruthie Book Outstanding Staff Team Member Award. 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The woman is holding a certificate.","file":{"fid":"264288","name":"CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_86A0051-1-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/24\/CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_86A0051-1-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/24\/CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_86A0051-1-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":20979588,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/24\/CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_86A0051-1-.jpg?itok=R6w555C4"}},"680056":{"id":"680056","type":"image","title":"Mary Helen-CoC-Awards-Spring-2026_86A0049.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECollege of Computing Dean Vivek Sarkar\u0026nbsp;(left) stands with Director of Research Operations\u0026nbsp;Mary Helen Hayes, recipient of the Outstanding Staff Leadership Award. 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Hosted by Dean \u003Cstrong\u003EVivek Sarkar\u003C\/strong\u003E, the luncheon highlighted significant contributions to the College community, with several honorees from the School of Computing Instruction (SCI).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUndergraduate awards were presented by Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education \u003Cstrong\u003EOlufisayo Omojokun\u003C\/strong\u003E, recognizing excellence in leadership, teaching, and research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUndergraduate Awards:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOutstanding Legacy Leadership Award \u2013 \u003Cstrong\u003EVenkata Goli\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOutstanding Undergraduate Head Teaching Assistant Award \u2013 \u003Cstrong\u003EElias Lind\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOutstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Award \u2013 \u003Cstrong\u003EJoseph Thomas\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOutstanding Undergraduate Research Award \u2013 \u003Cstrong\u003EBrisa (Brin) Maneechotesuwan\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty Awards:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWilliam D. \u201cBill\u201d Leahy Outstanding Instructor Award \u2013 \u003Cstrong\u003EPedro Feij\u00f3o-Garc\u00eda\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMonica Sweat Outstanding Lecturer in External Engagement Award \u2013 \u003Cstrong\u003ENimisha Roy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe celebration underscored SCI\u2019s impact within the College, highlighting the breadth of excellence within its community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe College recognized outstanding achievements across faculty, staff, and students during the 35th Annual College of Computing Awards celebration. Hosted by Dean \u003Cstrong\u003EVivek Sarkar\u003C\/strong\u003E, the luncheon highlighted significant contributions to the College community, with several honorees from the School of Computing Instruction (SCI).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The College recognized outstanding achievements across faculty, staff, and students during the 35th Annual College of Computing Awards celebration."}],"uid":"36613","created_gmt":"2026-04-23 13:34:21","changed_gmt":"2026-04-23 14:04:21","author":"Emily Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680039":{"id":"680039","type":"image","title":"award1.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EVenkata Goli won the Outstanding Legacy Leadership award. 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Photos by Terence Rushin\/ College of Computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776951529","gmt_created":"2026-04-23 13:38:49","changed":"1776951529","gmt_changed":"2026-04-23 13:38:49","alt":"Undergraduate awards were presented by Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Olufisayo Omojokun, recognizing excellence in leadership, teaching, and research.","file":{"fid":"264276","name":"award4fisayo.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/award4fisayo.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/award4fisayo.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":43784,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/23\/award4fisayo.jpg?itok=tOnKTjEe"}},"680040":{"id":"680040","type":"image","title":"award2pedro.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESCI\u0027s Pedro Feij\u00f3o Garc\u00eda won the William D. \u201cBill\u201d Leahy Outstanding Instructor award. Photos by Terence Rushin\/ College of Computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776951529","gmt_created":"2026-04-23 13:38:49","changed":"1776951529","gmt_changed":"2026-04-23 13:38:49","alt":"SCI\u0027s Pedro Feij\u00f3o Garc\u00eda won the William D. \u201cBill\u201d Leahy Outstanding Instructor award. Photos by Terence Rushin\/ College of Computing. ","file":{"fid":"264274","name":"award2pedro.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/award2pedro.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/award2pedro.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1311802,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/23\/award2pedro.jpg?itok=G3OKKrYU"}},"680041":{"id":"680041","type":"image","title":"award3nimisha.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESCI\u0027s Nimisha Roy won the Monica Sweat Outstanding Lecturer in External Engagement award. Photos by Terence Rushin\/ College of Computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776951529","gmt_created":"2026-04-23 13:38:49","changed":"1776951529","gmt_changed":"2026-04-23 13:38:49","alt":"SCI\u0027s Nimisha Roy won the Monica Sweat Outstanding Lecturer in External Engagement award. Photos by Terence Rushin\/ College of Computing. ","file":{"fid":"264275","name":"award3nimisha.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/award3nimisha.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/award3nimisha.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":760749,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/23\/award3nimisha.jpg?itok=chlYW8uE"}}},"media_ids":["680039","680042","680040","680041"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660374","name":"School of Computing Instruction"}],"categories":[{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"193866","name":"school of computing instruction"},{"id":"12240","name":"faculty awards"},{"id":"3076","name":"teaching assistants"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689931":{"#nid":"689931","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Competition to Community: How Team Atlanta\u2019s AI Cybersecurity Breakthrough Is Going Open Source","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/team-atlanta.github.io\/\u0022\u003ETeam Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E claimed first place in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-makes-history-wins-darpa-challenge\u0022\u003EDARPA AI Cyber Challenge\u003C\/a\u003E last year, they weren\u2019t just celebrating a win\u2014they were demonstrating that artificial intelligence (AI) could autonomously detect and patch software vulnerabilities at a scale once considered impossible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, the team is working with the Linux Foundation and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/openssf.org\/\u0022\u003EOpen Source Security Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E (OpenSSF) to ensure that its breakthrough doesn\u2019t remain confined to a competition environment. The team\u2019s new initiative, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/openssf.org\/projects\/oss-crs\/\u0022\u003EOSS-CRS\u003C\/a\u003E, aims to standardize and operationalize cyber reasoning systems (CRSs) for real-world use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe AI Cyber Challenge pushed the boundaries of autonomous software security, with seven teams developing systems capable of finding and remediating vulnerabilities at scale,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EAndrew Chin\u003C\/strong\u003E, a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student and lead on the OSS-CRS program.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHowever, after the competition\u2019s conclusion, it has been difficult to apply these advancements to the open-source community due to infrastructure incompatibilities and the lack of long-term maintenance for the open-sourced CRS implementations.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address this gap, Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gts3.org\/\u0022\u003ESystems Software Lab\u003C\/a\u003E (SSLab), directed by Professor \u003Cstrong\u003ETaesoo Kim\u003C\/strong\u003E, is leading the development of OSS-CRS, which provides both a common framework for CRS development and the infrastructure needed to deploy these systems seamlessly across open-source projects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of this effort, the team has ported its competition-winning system, Atlantis, into the OSS-CRS framework. The move makes it compatible with laptops and other everyday machines with flexible resource and budget configurations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInteroperability is also central to the framework\u2019s design. Atlantis can be combined with other CRSs to improve performance, including systems developed by fellow AIxCC finalists and newer agentic, command-line-based tools. This modular approach reflects a key lesson the team learned from the competition: collaboration between systems can outperform any single solution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOSS-CRS has been accepted as a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/github.com\/ossf\/oss-crs\u0022\u003Esandbox project\u003C\/a\u003E within OpenSSF\u2019s AI\/ML Security Working Group, a milestone that brings added technical guidance and community support to the project. This includes:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAccess to mentorship\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDedicated working group meetings\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBroader visibility through industry events, publications, and outreach efforts\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe collaboration will also foster stronger connections with open-source maintainers, helping streamline vulnerability disclosure and remediation workflows.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETeam Atlanta, winners of the DARPA AI Cyber Challenge, are turning their competition-winning AI cybersecurity system into a real-world tool for the open-source community. In partnership with the Linux Foundation and the Open Source Security Foundation, the team has launched OSS-CRS, a framework designed to standardize and deploy autonomous cyber reasoning systems at scale. By open sourcing their technology and enabling collaboration between multiple AI systems, the initiative aims to make it easier to detect and fix software vulnerabilities\u2014strengthening the security of critical open-source infrastructure worldwide.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Team Atlanta, winners of the DARPA AI Cyber Challenge, are turning their competition-winning AI cybersecurity system into a real-world tool for the open-source community."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-04-21 17:28:31","changed_gmt":"2026-04-22 17:50:03","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680033":{"id":"680033","type":"image","title":"AIxCC-2025-27-web-copy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1776880174","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 17:49:34","changed":"1776880174","gmt_changed":"2026-04-22 17:49:34","alt":"A group of people standing inside of a convention hall. ","file":{"fid":"264266","name":"AIxCC-2025-27-web-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/AIxCC-2025-27-web-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/AIxCC-2025-27-web-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1078593,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/22\/AIxCC-2025-27-web-copy.jpg?itok=6t8OfTPC"}}},"media_ids":["680033"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jpopham3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689945":{"#nid":"689945","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Zoo Atlanta Elephants Embrace New GT-Designed Interactive Enrichment Wall","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETitan, Msholo, Kelly, and Tara are just like any other African elephants \u2014 intelligent creatures that require mental stimulation in their everyday lives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey would normally get this in their natural habitats while foraging for food and staying alert to predators that might target calves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/zooatlanta.org\/animal\/african-elephant\/\u0022\u003Ethe four elephants reside at Zoo Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E, so they don\u2019t have to worry about these things.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why zoo caretakers are always on the lookout for better ways to help their elephants exercise their brains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe caretakers at Zoo Atlanta found one when they met\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ariannamastali.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArianna Mastali\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Ph.D. student in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing. Mastali designed an audio enrichment wall to help stimulate Zoo Atlanta\u2019s elephants.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany zoos build concrete enrichment walls to foster elephant problem-solving and critical thinking. The walls usually have holes for the elephants to reach through with their trunks as they search for food, treats, or playful objects on the other side.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMastali enhanced Zoo Atlanta\u2019s enrichment wall by adding an interactive audio component. A nearby speaker system emits distinctive low-frequency tones when an elephant sticks its trunk into a hole.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey\u2019re intelligent creatures that require a lot of complexity in their habitat,\u201d Mastali said. \u201cWe wanted to add to that complexity while giving them more control.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExperimenting in the Wild\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMastali\u2019s system uses cameras and computer vision to detect when an elephant\u2019s trunk is inside a hole and then sends a signal to the speakers to play a sound.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMastali is a member of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/animalab.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Animal Lab\u003C\/a\u003E, directed by School of IC professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/melody-jackson\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMelody Jackson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The lab often uses sensing technology to enhance animal wellness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMastali said she tried incorporating sensing devices into her project several times. She constructed an insert made of PVC pipe and attached a sensor to its base that used infrared beams to detect the elephant\u2019s trunk.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, she said it was difficult to account for the elephants\u2019 strength. Their trunks would break the insert after a day or two.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe pivoted toward computer vision to remove the risk of damage and keep the enrichment wall as close to natural as possible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA big lesson we learned was that using existing materials the elephants are already familiar with was the best way to do things, and it simplified our design process,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShane Rosse\u003C\/strong\u003E, a student in Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omscs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOnline Master of Science in Computer Science\u003C\/a\u003E (OMSCS) program, assisted Mastali with the computer vision component.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnhancing Environmental Enrichment\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMastali observed the elephants\u2019 behavior at the wall seven days before and seven days after the installation of the audio enrichment system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe number of times the elephants approached the wall after installation increased by 176%, and time spent at the wall increased by 71%\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe weren\u2019t sure at first if they would care that much, so it was great to see how much time they spent at the wall, especially our less dominant females,\u201d said Kirby Miller, senior elephant caretaker at Zoo Atlanta. \u201cThey seem to like it the most.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiller said the elephants used to only approach the wall when they knew there was food behind it. That started to change after the audio enrichment system was installed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe would be off somewhere else, and we\u2019d hear the speaker playing the sounds, and we knew there wasn\u2019t any food back there,\u201d Miller said. \u201cTara had her trunk in one of the holes, just listening to the sound. That let us know they do like it, and they\u2019re very curious about it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiller said because elephants have sharp memories and acute senses of hearing and smell, their habitats must be designed with that in mind.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZoo Atlanta\u2019s African Savanna elephant habitat was redesigned in 2019. In addition to the enrichment wall, it includes a bathing pond, two waterfalls, and swing boom devices that hold hay for elephants to eat as they would in the wild.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiller said elephants sheltered at any zoo or conservation would benefit from enrichment devices enhanced by technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI think anything they can participate in that gives them choice and control is great for all zoo elephants,\u201d she said. \u201cIt depends on the elephants, but with our elephants, they can hear much higher frequencies than we can. That noise isn\u2019t that loud for us, but for them, they\u2019re feeling that noise, and they can hear much more, which makes it more stimulating for them.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Ph.D. student Arianna Mastali designed an interactive audio enrichment wall for Zoo Atlanta\u0027s four African elephants. A speaker system plays low-frequency tones when an elephant inserts its trunk into one of the wall\u0027s holes, deteced by computer vision.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech is working with Zoo Atlanta to design an audio enrichment wall for African elephants."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-04-22 14:20:53","changed_gmt":"2026-04-22 14:44:15","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680026":{"id":"680026","type":"image","title":"DSC_2500.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1776867679","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 14:21:19","changed":"1776867679","gmt_changed":"2026-04-22 14:21:19","alt":"Arianna Mastali stands in front of an African elephant in the background at Zoo Atlanta.","file":{"fid":"264259","name":"DSC_2500.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_2500.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_2500.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":203094,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_2500.jpeg?itok=g1EF8go7"}},"680027":{"id":"680027","type":"image","title":"DSC_0455.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1776867787","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 14:23:07","changed":"1776867787","gmt_changed":"2026-04-22 14:23:07","alt":"Elephant at Zoo Atlanta sticks its trunk into a hole in the enrichment wall","file":{"fid":"264260","name":"DSC_0455.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0455.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0455.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":429358,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0455.jpeg?itok=7sLBTWa8"}},"680028":{"id":"680028","type":"image","title":"DSC_0522.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1776867847","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 14:24:07","changed":"1776867847","gmt_changed":"2026-04-22 14:24:07","alt":"Elephant uses its trunk to grab hay that is suspended in the air","file":{"fid":"264261","name":"DSC_0522.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0522.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0522.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":455927,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0522.jpeg?itok=7GaCnto5"}},"680029":{"id":"680029","type":"image","title":"DSC_0500.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1776867908","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 14:25:08","changed":"1776867908","gmt_changed":"2026-04-22 14:25:08","alt":"Zoo Atlanta visitor walk past the elephant exhibit with an elephant in the background","file":{"fid":"264262","name":"DSC_0500.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0500.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0500.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":235033,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/22\/DSC_0500.jpeg?itok=0F8wEbaE"}},"680030":{"id":"680030","type":"video","title":"Play That Trunk Music: Elephant Enrichment x Computer Science","body":"\u003Cp\u003EElephants require mental stimulation in their everyday lives, which is why Zoo Atlanta redesigned its African Savanna habitat that shelters four African elephants in 2019. The habitat includes an elephant enrichment wall that has numerous holes for elephants to stick their trunks into as they search for food on the other side.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe elephant enrichment wall at Zoo Atlanta recently received an upgrade thanks to a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student. Arianna Mastali designed an audio enrichment system that uses computer vision to detect when an elephant sticks its trunk into the enrichment wall as it searches for food. The system then sends a signal to play a unique tone from a nearby speaker that corresponds to each hole. So far, Mastali has found that elephant wall interactions have increased by 176%, and the elephants are visiting the wall even when there isn\u0027t food behind it.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776868980","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 14:43:00","changed":"1776868980","gmt_changed":"2026-04-22 14:43:00","video":{"youtube_id":"ANlIAhp4YTs","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ANlIAhp4YTs"}}},"media_ids":["680026","680027","680028","680029","680030"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"6765","name":"zoo atlanta"},{"id":"174264","name":"elephants"},{"id":"3237","name":"enrichment"},{"id":"104701","name":"animal computer interaction lab"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689263":{"#nid":"689263","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Transformer Explainer Shows How AI is More Math than Human","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile people use search engines, chatbots, and generative artificial intelligence tools every day, most don\u2019t know how they work. This sets unrealistic expectations for AI and leads to misuse. It also slows progress toward building new AI applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are making AI easier to understand through their work on Transformer Explainer. The free, online tool shows non-experts how ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) process language.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/transformer-explainer\/\u0022\u003ETransformer Explainer\u003C\/a\u003E is easy to use and runs on any web browser. It quickly went viral after its debut, reaching 150,000 users in its first three months. More than 563,000 people worldwide have used the tool so far.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGlobal interest in Transformer Explainer continues when the team presents the tool at the 2026 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chi2026.acm.org\/\u0022\u003ECHI 2026\u003C\/a\u003E). CHI, the world\u2019s most prestigious conference on human-computer interaction, will take place in Barcelona, April 13-17.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/research\/chi-2026\/\u0022\u003ERelated: GT @ CHI 2026\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are moments when LLMs can seem almost like a person with their own will and personality, and that misperception has real consequences. For example, there have been cases where teenagers have made poor decisions based on conversations with LLMs,\u201d said Ph.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/aereeeee.github.io\/\u0022\u003EAeree Cho\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUnderstanding that an LLM is fundamentally a model that predicts the probability distribution of the next token helps users avoid taking its outputs as absolute. What you put in shapes what comes out, and that understanding helps people engage with AI more carefully and critically.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA transformer is a neural network architecture that changes data input sequence into an output. Text, audio, and images are forms of processed data, which is why transformers are common in generative AI models. They do this by learning context and tracking mathematical relationships between sequence components.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETransformer Explainer demystifies how transformers work. The platform uses visualization and interaction to show, step by step, how text flows through a model and produces predictions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing this approach, Transformer Explainer impacts the AI landscape in four main ways:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt counters hype and misconceptions surrounding AI by showing how transformers work.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt improves AI literacy among users by removing technical barriers and lowering the entry for learning about AI.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt expands AI education by helping instructors teach AI mechanisms without extensive setup or computing resources.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt influences future development of AI tools and educational techniques by providing a blueprint for interpretable AI systems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I first learned about transformers, I felt overwhelmed. A transformer model has many parts, each with its own complex math. Existing resources typically present all this information at once, making it difficult to see how everything fits together,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gracekimcy.github.io\/\u0022\u003EGrace Kim\u003C\/a\u003E, a dual B.S.\/M.S. computer science student.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBy leveraging interactive visualization, we use levels of abstraction to first show the big picture of the entire model. Then users click into individual parts to reveal the underlying details and math. This way, Transformer Explainer makes learning far less intimidating.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany users don\u2019t know what transformers are or how they work. The Georgia Tech team found that people often misunderstand AI. Some label AI with human-like characteristics, such as creativity. Others even describe it as working like magic.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFurthermore, barriers make it hard for students interested in transformers to start learning. Tutorials tend to be too technical and overwhelm beginners with math and code. While visualization tools exist, these often target more advanced AI experts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETransformer Explainer overcomes these obstacles through its interactive, user-focused platform. It runs a familiar GPT model directly in any web browser, requiring no installation or special hardware.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsers can enter their own text and watch the model predict the next word in real time. Sankey-style diagrams show how information moves through embeddings, attention heads, and transformer blocks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe platform also lets users switch between high-level concepts and detailed math. By adjusting temperature settings, users can see how randomness affects predictions. This reveals how probabilities drive AI outputs, rather than creativity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMillions of people around the world interact with transformer-driven AI. We believe that it is crucial to bridge the gap between day-to-day user experience and the models\u0027 technical reality, ensuring these tools are not misinterpreted as human-like or seen as sentient,\u201d said Ph.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.alexkarpekov.com\/\u0022\u003EAlex Karpekov\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cExplaining the architecture helps users recognize that language generated by models is a product of computation, leading to a more grounded engagement with the technology.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECho, Karpekov, and Kim led the development of Transformer Explainer. Ph.D. students\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/alechelbling.com\/\u0022\u003EAlec Helbling\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/seongmin.xyz\/\u0022\u003ESeongmin Lee\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bhoov.com\/\u0022\u003EBen Hoover\u003C\/a\u003E, and alumni\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/zijie.wang\/\u0022\u003EZijie (Jay) Wang\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/minsuk.com\/\u0022\u003EMinsuk Kahng\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CS-CSE 2019) assisted on the project.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/polochau\/\u0022\u003EPolo Chau\u003C\/a\u003E supervised the group and their work. His lab focuses on data science, human-centered AI, and visualization for social good.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcceptance at CHI 2026 stems from the team winning the best poster award at the 2024 IEEE Visualization Conference. This recognition from one of the top venues in visualization research highlights Transformer Explainer\u2019s effectiveness in teaching how transformers work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTransformer Explainer has reached over half a million learners worldwide,\u201d said Chau, a faculty member in the School of Computational Science and Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u0027m thrilled to see it extend Georgia Tech\u0027s mission of expanding access to higher education, now to anyone with a web browser.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile people use search engines, chatbots, and generative artificial intelligence tools every day, most don\u2019t know how they work. This sets unrealistic expectations for AI and leads to misuse. It also slows progress toward building new AI applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are making AI easier to understand through their work on Transformer Explainer. The free, online tool shows non-experts how ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) process language.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/transformer-explainer\/\u0022\u003ETransformer Explainer\u003C\/a\u003E is easy to use and runs on any web browser. It quickly went viral after its debut, reaching 150,000 users in its first three months. More than 563,000 people worldwide have used the tool so far.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGlobal interest in Transformer Explainer continues when the team presents the tool at the 2026 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chi2026.acm.org\/\u0022\u003ECHI 2026\u003C\/a\u003E). CHI, the world\u2019s most prestigious conference on human-computer interaction, will take place in Barcelona, April 13-17.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers are making AI easier to understand through their work on Transformer Explainer. The free, online tool shows non-experts how ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) process language, improving AI literacy."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 16:42:57","changed_gmt":"2026-04-17 18:58:09","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679798":{"id":"679798","type":"image","title":"Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774975392","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 16:43:12","changed":"1774975392","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 16:43:12","alt":"CHI 2026 Transformer Explainer","file":{"fid":"264002","name":"Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":120484,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg?itok=eryBAi-R"}},"679799":{"id":"679799","type":"image","title":"Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774975428","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 16:43:48","changed":"1774975428","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 16:43:48","alt":"CHI 2026 Transformer Explainer","file":{"fid":"264003","name":"Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":69012,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg?itok=0B-WDInX"}}},"media_ids":["679798","679799"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/transformer-explainer-shows-how-ai-more-math-human","title":"Transformer Explainer Shows How AI is More Math than Human"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"170447","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"176858","name":"machine learning center"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"14646","name":"human-computer interaction"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"194384","name":"Tech AI"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687882":{"#nid":"687882","#data":{"type":"news","title":" Iran\u2019s Latest Internet Blackout Extends to Phones and Starlink","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Iranian regime\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-protests-economy-starlink-internet-disconnect-8d944601e7bfeae6753ec0645f5a7139\u0022\u003Einternet shutdown\u003C\/a\u003E, initiated on Jan. 8, 2026, has severely diminished the flow of information out of the country. Without internet access, little news about the national protests that flared \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/middle-east\/irans-heavy-crackdown-quells-protests-8e757172\u0022\u003Ebetween Dec. 30, 2025, and Jan. 13, 2026\u003C\/a\u003E, and the regime\u2019s violent crackdown has reached the world. Many digital rights and internet monitoring groups have assessed the current shutdown to be the most sophisticated and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/5d848323-84a9-4512-abd2-dd09e0a786a3\u0022\u003Emost severe in Iran\u2019s history\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe are a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en\u0026amp;user=WBRatTAAAAAJ\u0026amp;view_op=list_works\u0026amp;sortby=pubdate\u0022\u003Esocial scientist\u003C\/a\u003E and two \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en\u0026amp;user=NLeeizQAAAAJ\u0026amp;view_op=list_works\u0026amp;sortby=pubdate\u0022\u003Ecomputer scientists\u003C\/a\u003E at the Georgia Institute of Technology\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inetintel.cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EInternet Intelligence Lab\u003C\/a\u003E who \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en\u0026amp;user=oZNdAREAAAAJ\u0026amp;view_op=list_works\u0026amp;sortby=pubdate\u0022\u003Estudy internet connectivity\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ioda.inetintel.cc.gatech.edu\/dashboard\u0022\u003EInternet Outage Detection and Analysis\u003C\/a\u003E project, we have been measuring internet connectivity globally since 2011. The project was motivated by the internet shutdowns during the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Arab-Spring\u0022\u003EArab Spring\u003C\/a\u003E mass protests that began in December 2010 against Middle Eastern and North African regimes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project provides a public dashboard of internet connectivity measurements. Its long view of global internet connectivity offers insight into the Iranian regime\u2019s developing sophistication in controlling information and shutting down the internet in the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur measurements show that Iran has been in a complete internet shutdown since Jan. 8. This is longer than the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/ioda.live\/post\/3mcigxurkms2w\u0022\u003E48\u00bd-hour\u003C\/a\u003E shutdown in June 2025 during the Israel-Iran war and surpasses the duration of the November 2019 shutdown that lasted almost seven days. Compared to the two weeks of nightly mobile phone network shutdowns in September to October of 2022 during the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/stories\/2025\/04\/justice-and-accountability-woman-life-freedom-protests\u0022\u003EWomen, Life, Freedom protests\u003C\/a\u003E, this shutdown is more complete by also closing down fixed-line connectivity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMeasuring Internet Connectivity\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Internet Outage Detection and Analysis project measures global internet connectivity through three signals related to internet infrastructure: routing announcements, active probing and internet background noise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECore routers, unlike the router in your home, are responsible for directing traffic to and from networks. Routing announcements are how they communicate with each other. If a nation\u2019s network of routers stop making these announcements, the network will disappear from the global internet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe also measure the responsiveness of networks through probing. To create the probing signal, we continuously ping devices in millions of networks around the globe. Most devices are designed to automatically respond to these pings by echoing them back to the sender. We collect these responses and label networks as \u201cconnected\/active.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA tool we use dubbed \u201cnetwork telescope\u201d captures internet background noise \u2013 traffic generated by hundreds of thousands of internet hosts worldwide. A drop in this signal can indicate an outage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022rmQfn\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/rmQfn\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA History of Shutdowns\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first nationwide shutdown that the Internet Outage Detection and Analysis project observed in Iran was during the \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/03068374.2020.1712889\u0022\u003EBloody November\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d uprising that happened in 2019. During that shutdown, the primary method the regime used was turning off routing announcements, which stopped all traffic between routers. This is a blunt force tool that makes the internet essentially go dark; no connectivity is possible for affected networks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, our measurement \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ooni.org\/post\/2019-iran-internet-blackout\/#connecting-to-the-internet-from-iran\u0022\u003Ereporting showed differences\u003C\/a\u003E in signal-drop patterns among the three data sources we track. These patterns demonstrate the regime\u2019s adoption of diverse disconnection mechanisms and large differences in the timing of disconnection by various Iranian internet service providers (ISPs).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis reporting also showed evidence that the 2019 blackout was not complete and some people were able to circumvent it. Nevertheless, as documented by Amnesty International, the internet darkness created a \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iran-shutdown.amnesty.org\/\u0022\u003Eweb of impunity\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d that allowed the regime to violate international human rights law without any accountability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn September 2022, the Women, Life, Freedom protests erupted after the killing of Mahsa Amini in state custody. To suppress the nationwide mobilization without exacting a high cost, the Iranian regime implemented \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ioda.inetintel.cc.gatech.edu\/reports\/technical-multi-stakeholder-report-on-internet-shutdowns-the-case-of-iran-amid-autumn-2022-protests\/\u0022\u003Enightly shutdowns affecting only mobile networks\u003C\/a\u003E. Keeping fixed-line internet connections online limited the impact of these shutdowns to mitigate the economic, political and social costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese nightly internet curfews lasted about two weeks. During this time the regime implemented other forms of censorship, specifically blocking applications to further control the information environment and to prevent access to technologies for circumventing censorship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn June 2025, the Israel-Iran war began and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/youtu.be\/jbC5bDV-rnA?si=twSnL8M7azOmj0Hn\u0026amp;t=73\u0022\u003Ewe observed\u003C\/a\u003E initial degradation in internet connectivity, which often occurs during times of conflict, when internet and power infrastructure are affected by missile attacks. The Iranian regime shut down the internet over four days, citing national security as its rationale.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat time, the regime did not use routing announcements to implement the shutdown. Our measurement data shows that routing announcements were largely unaffected. Instead, the Iranian regime implemented the shutdown by interfering with key protocols that allow the internet to function, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/deploy360\/tls\/basics\/\u0022\u003Etransport layer security\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-dns-a-computer-engineer-explains-this-foundational-piece-of-the-web-and-why-its-the-internets-achilles-heel-268336\u0022\u003Edomain name system\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe regime used these techniques to shut off Iran\u2019s connectivity with the global internet while allowing specific, sanctioned access in a policy called whitelisting. This strategy shows an increased sophistication in how the Iranian regime implements shutdowns and controls the flow of information.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrganizations that support digital human rights in Iran report that some Iranians were \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/2025\/10\/02\/irans-stealth-blackout-a-multi-stakeholder-analysis-of-the-june-2025-internet-shutdown\/\u0022\u003Eable to circumvent the shutdown\u003C\/a\u003E using virtual private networks and various censorship-resilient technologies such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/P2P\u0022\u003Epeer-to-peer networks\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2Yaoqdw2cwg?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe Iranian regime has targeted Starlink satellite internet service in its internet shutdown.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EJan. 8, 2026\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Dec. 30, 2025, the Internet Outage Detection and Analysis project team received reports of internet disruptions amid the start of nationwide protests. At 8 p.m. Iran Standard Time on Jan. 8, 2026, the Iranian regime shut down the internet. Our measurements \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ioda.inetintel.cc.gatech.edu\/country\/IR?from=1765814823\u0026amp;until=1768406823\u0026amp;view=view1\u0022\u003Eshow a nominal amount of responsiveness\u003C\/a\u003E to our active probing, about 3%. This small amount could be an artifact of our measurements or lingering connectivity for whitelisted access, for example for Iranian government officials and services.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside of very limited whitelisted connectivity, digital human rights groups reported severely limited access to the internet both internationally and domestically. According to digital rights group \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ainita.net\/\u0022\u003EProject Ainita\u003C\/a\u003E, the Iranian regime implemented the shutdown by interfering with transport layer security and the domain name system. In addition, landline phone calls have been only intermittently available.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAside from these more sophisticated techniques, this shutdown evokes the Bloody November shutdown of 2019 in that it has been ordered during a time of protest \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.en-hrana.org\/day-seventeen-of-irans-protests-continued-internet-shutdown-spike-in-figures-and-intensifying-global-reactions\/\u0022\u003Ewith mass civilian casualties\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EJammed Satellites\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, low Earth orbit satellite services, such as Starlink, can help people maintain internet connectivity during outages and government-ordered shutdowns. These satellite services can allow users to bypass damaged or state-censored terrestrial internet infrastructure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, accessing the internet via satellite services during a shutdown is not without risk. User terminals communicate with satellites via radio frequency links that can be detected through surveillance, for example from planes or drones, potentially exposing users\u2019 locations and putting them at risk of being identified. Currently, the Iranian regime is using jammers to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/2026\/01\/13\/network-monitoring-january-2025-internet-repression-in-times-of-protest\/\u0022\u003Edegrade the Starlink connection\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most significant barriers to connecting users in Iran to satellite services is a logistical one. Providing connectivity via Starlink\u2019s service would require distributing a large number of user terminals within the country, a feat that would be difficult because the devices are likely to be considered illegal contraband by the government. This severely limits the scale at which such services can be adopted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecent technological developments, however, may partially mitigate this challenge. Starlink\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/starlink.com\/business\/direct-to-cell\u0022\u003Edirect-to-cell\u003C\/a\u003E capability, which aims to provide LTE cellular connectivity directly to ordinary cellphones, could reduce dependence on specialized hardware. If they become widely available, such systems would allow users to connect using common devices already in circulation, sidestepping one of the most difficult barriers to providing connectivity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike other radio-based communications, however, direct-to-cell connectivity would remain \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/15\/technology\/iran-online-starlink.html\u0022\u003Evulnerable to signal jamming\u003C\/a\u003E and other forms of electronic interference by the government.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the time being, the Iranian regime controls the country\u2019s internet infrastructure, which means it still has a virtual off switch.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/273439\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/irans-latest-internet-blackout-extends-to-phones-and-starlink-273439\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Iranian regime\u2019s internet shutdown, initiated on Jan. 8, 2026, has severely diminished the flow of information out of the country.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Iranian regime\u2019s internet shutdown, initiated on Jan. 8, 2026, has severely diminished the flow of information out of the country. "}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-01-16 13:52:41","changed_gmt":"2026-04-13 15:34:26","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-16T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-16T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679144":{"id":"679144","type":"image","title":"Protesters have filled the streets in Iranian cities, but the regime\u2019s internet shutdown means little news gets in or out of the country. MAHSA\/Middle East Images\/AFP via Getty Images","body":"\u003Cp\u003EProtesters have filled the streets in Iranian cities, but the regime\u2019s internet shutdown means little news gets in or out of the country. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/iranians-gather-while-blocking-a-street-during-a-protest-in-news-photo\/2254948920\u0022\u003EMAHSA\/Middle East Images\/AFP via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1770040671","gmt_created":"2026-02-02 13:57:51","changed":"1770040671","gmt_changed":"2026-02-02 13:57:51","alt":"Protesters have filled the streets in Iranian cities, but the regime\u2019s internet shutdown means little news gets in or out of the country. MAHSA\/Middle East Images\/AFP via Getty Images","file":{"fid":"263267","name":"file-20260114-66-h9x7xx.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/file-20260114-66-h9x7xx.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/file-20260114-66-h9x7xx.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":519973,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/02\/file-20260114-66-h9x7xx.jpg?itok=4IKLToyJ"}}},"media_ids":["679144"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/irans-latest-internet-blackout-extends-to-phones-and-starlink-273439","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194974","name":"go-theconversation"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthors:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/amanda-meng-2566155\u0022\u003EAmanda Meng\u003C\/a\u003E, Senior Research Scientist, College of Computing, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/alberto-dainotti-2566173\u0022\u003EAlberto Dainotti\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Professor of Computer Science, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/zachary-bischof-2566170\u0022\u003EZachary Bischof\u003C\/a\u003E, Senior Research Scientist, College of Computing, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689636":{"#nid":"689636","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Bad Vibes: AI-Generated Code is Vulnerable, Researchers Warn","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EVibe coding programmers are releasing batches of vulnerable code, according to researchers at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP) at Georgia Tech, who have scanned over 43,000 security advisories across the web.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe programming style relies on using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create software code using tools like Claude, Gemini, and GitHub Copilot. According to graduate research assistant \u003Cstrong\u003EHanqing Zhao\u003C\/strong\u003E of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gts3.org\/\u0022\u003ESystems Software \u0026amp; Security Lab\u003C\/a\u003E (SSLab), no one had been tracking these common vulnerabilities and exposures before the launch of their \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vibe-radar-ten.vercel.app\/\u0022\u003EVibe Security Radar\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe vulnerabilities we found lead to breaches,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone is using these tools now. We need a feedback loop to identify which tools, which patterns, and which workflows create the most risk.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe radar extensively scans public vulnerability databases, finds the error for each vulnerability, and then examines the code\u2019s history to find who introduced the bug. If they discover an AI tool\u0027s signature, the radar flags it.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf the 74 confirmed cases uncovered so far by the tool, 14 are critical risks, and 25 are high. These vulnerabilities include command injection, authentication bypass, and server-side request forgery. Zhao explained that since AI models tend to repeat the same mistakes, an attacker would need to find these bugs just once.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMillions of developers using the same models means the same bugs showing up across different projects,\u201d he said. \u201cFind one pattern in one AI codebase, you can scan for it across thousands of repositories.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite its success, the team has only scratched the surface of the problem. The radar can trace metadata like co-author tags, bot emails, and other known tool signatures, but it can\u0027t identify an issue if these markers have been removed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next step is behavioral detection. AI-written code has patterns in how it names variables, structures functions, and handles errors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u0027re building models that can identify AI code from the code itself, no metadata needed,\u201d said Zhao. \u201cThat opens up a lot of cases we currently can\u0027t touch.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team is also improving its verification pipeline and expanding its sources to include more vulnerability databases. The goal is to get a more complete picture of AI-introduced vulnerabilities across open source, not just the ones that happen to leave signatures behind.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs more programmers rely on vibe coding, Zhao warns that it still needs to be reviewed as thoroughly as any other project.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe whole point of vibe coding is not reading it afterward, I know,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if you\u0027re shipping AI output to production, review it the way you\u0027d review a junior developer\u0027s pull request. Especially anything around input handling and authentication.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen prompting AI, SSLab also recommends providing more detailed instructions to get it closer to production-ready. There are also tools to check the code for vulnerabilities after \u0026nbsp;code it has been generated. Not double-checking could lead to a catastrophe.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe attack surface keeps growing,\u201d said Zhao. \u201cMore people running AI agents locally means the attacker doesn\u0027t need to break into the company infrastructure. They just need one vulnerability in a model context protocol server that someone installed and never reviewed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne reason the attack surfaces are expanding rapidly is AI\u2019s evolution. In the second half of 2025, the Vibe Security Radar found about 18 cases across seven months. Then, in the first three months of 2026, it identified 56. March 2026 alone had 35, more than all of 2025 combined.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany tools, like Claude, are now more autonomous, allowing developers to write entire features, create files, and even make architecture decisions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen an agent builds something without authentication, that\u0027s not a typo,\u201d said Zhao. \u201cIt\u0027s a design flaw baked in from the start. Claude Code and Copilot together account for most of what we detect, but that\u0027s partly because they leave the clearest signatures.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers at the Georgia Tech School of Cybersecurity and Privacy are uncovering a growing risk in modern software development: vulnerabilities introduced by AI-generated code.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing the Vibe Security Radar, the team analyzed more than 43,000 security advisories and identified dozens of confirmed vulnerabilities tied to tools like GitHub Copilot, Claude, and Gemini\u2014including critical flaws such as authentication bypass and command injection.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers at the Georgia Tech School of Cybersecurity and Privacy are uncovering a growing risk in modern software development: vulnerabilities introduced by AI-generated code."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-04-13 14:32:02","changed_gmt":"2026-04-13 14:44:00","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679920":{"id":"679920","type":"image","title":"Vibe-Coding.jpg","body":null,"created":"1776090752","gmt_created":"2026-04-13 14:32:32","changed":"1776090752","gmt_changed":"2026-04-13 14:32:32","alt":"A man typing on a computer. There is a hovering screen hovering over his hands that says \u0022Vibe Coding\u0022","file":{"fid":"264142","name":"Vibe-Coding.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/Vibe-Coding.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/Vibe-Coding.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1783427,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/13\/Vibe-Coding.jpg?itok=jhk18PZE"}}},"media_ids":["679920"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2835","name":"ai"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186861","name":"go-cyber"},{"id":"194393","name":"AI and Cybersecurity"},{"id":"1404","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jpopham3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689404":{"#nid":"689404","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Alumna Reflects on Resilience, Mentorship, and the Computing Alumni Network","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThey say it\u2019s never too late to find your people. It took a while for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/angeliquelane\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAngie Lane\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CS 2001), but returning to her roots at the College of Computing after nearly twenty years not only helped her discover a community but also made her realize how much there is to gain from reconnecting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow a senior professional working at the intersection of business automation and AI integration, Lane balances a high-tech career with a people-first leadership style as the head of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/884\/\u0022\u003ECollege\u2019s Computing Alumni Network\u003C\/a\u003E. In this role, she promotes mentorship, global outreach, and the \u0022non-linear\u0022 paths that shape a successful career.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the following Q\u0026amp;A, Lane shares insights from her journey from a computer science student to an AI automation expert, discusses the \u0022human\u0022 side of technology, and outlines her vision for growing our alumni community well beyond Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat drew you to get involved with the Computing Alumni Network?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHonestly, it started for personal reasons. I wanted to expand my network and find my people. But what kept me engaged was something deeper. I reconnected with the College about ten years ago, and I quickly realized how much I\u0027d missed by not being involved sooner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere\u0027s an energy you get from staying close to a place that shaped you, and I wanted to help provide that for others the way I wished it had been for me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan you share a moment or initiative with the Network that you\u2019re especially proud of?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe\u0027ve had some wonderful events over the years \u2014 some that really stand out, others that were quieter but no less meaningful. Reflecting on it, what I\u0027m most proud of is how the Network has endured the turbulence of the last few years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENavigating the pandemic, adapting to significant changes in our supporting staff, and still showing up for students and each other \u2014 that resilience is something I don\u0027t take for granted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow has the alumni community changed since you graduated?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI can\u0027t speak to the full arc. I got involved with the Computing Network in 2019, so my perspective is more recent. What I\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Ecan\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;say is that our focus has become more centered on the students, how we can give back, and how we can include our global alumni network.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy do you think staying connected to the College matters, even years after graduation?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027m living proof that it\u0027s never too late and that getting involved is more than worthwhile. The relationships you build here, the sense of shared identity with people who went through something hard and came out the other side \u2014 that doesn\u0027t expire. And the further you go in your career, the more you realize how rare it is to find a community with that kind of foundation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u2019re now working in AI automation\u2014what excites you most about your work today?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat gets me out of bed every morning is the chance to make work more human again. There\u0027s a pattern I see everywhere right now where people are being used as the connective tissue between disconnected systems \u2014 doing repetitive, manual work that drains the meaning out of their days. It\u0027s deflating in a way that\u0027s hard to overstate. I believe automation, when done right, can give people back the time and energy. If I can add some genuine meaning back to someone\u0027s workday, that\u0027s a win I\u0027ll take every time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did your experience as a CS student prepare you for a career in tech and business?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech taught me how to adapt \u2014 and more importantly, that I could. It gave me the discipline to teach myself new things, the humility to ask for help when I needed it, and the confidence to know I can do hard things. That combination has been the through-line of my entire career. The specific technical skills matter, but it\u0027s that mindset that\u0027s carried me through every pivot and challenge since.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat advice would you give to current students who hope to follow a similar path?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFind a mentor, and don\u0027t wait until you feel like you need one. The relationships you build now \u2014 with professors, with older students, with alumni \u2014 will compound in ways you can\u0027t predict.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso, stay curious beyond your major. The most interesting problems I\u0027ve worked on sit at the intersection of technology and human behavior, and I never would have found my way there if I\u0027d kept my head down in purely technical work or kept doing\u0026nbsp;only what I already knew.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow can alumni best support students and recent graduates right now?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMentoring is the highest-leverage thing you can do, especially for students graduating into such unpredictable times. It doesn\u2019t have to be formal or structured mentoring. Sometimes it\u0027s just about being genuinely available, replying to an email, scheduling a coffee chat, or sharing an honest picture of what your career actually looked like, not the polished version. Students need to see that the path isn\u0027t always linear, and that people who have navigated uncertainty are willing to help them do the same.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s next for the Network\u2014any upcoming priorities or initiatives you\u2019re excited about?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur big focus right now is growth \u2014 expanding the College of Computing alumni in Atlanta and beyond. There\u0027s a lot of Georgia Tech computing talent spread across the country and the world, and we want those people to feel that this community is for them, too, not just those of us who stayed local.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaking that geographic reach feel real, not just theoretical, is something we\u0027re actively working toward.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGT Computing Alumna Angie Lane (CS 2001) leads the college\u0027s alumni network. In this Q\u0026amp;A, she shares insights from her journey from a computer science student to an AI automation expert, discusses the \u0022human\u0022 side of technology, and outlines her vision for growing the college\u0027s alumni community well beyond Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"GT Computing Alumna Angie Lane is guiding the college\u0027s alumni network as it continues to grow."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2026-04-02 16:35:06","changed_gmt":"2026-04-02 21:23:47","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679834":{"id":"679834","type":"image","title":"Angie Lane (CS 2001) leads the College of Computing\u0027s Alumni Network","body":null,"created":"1775147720","gmt_created":"2026-04-02 16:35:20","changed":"1775147720","gmt_changed":"2026-04-02 16:35:20","alt":"Angie Lane (CS 2001) leads the College of Computing\u0027s Alumni Network","file":{"fid":"264040","name":"angie-lane-notebook.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/angie-lane-notebook.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/angie-lane-notebook.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":378653,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/02\/angie-lane-notebook.jpeg?itok=iCGrO--u"}},"679835":{"id":"679835","type":"image","title":"Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1775147963","gmt_created":"2026-04-02 16:39:23","changed":"1775147963","gmt_changed":"2026-04-02 16:39:23","alt":"Photo portrait of Georgia Tech College of Computing Alumna Angie Lane","file":{"fid":"264041","name":"Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":32549,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/02\/Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg?itok=wvrqPzou"}}},"media_ids":["679834","679835"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Sr. Communications Mgr.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689428":{"#nid":"689428","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Build AI Tutor Grounded in Course Materials","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs students increasingly turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to help with coursework, some worry that their learning could be compromised. Georgia Tech researchers are working to counter this potential decline with an AI tool they hope will promote learning rather than hinder it.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETokenSmith is a citation-supported large language model (LLM) tutor that can be hosted locally on a user\u2019s personal computer. The tutor only provides answers based on course materials, such as the textbook or lecture slides.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssociate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~jarulraj\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoy Arulraj\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E began the project with support from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/c21u-announces-inaugural-bill-kent-ai-higher-education-fellows\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Kent Family Foundation AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellowship\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E last year. The fellowship, led by Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for 21st Century Universities, supports faculty projects exploring innovative and ethical uses of AI in teaching.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArulraj has enlisted assistant professors \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kexinrong.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKexin Rong\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/steve.mussmann.us\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteve Mussmann\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to help build TokenSmith.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMussmann said TokenSmith is a synergistic blend of a database system and a machine learning system. The model stores textbooks, textbook annotations by course staff, common questions and answers, a learning state of the student, and student feedback in a structured database system. However, machine learning plays a key role in the answer generation as well as adapting the system to the student, course staff guidance, and user feedback.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022What excites me most is demonstrating how data-driven ML and principled database systems design can reinforce each other \u2014 one providing adaptability and flexibility, the other providing structure and traceability \u2014 in a way that benefits students,\u0022 Mussmann said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeeping the model local has been an important focus of the project. The team wanted to create an AI tutor that helps students learn from their class resources rather than just giving answers. With each response, TokenSmith cites the origin of the answer in the provided documents.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne problem with LLMs is that they can hallucinate and provide wrong answers, but in this controlled environment, we can add these guardrails to make sure it\u2019s actually helpful in an educational setting,\u201d Rong said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERong said she feels that students often undervalue textbooks, and she hopes TokenSmith can motivate students to make better use of them.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTextbooks can sometimes be daunting, but maybe if we combine them with the model, students might be more willing to read a paragraph or page in the textbook, and that could help clarify something for them,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERunning the model locally is more cost-effective and helps preserve the user\u2019s privacy. But running the new tool locally comes with technical challenges.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne challenge with creating the model is speed. Since it is a locally based model, TokenSmith depends solely on the user\u2019s computer memory. \u0026nbsp;Tests have also shown that the tutor currently struggles to answer more complex questions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are interested in pushing the boundaries of these local models so that they give students good answers and also run fast enough to keep students engaged,\u201d Arulraj said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETokenSmith is a citation-supported large language model (LLM) tutor that can be hosted locally on a user\u2019s personal computer. The tutor only provides answers based on course materials, such as the textbook or lecture slides.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssociate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~jarulraj\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoy Arulraj\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E began the project with support from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/c21u-announces-inaugural-bill-kent-ai-higher-education-fellows\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Kent Family Foundation AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellowship\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E last year. The fellowship, led by Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for 21st Century Universities, supports faculty projects exploring innovative and ethical uses of AI in teaching.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"TokenSmith is a citation-supported large language model (LLM) tutor that can be hosted locally on a user\u2019s personal computer. The tutor only provides answers based on course materials, such as the textbook or lecture slides.  "}],"uid":"36532","created_gmt":"2026-04-02 20:25:02","changed_gmt":"2026-04-02 20:30:36","author":"Morgan Usry","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679842":{"id":"679842","type":"image","title":"AI-Tutor-Image.jpg.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1775161510","gmt_created":"2026-04-02 20:25:10","changed":"1775161510","gmt_changed":"2026-04-02 20:25:10","alt":"Graphic showing the researchers in front of a computer screen","file":{"fid":"264048","name":"AI-Tutor-Image.jpg.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/AI-Tutor-Image.jpg.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/AI-Tutor-Image.jpg.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":321180,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/02\/AI-Tutor-Image.jpg.jpeg?itok=yDJdQ838"}}},"media_ids":["679842"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50875","name":"School of Computer Science"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193860","name":"Artifical Intelligence"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"194394","name":"AI in Education"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMorgan Usry, Communications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["morgan.usry@cc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689256":{"#nid":"689256","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Study Shows Explainability is a Must for Older Adults to Trust AI","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EVoice-activated, conversational artificial intelligence (AI) agents must provide clear explanations for their suggestions, or older adults aren\u2019t likely to trust them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s one of the main findings from a study by AI Caring on what older adults expect from explainable AI (XAI).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ai-caring.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI Caring\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is one of three AI Institutions led by Georgia Tech and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The institution supports AI research that benefits older adults and their caregivers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENiharika Mathur, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Interactive Computing, was the lead author of a paper based on the study. The paper will be presented in April at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chi2026.acm.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2026 ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) in Barcelona\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMathur worked with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/empowerment.emory.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECognitive Empowerment Program at Emory University\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to interview 23 older adults who live alone and use voice-activated AI assistants like Amazon\u2019s Alexa and Google Home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of them told her they feel excluded from the design of these products.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe assumption is that all people want interactions the same way and across all kinds of situations, but that isn\u2019t true,\u201d Mathur said. \u201cHow older people use AI and what they want from it are different from what younger people prefer.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne example she gave is that young people tend to be informal when talking with AI. Older people, on the other hand, talk to the agent like they would a person.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf Older adults are talking to their family members about Alexa, they usually refer to Alexa as \u2018she\u2019 instead of \u2018it,\u2019\u201d Mathur said. \u201cThey tend to humanize these systems a lot more than young people.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGood Explanations\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study evaluated AI explanations that drew information from four sources of data:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUser history (past conversations with the agent)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnvironmental data (indoor temperature or the weather forecast)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EActivity data (how much time a user spends in different areas of the home)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInternal reasoning (mathematical probabilities and likely outcomes)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMathur said older users trust the agent more when it bases its explanations on data from the first three sources. However, internal reasoning creates skepticism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInternal reasoning means the AI doesn\u2019t have enough data from the other sources to give an explanation. It provides a percentage to reflect its confidence based on what it knows.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe overwhelming response was negative toward confidence scores,\u201d Mathur said. \u201cIf the AI says it\u2019s 92% confident, older adults want to know what that\u2019s based on.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is another example that Mathur said points to generational preferences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of explainable AI research that shows younger people like to see numbers in explanations, and they also tend to rely too much on explanations that contain numerical confidence. Older adults are the opposite. It makes them trust it less.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKnowing the Context\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMathur said that AI agents interacting with older adults should serve a dual purpose. They should provide users with companionship and support independence while reducing the caretaking burden often placed on family members.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome studies have shown that engineers have tended to favor caretakers in the design of these tools. They prioritize daily tasks and routines, leaving some older adults to feel like they are merely a box to be checked.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe discovered that in urgent situations, older users prefer the AI to be straightforward, while in casual settings, they desire more conversation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHow people interact with technological systems is grounded in what the stakes of the situation are,\u201d she said. \u201cIf it had anything to do with their immediate sense of safety, they did not want conversational elaboration. They want the AI to be very direct and factual.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENot Just Checking Boxes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMathur said AI agents that interact with older adults are ideally constructed with a dual purpose. They should provide companionship and autonomy for the users while alleviating the burden of caretaking that is often placed on their family members.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome studies have shown that engineers have strayed toward favoring caretakers in the design of these tools. They prioritize daily tasks and routines, leaving some older adults to feel like they are a box to be checked.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey\u2019re not being thought of as consumers,\u201d Mathur said. \u201cA lot of products are being made for them but not with them.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe also said psychological well-being is one of the most important outcomes these tools should produce.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShowing older adults that they are listened to can significantly help in gaining their trust. Some interviewees told Mathur they want agents who are deliberate about understanding their preferences and don\u2019t dismiss their questions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeeting these needs reduces the likelihood of protesting and creating conflict with family members.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt highlights just how important well-designed explanations are,\u201d she said. \u201cWe must go beyond a transparency checklist.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAn AI Caring study led by Georgia Tech researchers shows that older adults are more likely to trust conversational AI systems that provide them with clear explanations for their decision-making. The study also shows that including older adults more in the design process benefits their well-being and reduces the caretaking burden of family members\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech study finds older adults are more likely to trust voice-activated AI systems when those systems clearly explain how and why they make decisions."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 14:01:07","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 14:04:59","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679796":{"id":"679796","type":"image","title":"0A6A0355.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774965687","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 14:01:27","changed":"1774965687","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 14:01:27","alt":"An older couple sitting on a couch as a man helps them use Amazon\u0027s Alexa","file":{"fid":"263999","name":"0A6A0355.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/0A6A0355.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/0A6A0355.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":171883,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/0A6A0355.jpg?itok=t62aVqXD"}}},"media_ids":["679796"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"193860","name":"Artifical Intelligence"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"14342","name":"older adults"},{"id":"148721","name":"Amazon Alexa"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689250":{"#nid":"689250","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Look to Bolster Technology Support for Menopause","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWomen in need of supportive maternal and menstrual healthcare in patriarchal societies have increasingly found outlets for disclosure in online communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat support, however, begins to disappear in these restrictive cultures once women reach menopause, according to new research from Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENaveena Karusala, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing, and master\u2019s student Umme Ammara are working toward improving existing technologies and designing new ones for a demographic they believe has been neglected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKarusala and Ammara co-authored a paper based on a study they conducted with women in urban Pakistan experiencing menopause.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWomen\u2019s health is understudied in general, but menopause is more neglected than other women\u2019s health issues,\u201d Karusala said. \u201cOur choice to focus on menopause is motivated by expanding how we holistically think about women\u2019s well-being across their lifespan.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKarusala and Ammara will present their paper in April at the 2026 ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) in Barcelona.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMasking Symptoms\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMenopause is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period, vaginal bleeding, or spotting. The transition to menopause, called perimenopause, usually happens over two to eight years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHormone changes may cause symptoms such as irregular periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, mood swings, and brain fog.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese symptoms can be debilitating in some cases and affect daily life. However, Ammara said women are pressured to remain silent, maintain appearances, and regulate their emotions to meet social expectations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUnderstanding menopause is important because a woman would be experiencing all these symptoms, and people will not understand those as actual symptoms,\u201d Ammara said. \u201cThere\u2019s been resistance to the idea of the medicalization of menopause. People don\u2019t view it as an illness, but as a life transition and something that happens naturally.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFeeling Isolated\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe women interviewed by Karusala and Ammara either stayed at home full-time or were part of the workforce.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers discovered that trusted family members might be the only sources women who stay at home and do not work turn to for disclosure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWomen at home have the flexibility to take breaks or work at their own pace, so a lot of their experience is shaped by the emotional barriers they face,\u201d Ammara said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat could come from their husbands and family members. Some are supportive and some are not. They might weaponize it and use that term against them, or they might dismiss what they\u2019re going through.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmmara said it might be easier for women in the workforce to confide in their coworkers, but explaining to an employer that they need sick leave for menopause symptoms can be intimidating.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven in online communities that have enabled women to anonymously share their health experiences, menopause is seldom discussed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaising Awareness\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKarusala and Ammara argue in their paper that a public health approach could be the most effective way to spark conversation about menopause in a patriarchal culture in which technology use varies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey said the challenge in implementing technologies geared toward menopause support is that the condition isn\u2019t well understood in public. Improving maternal health, for example, is easier to promote within these societies because of the general understanding that motherhood is important.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere must be an existing infrastructure to build on,\u201d Karusala said. \u201cFor example, menstrual and maternal health are taught in schools and regularly discussed in primary care. Cultural and social meaning and importance are placed on motherhood.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA lot of that doesn\u2019t exist for menopause. Primary care doctors are unprepared to talk about menopause compared to other health issues.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDesign Solutions\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmmara said that the most effective way for technologies to make an impact on women going through menopause is to directly address systemic power structures around women\u2019s health within Pakistani culture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt can start with the husbands.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFraming the issue for husbands to understand menopause should be at the forefront of designing technology solutions,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn Islamic contexts, we suggest using faith-based framings. This has been proposed for maternal health in prior works that draw on Islamic principles to engage expectant fathers in providing care and support. Framing it around religious responsibility to involve men in the journey can also be done for menopause.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech assistant professor Naveena Karusala and master\u0027s student Umme Ammara are researching how to improve existing technologies and design new ones to better support women experiencing menopause. Their work is based on a study conducted with women in urban Pakistan, where patriarchal social norms pressure women to stay silent about menopause symptoms and limit their ability to seek support, even in online communities that have otherwise helped women discuss other health issues\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers are looking at how technology can better support women experiencing menopause in urban Pakistan, where patriarchal norms leave them largely isolated and without resources for managing their symptoms."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 12:09:13","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 13:18:07","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679788":{"id":"679788","type":"image","title":"Ammara-Umme_86A2210.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774958961","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 12:09:21","changed":"1774958961","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 12:09:21","alt":"Umme Ammar sits in a booth with laptop in front of her","file":{"fid":"263990","name":"Ammara-Umme_86A2210.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Ammara-Umme_86A2210.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Ammara-Umme_86A2210.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":95810,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/Ammara-Umme_86A2210.jpg?itok=7jqYXbcn"}}},"media_ids":["679788"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"8900","name":"women\u0027s history month"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"3543","name":"women\u0027s health"},{"id":"171911","name":"women of pakistan"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ndeen6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ENathan Deen\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Computing\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689210":{"#nid":"689210","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Former Elementary School Teacher Reconnects with Students Years Later at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA College of Computing academic advisor recently experienced an unexpected reunion with two of her former elementary school students, one of whom she now advises.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was placing an order from a food truck outside the College building when a student approached and asked if I remembered him,\u201d Briana Lampert said. \u201cIt was Hoc! It took me a few moments to realize.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears earlier, Lampert taught Hoc Nguyen and Cardin Ho in fourth-grade language arts and reading at Hambrick Elementary School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Today, both are computer science (CS) majors at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENguyen first recognized Lampert\u2019s name while searching for his academic advisor during registration. \u201cI thought her name was familiar, but only when I met her in person did I recall she was my teacher,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough he doesn\u2019t remember many details from elementary school, Lampert left a lasting impression. \u201cI remember that she was a very kind teacher and that the class liked her because of how nice she was,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter their initial meeting, Nguyen shared that Ho was also a Georgia Tech student. Lampert later ran into both students on campus while attending an event, and the three spent nearly an hour catching up.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey were both lovely and full of personality, just as they are now. I remember how sweet and intelligent they were,\u201d Lampert said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey were very close, even then, and part of a crew that included a group of smart and talented kids. I knew they would go on to do great things, but I had no idea that any of us would end up at Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHo also remembers Lampert\u2019s approach in the classroom. \u201cI remember Ms. Lampert had lots of patience,\u201d he said. \u201cOur class, me included, really tested her every day, yet she always maintained it to keep us on track.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter teaching for five years, Lampert transitioned into academic advising. She started at Georgia State University in 2017 and moved to Georgia Tech in 2022. She said the move allowed her to focus on the part of education she enjoyed most.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe part of the job that I loved the most was one-on-one interactions with students,\u201d Lampert said. \u201cWith advising, I can provide the targeted support to students that I enjoy, but on a broad scale.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn her current role, Lampert works closely with students as they navigate their academic journeys, while focusing on empathy and connection. She is especially passionate about supporting underrepresented student groups and helping students access campus resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer experience as a teacher continues to shape her approach.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is important when working in higher education to remember that while Tech students are academically gifted, K-12 education does not teach a person how to \u2018be a college student,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cThose skills are not inherent.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Nguyen, having a former teacher as an advisor has made a difference. He also enjoys reflecting on other classmates and teachers he keeps in touch with, who were part of his early academic journey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHaving Ms. Lampert as an advisor is honestly quite nice,\u201d he said. \u201cIt makes talking about your goals and classes a lot easier if your advisor is someone you knew from your childhood.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow studying CS, Nguyen discovered his interest in STEM in middle school, when he had more hands-on opportunities in science and technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor students considering the field, he recommends starting with personal interests.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCS is such a broad field that there can be some parts you don\u2019t find interesting and others you do,\u201d he said. \u201cBy just starting with something you like, you can enjoy the learning process more and get the skills needed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Lampert, the experience highlighted the lasting impact of education across different stages of students\u2019 journeys.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHoc reminded me that, all things considered, there is a short span of time between elementary school and college,\u201d she said. \u201cHe reaffirmed that educators are crucial at every stage of a student\u2019s life.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA College of Computing academic advisor recently experienced an unexpected reunion with two of her former elementary school students, one of whom she now advises.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears earlier, Lampert taught Hoc Nguyen and Cardin Ho in fourth-grade language arts and reading at Hambrick Elementary School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Today, both are computer science (CS) majors at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A College of Computing academic advisor recently experienced an unexpected reunion with two of her former elementary school students, one of whom she now advises. "}],"uid":"36613","created_gmt":"2026-03-26 20:12:11","changed_gmt":"2026-03-26 20:17:46","author":"Emily Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679746":{"id":"679746","type":"image","title":"briana3.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBriana Lampert reunited with her former elementary school students Cardin Ho (left) and Hoc Nguyen (right) at Georgia Tech. Photo provided by Lampert.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774555939","gmt_created":"2026-03-26 20:12:19","changed":"1774555939","gmt_changed":"2026-03-26 20:12:19","alt":"Briana Lampert","file":{"fid":"263943","name":"briana3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/26\/briana3_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/26\/briana3_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":38261,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/26\/briana3_0.jpg?itok=FWVbYRtZ"}},"679747":{"id":"679747","type":"image","title":"briana2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBriana Lampert serves as an academic advisor in the College of Computing. Photo by Kevin Beasley, College of Computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774555997","gmt_created":"2026-03-26 20:13:17","changed":"1774555997","gmt_changed":"2026-03-26 20:13:17","alt":"Briana Lampert","file":{"fid":"263944","name":"briana2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/26\/briana2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/26\/briana2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1144701,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/26\/briana2.jpg?itok=-TFvX7Nx"}}},"media_ids":["679746","679747"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660374","name":"School of Computing Instruction"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689175":{"#nid":"689175","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tech Swarms into Athens for Clean, Old-Fashioned Computing","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe in-state rivalry between the Yellow Jackets and the Bulldogs usually heats up when Georgia Tech visits the University of Georgia. However, one Saturday last month, the focus shifted from competition to collaboration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium (GSCS) held its annual meeting on February 21 in Athens. Since 2009, the event has hosted researchers from across the Peach State to showcase homegrown advances in scientific computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haoningwu.github.io\/GSCS2026.html\u0022\u003EThe symposium\u003C\/a\u003E highlighted Georgia\u2019s reputation as a computing innovation hub. People from around the world come to Georgia universities to lead computing research. By advancing science, engineering, medicine, and technology, their work improves communities at home and abroad.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFaculty and students from Georgia Tech, UGA, Georgia State University, and Emory University presented at the symposium. Georgia Tech participants came from the colleges of Computing, Engineering, and Sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s organizers agreed to meet in Atlanta for the 2027 symposium. Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE)\u003C\/a\u003E will host the 19th GSCS.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom healthcare to computer chip design, scientific computing underpins many of the technological advances we see in our lives,\u201d said Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~echow\/\u0022\u003EEdmond Chow\u003C\/a\u003E, associate chair of the School of CSE.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cScientific computing provides the mathematical models, simulations, and data\u2011driven tools that make modern innovation possible. It allows people to analyze complex systems, test ideas virtually before building them, and make faster, more accurate decisions across nearly every sector of society.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hmzhou.math.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EHaomin Zhou\u003C\/a\u003E and Assistant Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/itshelenxu.github.io\/\u0022\u003EHelen Xu\u003C\/a\u003E delivered two of the symposium\u2019s five plenary talks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhou presented a new method for solving the Schr\u00f6dinger equation, a landmark equation in quantum mechanics. Drawing inspiration from the mathematics used in generative artificial intelligence models, his approach develops an algorithm that more effectively simulates waves, particle motion, and other physical systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXu focused on improving how computers move and organize data during complex calculations. Her work uses \u201ccache-friendly\u201d layouts that help computers access data more efficiently, boosting performance for scientific and engineering applications.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSpeaking at GSCS was a great opportunity,\u201d Xu said. \u201cThe symposium fostered connections within the scientific computing community and gave us a chance to share exciting research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe symposium showcased student work through a poster blitz and a poster session. During the blitz, 36 students each had one minute to introduce their research to the full audience. They then shared more details about their research during the poster session.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe student projects showed the range of fields supported by scientific computing. The session also provided attendees with an opportunity to connect and expand their professional networks, helping grow the field\u2019s future impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs an aerospace engineer by training and aspiring computational scientist, GSCS gave me the platform to network with other researchers in the field while showcasing my own research,\u201d said M.S. student \u003Cstrong\u003EKashvi Mundra\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was able to connect with scientists across different disciplines whose work intersects with my own in unexpected ways. Those conversations pushed my thinking beyond my own lab\u0027s perspective, helping me see my work on physics-informed machine learning for inverse problems in a broader scientific computing context.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech students who presented posters included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbir Haque\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EMassively Parallel Random Phase Approximation Correlation Energy via Lanczos Quadrature\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAntonio Varagnolo\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EPhysics-Enhanced Deep Surrogates for the Phonon Boltzmann Transport Equation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBen Burns\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EInfinite-Dimensional Stein Variational Inference with Derivative-Informed Neural Operators\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBen Wilfong\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EShocks without Shock Capturing; Compressible Flow at 1 quadrillion Degrees of Freedom without Loss of Accuracy\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel Vickers\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EHighly-Parallel Fluid-Solid Interactions for Compressible Flows\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEric Fowler\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EHigh-Performance Tensor Contractions in Computational Chemistry\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHaoran Yan\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math), \u003Cem\u003EUnderstanding Denoising Autoencoders through the Manifold Hypothesis: A Geometric Perspective\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKashvi Mundra\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EAutoregressive Multifidelity Neural Surrogate Modeling under Scarce Data Regimes\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESebasti\u00e1n Guti\u00e9rrez Hern\u00e1ndez\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math\/CSE), \u003Cem\u003EPDPO: Parametric Density Path Optimization\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVivian Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E (AE), \u003Cem\u003EMultifidelity Operator Inference: Non-Intrusive Reduced Order Modeling from Scarce Data\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EXian Mae Hadia\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003EData Efficiency of Surrogate Models: Learning Physics Data from Full Field Data vs. Inductive Bias from Approximate PDE Solvers\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EXiangming Huang\u003C\/strong\u003E (CSE), \u003Cem\u003ENeural Operator Accelerated Evolutionary Strategies for PDE-Constraint Optimization\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZhaiming Shen\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math), \u003Cem\u003EUnderstanding In-Context Learning on Structured Manifolds: Bridging Attention to Kernel Methods\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZhongjie Shi\u003C\/strong\u003E (Math), \u003Cem\u003ETowards Understanding Generalization in DP-GD: A Case Study in Training Two-Layer CNNs\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe in-state rivalry between the Yellow Jackets and the Bulldogs usually heats up when Georgia Tech visits the University of Georgia. However, one Saturday last month, the focus shifted from competition to collaboration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium (GSCS) held its annual meeting on February 21 in Athens. Since 2009, the event has hosted researchers from across the Peach State to showcase homegrown advances in scientific computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haoningwu.github.io\/GSCS2026.html\u0022\u003EThe symposium\u003C\/a\u003E highlighted Georgia\u2019s reputation as a computing innovation hub. People from around the world come to Georgia universities to lead computing research. By advancing science, engineering, medicine, and technology, their work improves communities at home and abroad.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers from universities across Georgia, including Georgia Tech, set aside rivalry to collaborate at the 2026 Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium, highlighting the state\u2019s growing role as a hub for innovation in scientific computing."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2026-03-25 13:04:13","changed_gmt":"2026-03-25 19:41:06","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679732":{"id":"679732","type":"image","title":"GSCS-2026-Head-Image.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1774443866","gmt_created":"2026-03-25 13:04:26","changed":"1774443866","gmt_changed":"2026-03-25 13:04:26","alt":"2026 Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium","file":{"fid":"263927","name":"GSCS-2026-Head-Image.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/GSCS-2026-Head-Image.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/GSCS-2026-Head-Image.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":217081,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/25\/GSCS-2026-Head-Image.jpeg?itok=2Vs3GesS"}},"679733":{"id":"679733","type":"image","title":"Kashvi-Mundra-Poster.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1774443901","gmt_created":"2026-03-25 13:05:01","changed":"1774443901","gmt_changed":"2026-03-25 13:05:01","alt":"2026 Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium","file":{"fid":"263928","name":"Kashvi-Mundra-Poster.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/Kashvi-Mundra-Poster.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/Kashvi-Mundra-Poster.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":84134,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/25\/Kashvi-Mundra-Poster.jpeg?itok=i7BjGyOA"}}},"media_ids":["679732","679733"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/tech-swarms-athens-clean-old-fashioned-computing","title":"Tech Swarms into Athens for Clean, Old-Fashioned Computing"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"168681","name":"scientific computing"},{"id":"194970","name":"2026 Georgia Scientific Computing Symposium"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689185":{"#nid":"689185","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Find Training Gaps Impacting Maritime Cybersecurity Readiness","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhether it\u2019s a fire or a flood, a ship\u2019s crew can only rely on itself and its training in emergencies at sea. The same is true for crews facing digital threats on oil tankers, cargo ships, and other commercial vessels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENew cybersecurity research from the Georgia Institute of Technology, however, revealed that crews aboard commercial vessels were often not adequately prepared to manage cyberattacks effectively due to systemic training gaps.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe findings are based on interviews conducted by researchers with more than 20 officer-level mariners to assess the maritime industry\u2019s readiness to handle cybersecurity attacks at sea.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Historically, cybersecurity research has focused heavily on cyber-physical systems like cars, factories, and industrial plants, but ships have largely been overlooked,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/annaraymaker.dad\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnna Raymaker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Ph.D. student and lead researcher.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat gap is concerning when more than 90% of the world\u2019s goods travel by sea. Recent incidents, from GPS spoofing to ships linked to subsea cable disruptions, show that maritime systems are increasingly part of the global cyber threat landscape.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers proposed four practical strategies to strengthen maritime cyber defenses and close the training gaps. Their findings were presented recently at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sigsac.org\/ccs\/CCS2025\/call-for-papers\/\u0022\u003EACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS).\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E1. Make Cybersecurity Training Actually Maritime\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of those interviewed for the study described current cybersecurity training as \u201cboilerplate\u201d \u2014 generic modules that don\u2019t reflect real shipboard risks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers recommend:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERole-specific instruction: Navigation officers should learn to detect and identify GPS spoofing. Engineers should focus on vulnerabilities in remotely monitored systems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBridging IT and Operational Technology: Crews need to understand how attacks on IT systems can trigger physical consequences in operational technology \u2014 including collisions, groundings, or explosions.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHands-on delivery: Replace passive PowerPoints with drills and in-person exercises that build muscle memory.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAccessible standards: Training must account for the wide range of educational backgrounds across crews and be standardized across ranks.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E2. Move Beyond \u201cCall IT\u201d\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt sea, crews can\u2019t simply escalate a cyber incident to a shore-based IT department and wait. Operational resilience requires onboard readiness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers recommend:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVessel-specific response plans: Ships need clear, actionable protocols for threats such as AIS jamming or radar manipulation.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMilitary-style drills: Adopting MCON (Emission Control) exercises \u2014 used by the U.S. Military Sealift Command \u2014 can train crews to operate safely without electronic systems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStronger connectivity controls: High-bandwidth satellite systems like Starlink introduce new risks. Clear policies and network segregation are essential to prevent new entry points for attackers.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Ch6\u003ERelated Article: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/when-gps-lies-at-sea-how-electronic-warfare-is-threatening-ships-and-their-crews-278181\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen GPS lies at sea: How electronic warfare is threatening ships and their\u0026nbsp;crews\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E by Anna Raymaker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E3. Create Unified, Ship-Specific Regulations\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaritime cybersecurity regulations are often reactive and fragmented. Researchers argue the industry needs a cohesive, domain-specific framework.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKey recommendations include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA unified global model: Like the energy sector\u2019s NERC CIP standards, a maritime framework could mandate baseline controls such as encryption, network segmentation, and anonymous incident reporting.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERules built for real crews: Regulations designed for large naval operations don\u2019t translate well to smaller merchant or research vessels. Standards must reflect actual shipboard conditions.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFuture-proofing requirements: Autonomous ships and remotely operated vessels expand the cyber-physical attack surface. Regulations must proactively address these emerging technologies.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E4. Invest in Maritime-Specific Cyber Research\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, the researchers stress that long-term resilience requires deeper technical research focused on maritime systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPriority areas include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReal-time intrusion detection systems tailored to shipboard protocols.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProactive security risk assessments of interconnected onboard systems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECyber-physical modeling to better understand cascading failures in complex maritime environments.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch6\u003EThe Bottom Line\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECyber threats at sea are no longer hypothetical. Mariners report real-world incidents ranging from GPS spoofing to ransomware that disrupts global trade.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThrough our interviews with mariners, I saw firsthand how much dedication and pride they take in their work,\u201d said Raymaker. \u201cOur goal is for this research to serve as a call to action for researchers, policymakers, and industry to invest more attention in maritime cybersecurity and support the people who risk their lives every day to keep global trade, food, and energy moving.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/3719027.3744816\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA Sea of Cyber Threats: Maritime Cybersecurity from the Perspective of Mariners\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Ewas presented at CCS 2025. It was written by Raymaker and her colleagues, Ph.D. students \u003Cstrong\u003EAkshaya Kumar\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EMiuyin Yong Wong\u003C\/strong\u003E, and \u003Cstrong\u003ERyan Pickren\u003C\/strong\u003E; Research Scientist \u003Cstrong\u003EAnimesh Chhotaray\u003C\/strong\u003E, Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFrank Li,\u003C\/strong\u003E Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003ESaman Zonouz\u003C\/strong\u003E, and Georgia Tech Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs \u003Cstrong\u003ERaheem Beyah\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearch from the Georgia Institute of Technology shows that commercial ship crews are often unprepared for cyberattacks due to inadequate, generic training, despite rising threats like GPS spoofing and ransomware. Because ships must handle incidents independently at sea, researchers recommend more practical, maritime-specific training, stronger onboard response plans, unified global cybersecurity regulations, and increased investment in ship-focused cyber research. These steps are critical to protecting maritime operations, which carry over 90% of global trade.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Research from the Georgia Institute of Technology shows that commercial ship crews are often unprepared for cyberattacks due to inadequate, generic training, despite rising threats like GPS spoofing and ransomware."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-03-25 16:47:20","changed_gmt":"2026-03-25 18:01:30","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679738":{"id":"679738","type":"image","title":"Cyber Navy","body":null,"created":"1774461240","gmt_created":"2026-03-25 17:54:00","changed":"1774461240","gmt_changed":"2026-03-25 17:54:00","alt":"A graphic of a boat sailing across the globe with a cyber shield at its front. ","file":{"fid":"263933","name":"AdobeStock_1936842040.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/AdobeStock_1936842040.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/AdobeStock_1936842040.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":50518,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/25\/AdobeStock_1936842040.jpeg?itok=CQWC0YmI"}}},"media_ids":["679738"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;School of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jpopham3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689184":{"#nid":"689184","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cybersecurity and Privacy Faculty Earns Promotion and Tenure","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology recently announced that \u003Cstrong\u003EFrankLi\u003C\/strong\u003E has been promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and has been granted tenure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELi, an accomplished computer security and privacy researcher, joined Georgia Tech in 2020 as the Institute was launching the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP). He holds a joint appointment with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile tenure may be an individual\u0027s milestone, in reality, it reflects the help, support, and hard work of countless others,\u201d Li said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe credits his accomplishments to the ongoing mentorship and support he has received from faculty and staff at SCP, ECE, and Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u0027m also extremely thankful to work with such amazing students at Georgia Tech, especially the Ph.D. students in my research lab, and the BS and MS students in my classes, who help our research efforts. Georgia Tech has been an amazing place to start my faculty career,\u201d said Li.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELi advises five Ph.D. students at his Better Empirically Established Security (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~frankli\/beeslab.html\u0022\u003EBEES\u003C\/a\u003E) lab in SCP. They take a data-driven approach to understanding how security and privacy concerns manifest in practice, and use the insights gained to drive improvements in real-world security.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir research examines how users, security operators, and attackers behave in various security and privacy-sensitive situations, often using internet-wide measurements, network traffic analysis, user studies and experiments, and large-scale data mining.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe tenure and promotion to associate professor rank is in recognition of the outstanding research program Frank has developed at SCP,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EMustaque\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EAhamad\u003C\/strong\u003E, interim chair and Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHe is an award-winning educator. We look forward to his continued leadership in the important areas of usable security and network security in the future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELi was among nine College of Computing faculty members who received promotion and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/institute-announcement-recognizes-faculty-achievement-and-excellence\u0022\u003Etenure this year\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJohn P. Imlay Jr. Dean of Computing \u003Cstrong\u003EVivek\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003ESarkar\u003C\/strong\u003E emailed the College community with the good news.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are truly thrilled to celebrate this moment with you, as we recognize your contributions to our students and to the advancement of our College and Institute in so many ways,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, Li received the prestigious \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/new-research-will-move-us-closer-passwordless-society\u0022\u003ECAREER Award\u003C\/a\u003E from the National Science Foundation (NSF). His CAREER project will investigate real-world uses of FIDO2\/passkeys and address security and usability issues that can arise. A goal of his research is to identify and resolve problems before they become widespread and more difficult to solve.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E promoted \u003Cstrong\u003EFrank Li\u003C\/strong\u003E to associate professor with tenure, recognizing his impactful research and teaching since joining in 2020 in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and ECE. Li leads the BEES Lab, where he and his students use data-driven methods to study real-world security and privacy challenges, including user behavior and network activity, to improve practical systems. Praised for his leadership in usable and network security, he was also among nine faculty honored this year and received a 2025 CAREER Award from the \u003Cstrong\u003ENational Science Foundation\u003C\/strong\u003E to study FIDO2\/passkeys and address emerging security and usability issues.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Institute of Technology promoted Frank Li to associate professor with tenure, recognizing his impactful research and teaching since joining in 2020 in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and ECE. Li leads the BEES Lab, where he and his student"}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-03-25 16:41:30","changed_gmt":"2026-03-25 16:42:42","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679737":{"id":"679737","type":"image","title":"Frank-Li-Story-Graphic-web-copy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774456919","gmt_created":"2026-03-25 16:41:59","changed":"1774456919","gmt_changed":"2026-03-25 16:41:59","alt":"A graphic showing Frank Li\u0027s promotion to associate professor. ","file":{"fid":"263932","name":"Frank-Li-Story-Graphic-web-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/Frank-Li-Story-Graphic-web-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/Frank-Li-Story-Graphic-web-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1860330,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/25\/Frank-Li-Story-Graphic-web-copy.jpg?itok=6PznWAGU"}}},"media_ids":["679737"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Popham\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;School of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jpopham3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689007":{"#nid":"689007","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Mobile App Turns Phones into At-Home Fetal Heart Monitors","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new mobile app will soon put the ability to monitor a baby\u2019s prenatal heartbeat in the hands of pregnant women who may worry about their baby\u2019s health in between doctor\u2019s visits.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudies show that one in five pregnant women experiences \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/perinatal-anxiety-one-in-five-women-experience-it-but-many-still-suffer-alone-before-or-after-childbirth-133667\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eperinatal anxiety\u003C\/a\u003E, which is characterized by intense negative thoughts about their pregnancy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDopFone turns any smartphone speaker into a Doppler radar by emitting a low-pitched ultrasound and detecting reflected signals of abdominal surface vibrations caused by a fetal heartbeat.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.alexandertadams.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Adams\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing, said he came up with the idea for DopFone as he and his wife, Elise, experienced two miscarriages. At the time, she couldn\u2019t reliably measure the fetal heart rate with a standard fetal Doppler monitor.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose experiences exposed gaps in the maternal healthcare process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are a lot of great devices in hospitals and clinics, but there\u2019s not much outside of those venues, even for high-risk pregnancies,\u201d Adams said. \u201cThis is about filling the gaps between checkups.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.poojitagarg.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPoojita Garg\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E joined Adams to work on DopFone while completing her master\u2019s degree at Georgia Tech. She is now pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Washington and is co-advised by Professor Swetak Patel, who earned his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech in 2008.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarg is working with the University of Washington School of Medicine to conduct DopFone\u2019s first clinical trials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarg tested DopFone on 23 patients and achieved a plus-minus of 4.9 beats per minute, well within the clinical standard range of eight beats per minute for reliable fetal heart rate measurement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdams said it measured within two beats per minute in most cases, with an error rate of less than one percent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbout one million pregnancies in the U.S. end in miscarriage, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medicine.yale.edu\/news-article\/dr-harvey-kliman-study-finds-the-placenta-holds-answers-to-many-unexplained-pregnancy-losses\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eaccording to a study from the Yale School of Medicine\u003C\/a\u003E, and doctors know little about what causes them. Adams said that number is probably higher because many go unreported.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdams and Garg said it\u2019s unclear whether the innovation could reduce the number of miscarriages. However, consistent fetal heart rate data collection outside of the doctor\u2019s office could provide a better idea of what happens leading up to a miscarriage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom there, we can take preventative action,\u201d Adams said. \u201cIf nothing else, we can give a sense of comfort to those who may be worried.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpanding Access\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile couples can purchase portable fetal heart rate monitors, Adams and Garg see DopFone as a low-cost alternative for those who live in areas with limited or inaccessible healthcare systems.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of potential for using it in what doctors like to call maternity deserts,\u201d Garg said. \u201cThese are areas where a pregnant person, at the time of delivery, would have to travel long distances to reach a hospital. This technology will be useful globally in underdeveloped areas of the world.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers also mentioned that external add-ons and attachments aren\u2019t part of their design goals. They prefer to rely on the phone\u2019s built-in features to keep the technology accessible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe real value is that 96% of America already has the technology in their pocket, along with 60% of the world\u2019s population,\u201d Adams said. \u201cHalf of the battle is having the right tools. The more we can get from what\u2019s already in the phone, the more we can guarantee people have access to it.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENot a Substitute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome patients may feel a constant need to check their unborn child\u2019s heart rate, and Garg acknowledged that a tool like DopFone could increase that anxiety. She and Adams said a future version of the app will tell the parent if the heart rate is within a healthy range.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of tradeoffs between a tool that could provide reassurance or create anxiety,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want the use of this tool to be recommended by a doctor and for doctors and their care teams to be kept in the loop.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe also said DopFone is not meant to replace anything that is done in a clinic.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are devices that make the whole process possible at home, but this is something that should be done in a clinic, so that\u2019s the line we want to draw,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDopFone uses smartphone speakers to emit a low-pitched ultrasound that detects reflected signals of abdominal surface vibrations caused by fetal cardiac activity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.alexandertadams.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Adams\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing, said he came up with the idea for DopFone as he and his wife, Elise, suffered through two miscarriages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.poojitagarg.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPoojita Garg\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E joined Adams to work on DopFone while completing her master\u2019s at Georgia Tech. She is now pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Washington and is co-advised by Professor Swetak Patel, who earned his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech in 2008.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarg is working with the University of Washington School of Medicine to conduct DopFone\u2019s first clinical trials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarg tested DopFone on 23 patients and achieved a plus-minus of 4.9 beats per minute, well within the clinical standard for reliable fetal heart rate measurement of plus-minus 8 beats per minute.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new app will allow pregnant women to conduct an ultrasound and receive an accurate fetal heart rate from their mobile phones."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-03-18 13:23:19","changed_gmt":"2026-03-23 13:16:06","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679666":{"id":"679666","type":"image","title":"DopFone-PR-Photo-with-blur.jpg","body":null,"created":"1773840209","gmt_created":"2026-03-18 13:23:29","changed":"1773840209","gmt_changed":"2026-03-18 13:23:29","alt":"Woman holds mobile phone to the belly of a pregnant woman","file":{"fid":"263850","name":"DopFone-PR-Photo-with-blur.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/18\/DopFone-PR-Photo-with-blur.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/18\/DopFone-PR-Photo-with-blur.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":113510,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/18\/DopFone-PR-Photo-with-blur.jpg?itok=A5qhfUr7"}}},"media_ids":["679666"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"181431","name":"maternal"},{"id":"7677","name":"ultrasound"},{"id":"34741","name":"mobile app"},{"id":"29561","name":"pregnancy"},{"id":"190383","name":"pregnant women"},{"id":"168908","name":"smartphone"},{"id":"188420","name":"babies"},{"id":"178046","name":"fetal monitoring"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687586":{"#nid":"687586","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AI Tool Turns Disaster Zones Into Living Classrooms","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAn AI-powered tool is changing how researchers study disasters and how students learn from them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlas.gatech.edu\/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular\u0026amp;id=10139\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInternational Disaster Reconnaissance (IDR) course\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, students now use \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.filio.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFilio\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a platform built by School of Computing Instruction Senior Lecturer \u003Cstrong\u003EMax Mahdi Roozbahani\u003C\/strong\u003E, to capture immersive 360\u00b0 media, photos, and video that transform real disaster sites in India and Nepal into living digital classrooms.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOffered by the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and taught by IDR director and Regents\u2019 Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Frost\u003C\/strong\u003E, the course pairs traditional fieldwork with Roozbahani\u2019s expertise in immersive technology and data-driven learning, transforming on-the-ground observations into reusable, interactive educational resources.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow Computing Can Capture Data\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDisasters are not only physical events; they are also information events, Roozbahani says. Effective response and long-term resilience depend on the ability to observe, record, and communicate critical data under pressure. Georgia Tech\u2019s IDR course pairs structured on-campus preparation with international field experiences, enabling students to study the cascading effects of major disasters, including how local building practices, governance, and culture shape damage and recovery.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen students step into a disaster zone, they learn quickly that resilience is a systems problem: physical, social, and informational. Our job in computing is to help them capture and reason about that system responsibly,\u201d Roozbahani said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearning from the 2025 Himalayas Expedition\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring spring break last year, the cohort traveled along the Teesta River corridor in Sikkim, India. The region is shaped by steep terrain, fast-moving water, and critical infrastructure in narrow valleys.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe visit followed the October 2023 glacial lake outburst flood from South Lhonak Lake, which destroyed the Teesta III hydropower dam and impacted downstream towns, including Dikchu and Rangpo. Field stops across India included Lachung, Chungthang, Dikchu, Rangpo, Gangtok, and New Delhi.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents explored both upstream and downstream consequences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUpstream, the team examined how steep terrain and river confinement amplify flood forces, creating cascading risks for infrastructure. Using Filio\u2019s interactive 360\u00b0 media, students captured conditions in Lachung and Chungthang, allowing viewers to explore the landscape through a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/app.filio.io\/photo-viewer?src=https:\/\/visual.filio.io\/f-67d1cabeb82b05102bf91a4c\/_d6LpRAkr0ymi1OqCtGeAYrXo8xBGTJmACPN0SGXP50QlCE8FLR-f-67da18bc11c485642674bf73_=s0-photo-r0\u0026amp;rotation=0\u0026amp;type=360\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E360\u00b0 photo\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/app.filio.io\/video-viewer?src=https:\/\/visual.filio.io\/f-67d1cabeb82b05102bf91a4c\/_IX5yWxXjRjtueg1qeGFhV62K8GDhLlarQ6uFC9g4zkjIl7rCM3-f-67dcd50f11c485642674d269_=s0-video\u0026amp;rotation=0\u0026amp;type=360\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E360\u00b0 video\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E that reveal how topography and river dynamics intensify disaster impacts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey studied community-scale effects downstream, including damaged buildings, disrupted access, and prolonged recovery timelines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERangpo offered a glimpse of recovery in motion, with materials staged for rebuilding bridges and roads essential to commerce and emergency response.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUsing Immersive Media as a Learning Tool\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents documented their field experience using \u003Cem\u003EFilio\u003C\/em\u003E, an AI-powered visual reporting platform developed by Roozbahani through Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E ecosystem. Filio captures high-resolution photos, video, and 360\u00b0 immersive media, preserving both the facts and the context of disaster sites; what the site felt like, what was lost, and what communities prioritized in recovery.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA 360\u00b0 capture lets students return months later and ask better questions. That second look is where learning accelerates,\u201d Roozbahani said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESupported by alumni and faculty mentors, including Tech alumnus \u003Cstrong\u003EChris Klaus\u003C\/strong\u003E and Georgia Tech mentor \u003Cstrong\u003EBill Higginbotham\u003C\/strong\u003E, the platform is evolving into a reusable educational library for future courses on immersive technology, responsible AI, and global resilience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKathmandu: The Context of Culture\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe course concluded in Kathmandu, Nepal, where students examined how heritage, governance, and the everyday use of public space shape resilience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough Filio\u2019s immersive documentation \u2014 including a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/app.filio.io\/photo-viewer?src=https:\/\/visual.filio.io\/f-67d1cafeb82b05102bf91a4d\/_n2OFrWLzHNcdTkMl6uD9j0tSrOPybGLZccsNcarj8vwZaZIbuu-f-67dedf3f11c485642674d820_=s0-photo-r0\u0026amp;rotation=0\u0026amp;type=360\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E360\u00b0 photo\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/app.filio.io\/video-viewer?src=https:\/\/visual.filio.io\/f-67d1cafeb82b05102bf91a4d\/_CD25dUToZ6BgfmfrayfHHtsThQGJIQWu82xqmzSy884UXHnbEB-f-67dd5a9b11c485642674d302_=s0-video\u0026amp;rotation=0\u0026amp;type=360\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E360\u00b0 video\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E from Kathmandu \u2014 the focus broadened from hazard impacts to cultural context, highlighting how recovery is not only about rebuilding structures, but also about preserving identity, memory, and community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead: A Growing Resource for All Students\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrost and Roozbahani envision the IDR immersive media library as a reusable resource for students even when they cannot travel, supporting future courses on immersive technology, responsible AI, and global resilience. Spring 2026 cohorts will continue to build on this foundation by documenting, analyzing, and sharing insights that can improve education and real-world disaster response.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAn AI-powered tool is changing how researchers study disasters and how students learn from them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlas.gatech.edu\/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular\u0026amp;id=10139\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInternational Disaster Reconnaissance (IDR) course\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, students now use \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.filio.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFilio\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a platform built by School of Computing Instruction Senior Lecturer \u003Cstrong\u003EMax Mahdi Roozbahani\u003C\/strong\u003E, to capture immersive 360\u00b0 media, photos, and video that transform real disaster sites in India and Nepal into living digital classrooms.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"An AI-powered tool is changing how researchers study disasters and how students learn from them. "}],"uid":"36613","created_gmt":"2026-01-22 15:11:14","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:54:39","author":"Emily Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679052":{"id":"679052","type":"image","title":"1-IDR-Spring-2025---Lachung---Chungthang03182025.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStudents visited Lachung and Chungthang in Sikkim, India. Upstream in the Teesta Valley, students examined how steep terrain and river confinement amplify flood forces and how failures can cascade across an entire corridor of infrastructure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769095217","gmt_created":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","changed":"1769095217","gmt_changed":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","alt":"Students visited Lachung and Chungthang in Sikkim, India. Upstream in the Teesta Valley, students examined how steep terrain and river confinement amplify flood forces and how failures can cascade across an entire corridor of infrastructure. ","file":{"fid":"263164","name":"1-IDR-Spring-2025---Lachung---Chungthang03182025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/1-IDR-Spring-2025---Lachung---Chungthang03182025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/1-IDR-Spring-2025---Lachung---Chungthang03182025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1897568,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/22\/1-IDR-Spring-2025---Lachung---Chungthang03182025.jpg?itok=zDRmcY2d"}},"679053":{"id":"679053","type":"image","title":"2-IDR-Spring-2025---Dikchu03172025.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDownstream in the town Dikchu in Sikkim, India, the class focused on community-scale consequences: damaged buildings, disrupted access, and long recovery timelines.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769095217","gmt_created":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","changed":"1769095217","gmt_changed":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","alt":"Downstream in the town Dikchu in Sikkim, India, the class focused on community-scale consequences: damaged buildings, disrupted access, and long recovery timelines.","file":{"fid":"263165","name":"2-IDR-Spring-2025---Dikchu03172025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/2-IDR-Spring-2025---Dikchu03172025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/2-IDR-Spring-2025---Dikchu03172025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":543269,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/22\/2-IDR-Spring-2025---Dikchu03172025.jpg?itok=vdI7egUR"}},"679054":{"id":"679054","type":"image","title":"3-IDR-Spring-2025---Rangpo03162025.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERangpo in Sikkim, India offered a view of recovery in motion such as materials staged for rebuilding near bridges and roads that keep commerce and emergency response moving.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769095217","gmt_created":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","changed":"1769095217","gmt_changed":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","alt":"Rangpo in Sikkim, India offered a view of recovery in motion such as materials staged for rebuilding near bridges and roads that keep commerce and emergency response moving.","file":{"fid":"263166","name":"3-IDR-Spring-2025---Rangpo03162025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/3-IDR-Spring-2025---Rangpo03162025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/3-IDR-Spring-2025---Rangpo03162025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1479166,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/22\/3-IDR-Spring-2025---Rangpo03162025.jpg?itok=MuIfiKjX"}},"679055":{"id":"679055","type":"image","title":"4-IDR-Spring-2025---Kathmandu--Nepal03212025.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIn Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, the course broadened from hazard impacts to cultural context, exploring how heritage, governance, and everyday use of public space shape resilience.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769095217","gmt_created":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","changed":"1769095217","gmt_changed":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","alt":"In Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, the course broadened from hazard impacts to cultural context, exploring how heritage, governance, and everyday use of public space shape resilience.","file":{"fid":"263167","name":"4-IDR-Spring-2025---Kathmandu--Nepal03212025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/4-IDR-Spring-2025---Kathmandu--Nepal03212025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/4-IDR-Spring-2025---Kathmandu--Nepal03212025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2316531,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/22\/4-IDR-Spring-2025---Kathmandu--Nepal03212025.jpg?itok=KBCQfvza"}},"679056":{"id":"679056","type":"image","title":"cover-photo.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering students captured 360 media, using Filio, to study disaster sites in India and Nepal. Photos provided by Roozbahani.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769095217","gmt_created":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","changed":"1769095217","gmt_changed":"2026-01-22 15:20:17","alt":"School of Civil and Environmental Engineering students captured 360 media, using Filio, to study disaster sites in India and Nepal. Photos provided by Roozbahani. ","file":{"fid":"263168","name":"cover-photo.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/cover-photo.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/22\/cover-photo.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":833758,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/22\/cover-photo.jpg?itok=jiNPLFL8"}}},"media_ids":["679052","679053","679054","679055","679056"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660374","name":"School of Computing Instruction"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"193866","name":"school of computing instruction"},{"id":"172752","name":"Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EEmily Smith\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Computing\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688391":{"#nid":"688391","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Robot Pollinator Could Produce More, Better Crops for Indoor Farms","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new robot could solve one of the biggest challenges facing indoor farmers: manual pollination.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndoor farms, also known as vertical farms, are popular among agricultural researchers and are expanding across the agricultural industry. Some benefits they have over outdoor farms include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EYear-round production of food crops\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELess water and land requirements\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENot needing pesticides\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReducing carbon emissions from shipping\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReducing food waste\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.agritecture.com\/blog\/2021\/7\/20\/5-ways-vertical-farming-is-improving-nutrition\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Esome studies\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E indicate that indoor farms produce more nutritious food for urban communities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, these farms are often inaccessible to birds, bees, and other natural pollinators, leaving the pollination process to humans. The tedious process must be completed by hand for each flower to ensure the indoor crop flourishes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/ai-ping-hu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAi-Ping Hu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a principal research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), has spent years exploring methods to efficiently pollinate flowering plants and food crops in indoor farms to find a way to efficiently pollinate flower plants and food crops in indoor farms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHu,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/shreyas-kousik\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAssistant Professor Shreyas Kousik of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and a rotating group of student interns have developed a robot prototype that may be up to the task.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe robot can efficiently pollinate plants that have both male and female reproductive parts. These plants only require pollen to be transferred from one part to the other rather than externally from another flower.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENatural pollinators perform this task outdoors, but Hu said indoor farmers often use a paintbrush or electric tootbrush to ensure these flowers are pollinated.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKnowing the Pose\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn early challenge the research team addressed was teaching the robot to identify the \u201cpose\u201d of each flower. Pose refers to a flower\u2019s orientation, shape, and symmetry. Knowing these details ensures precise delivery of the pollen to maximize reproductive success.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s crucial to know exactly which way the flowers are facing,\u201d Hu said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou want to approach the flower from the front because that\u2019s where all the biological structures are. Knowing the pose tells you where the stem is. Our device grasps the stem and shakes it to dislodge the pollen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEvery flower is going to have its own pose, and you need to know what that is within at least 10 degrees.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EComputer Vision Breakthrough\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHarsh Muriki\u003C\/strong\u003E is a robotics master\u2019s student at Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing, who used computer vision to solve the pose problem while interning for Hu and GTRI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuriki attached a camera to a FarmBot to capture images of strawberry plants from dozens of angles in a small garden in front of Georgia Tech\u2019s Food Processing Technology Building. The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/farm.bot\/?srsltid=AfmBOoqh1Z8vSs3WflZisgw5DsOUSo8shD4VtY0Y8_VmVpVyt0Iwalxo\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFarmBot\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is an XYZ-axis robot that waters and sprays pesticides on outdoor gardens, though it is not capable of pollination.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe reconstruct the images of the flower into a 3D model and use a technique that converts the 3D model into multiple 2D images with depth information,\u201d Muriki said. \u201cThis enables us to send them to object detectors.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuriki said he used a real-time object detection system called YOLO (You Only Look Once) to classify objects. YOLO is known for identifying and classifying objects in a single pass.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVed Sengupta\u003C\/strong\u003E, a computer engineering major who interned with Muriki, fine-tuned the algorithms that converted 3D images into 2D.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis was a crucial part of making robot pollination possible,\u201d Sengupta said. \u201cThere is a big gap between 3D and 2D image processing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s not a lot of data on the internet for 3D object detection, but there\u2019s a ton for 2D. We were able to get great results from the converted images, and I think any sector of technology can take advantage of that.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESengupta, Muriki, and Hu co-authored a paper about their work that was accepted to the 2025 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeasuring Success\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pollination robot, built in Kousik\u2019s Safe Robotics Lab, is now in the prototype phase.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHu said the robot can do more than pollinate. It can also analyze each flower to determine how well it was pollinated and whether the chances for reproduction are high.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt has an additional capability of microscopic inspection,\u201d Hu said. \u201cIt\u2019s the first device we know of that provides visual feedback on how well a flower was pollinated.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information about the robot, visit the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/saferoboticslab.me.gatech.edu\/research\/towards-robotic-pollination\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESafe Robotics Lab project page\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EManual pollination is one of the biggest challenges for indoor farmers. These farms are often inaccessible to birds, bees, and other natural pollinators, leaving the pollination process to humans. The tedious process must be completed by hand for each flower to ensure the indoor crop flourishes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech research led by Ai-Ping Hu and Shreyas Kousik team is working to solve that. A robot they\u0027ve developed can efficiently pollinate plants that have both male and female reproductive parts. These plants only require pollen to be transferred from one part to the other rather than externally from another flower.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A research team that expands GTRI, the College of Engineering, and the College of Computing have developed a robot capable of pollinating flowers in indoor farms."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-02-19 18:58:12","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:54:01","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679370":{"id":"679370","type":"image","title":"Harsh-Muriki_86A0006.jpg","body":null,"created":"1771527500","gmt_created":"2026-02-19 18:58:20","changed":"1771527500","gmt_changed":"2026-02-19 18:58:20","alt":"Harsh Muriki","file":{"fid":"263520","name":"Harsh-Muriki_86A0006.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/19\/Harsh-Muriki_86A0006.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/19\/Harsh-Muriki_86A0006.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":140654,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/19\/Harsh-Muriki_86A0006.jpg?itok=rd0rv1Yt"}}},"media_ids":["679370"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187991","name":"go-robotics"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"11506","name":"computer vision"},{"id":"180840","name":"computer vision systems"},{"id":"669","name":"agriculture"},{"id":"194392","name":"AI in Agriculture"},{"id":"170254","name":"urban gardening"},{"id":"94111","name":"farming"},{"id":"14913","name":"urban farming"},{"id":"23911","name":"bees"},{"id":"6660","name":"flowers"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ndeen6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ENathan Deen\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Computing\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688478":{"#nid":"688478","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Student Getting Research Boost Through Google Ph.D. Fellowship","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech Ph.D. candidate is getting a boost to his research into developing more efficient multi-tasking artificial intelligence (AI) models without fine-tuning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Stoica is one of 38 Ph.D. students worldwide researching machine learning who were named a\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.google\/programs-and-events\/phd-fellowship\/recipients\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E 2025 Google Ph.D. Fellow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStoica is designing AI training methods that bypass fine-tuning, which is the process of adapting a large pre-trained model to perform new tasks. Fine-tuning is one of the most common ways engineers update large-language models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to add new capabilities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf an AI company wants to give a model a new capability, it could create a new model from scratch for that specific purpose. However, if the model already has relevant training and knowledge of the new task, fine-tuning is cheaper.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStoica argues that fine-tuning still uses large amounts of data, and that other methods can help models learn more effectively and efficiently.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFull fine-tuning yields strong performance, but it can be costly, and it risks catastrophic forgetting,\u201d Stoica said. \u201cMy research asks if we can extend a model\u2019s capabilities by imbuing it with the expertise of others, without fine-tuning?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cReducing cost and improving efficiency is more important than ever. We have so many publicly available models that have been trained to solve a variety of tasks. It\u2019s redundant to train a new model from scratch. It\u2019s much more efficient to leverage the information that already exists to get a model up to speed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStoica said the solution is a cost-effective method called model merging. This method combines two or more AI models into a single model, improving performance without fine-tuning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn a basic level, Stoica said an example would be combining a model that is efficient at classifying cats with one that works well at dogs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMerging is cheap because you just take the parameters, the weights of your existing models, and combine them,\u201d he said. \u201cYou could take the average of the weights to create a new model, but that sometimes doesn\u2019t work. My work has aimed to rearrange the weights so they can communicate easily with each other.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough his Google fellowship, Stoica seeks to apply model merging to create a cutting-edge vision encoder. A vision encoder converts image or video data into numerical representations that computers can understand. This enables tasks such as image or facial recognition and generative image captioning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI want to be at the frontier of the field, and Google is clearly part of that,\u201d Stoica said. \u201cThe vision encoder is very large-scale, and Google has the infrastructure to accommodate it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Stoica is one of 38 Ph.D. students worldwide researching machine learning who were named a\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.google\/programs-and-events\/phd-fellowship\/recipients\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E 2025 Google Ph.D. Fellow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStoica is designing AI training methods that bypass fine-tuning, which is the process of adapting a large pre-trained model to perform new tasks. Fine-tuning is one of the most common ways engineers update large-language models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to add new capabilities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Stoica is one of 38 Ph.D. students worldwide researching machine learning who were named a 2025 Google Ph.D. Fellow."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-02-23 17:43:54","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:53:05","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-23T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-23T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679394":{"id":"679394","type":"image","title":"IMG_2942-copy-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1771868657","gmt_created":"2026-02-23 17:44:17","changed":"1771868657","gmt_changed":"2026-02-23 17:44:17","alt":"George Stoica","file":{"fid":"263553","name":"IMG_2942-copy-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/23\/IMG_2942-copy-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/23\/IMG_2942-copy-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":112361,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/23\/IMG_2942-copy-2.jpg?itok=KCVheh-u"}}},"media_ids":["679394"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"}],"keywords":[{"id":"3165","name":"google"},{"id":"9143","name":"Graduate Research Fellowship"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688487":{"#nid":"688487","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Study Could Show How TikTok\u2019s Algorithm Affects Youth Mental Health","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-02-18\/mark-zuckerberg-tesimony-la-social-media-trial?utm_source=chatgpt.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Etook the witness stand\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court to defend his company from accusations that social media harms children.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA lawsuit filed by a 20-year-old plaintiff alleges Instagram and other social media apps are designed to make young users addicted to their platforms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, social media experts believe the algorithms that drive content on these platforms play a role in hooking users and keeping them scrolling for extensive periods of time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new study led by Georgia Tech might confirm this suspicion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing recently acquired data from more than 10,000 adolescent users,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.munmund.net\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMunmun De Choudhury\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E will audit TikTok\u2019s recommendation algorithm and study its impact on young people\u2019s behavior and mental health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDe Choudhury is leading a multi-institutional research team on a four-year, $1.7 million grant from the Huo Family Foundation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe hope to learn the different types of negative exposures that young people experience when using TikTok,\u201d De Choudhury said. \u201cThis can help us characterize what they\u2019re watching and build computational methods to understand the consumption behaviors of these participants and how they\u2019re affected by the algorithm.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDe Choudhury, a professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing, is collaborating with Amy Orben, a professor at the University of Cambridge, and Homa Hosseinmardi, an assistant professor at UCLA, on the project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESocial media platforms have become increasingly reluctant to share their data in recent years, posing a challenge for researchers like De Choudhury.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe can\u2019t do the type of studies we did 10 years ago with X (formerly Twitter) because the API is much more restrictive,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are limited ways to programmatically access people\u2019s data now.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe must go through a tedious, manual process to get around declining access to social media data. This data-gathering process is essential given the sensitive nature of mental health research. You want data that is shared with consent.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrben collected TikTok data from more than 10,000 young people in the UK who consented to provide their personal data archives in accordance with the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe collected data includes watch histories, which De Choudhury said distinguishes this research from other social media studies that focus on what users post.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe don\u2019t understand passive social media consumption very well, so we hope to close that gap and learn what that looks like,\u201d she said. \u201cThat could complement or contrast what we know about people\u2019s active engagement on these platforms. Is what they\u2019re consuming directly related to what they\u2019re posting? How does passive consumption affect young people\u2019s mental health?\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA clearer picture of how algorithm-based content affects young people could result in design interventions to minimize negative effects. De Choudhury said studying data from young people is critical because it\u2019s not too late to steer them away from unhealthy behavioral patterns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSome of the earliest signs or symptoms of mental health conditions appear in adolescence,\u201d she said. \u201cIf appropriate care and support are provided, maybe it\u2019s possible to prevent these symptoms from becoming full-blown in the future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeyond TikTok\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat the research team learns about TikTok could also provide broader insight into other social media platforms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETikTok has been influential in how social media platforms display video content. Competitors like Instagram and X modeled their video presentation after TikTok\u2019s, which can easily lead to doomscrolling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur hope is that our findings can be generalized, with the caveat the data we have is exclusively from TikTok,\u201d De Choudhury said. \u201cOther platforms have similar video-sharing and consumption features where the video automatically plays from one to the next. We hope what we learn from TikTok will be applicable to people\u2019s activities elsewhere, though it will require future work beyond this project to draw concrete conclusions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESimulating Feeds with AI\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDe Choudhury said an additional part of the study will be using artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate video feeds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024, Hosseinmardi led a study at the University of Pennsylvania on YouTube\u2019s recommendation algorithm and used bots that either followed or ignored the recommendations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDe Choudhury said they will use a similar method for TikTok.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe feeds will be realistic but generated by AI to see the potential pathways to consumption rabbit holes,\u201d she said. \u201cThis should give us some insight into how algorithms influence the negative and positive exposures people might be having on TikTok.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFoundation Expands Reach\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased in the UK and established in 2009, the Huo Family Foundation supports community education initiatives in the UK, the U.S., and China.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe organization announced in January its launch of the Huo Family Foundation Science Programme.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/huofamilyfoundation.org\/news\/updates\/huo-family-foundation-awards-17-6m-for-groundbreaking-research\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe new program is committing $17.6 million to fund 20 new multi-year research grants\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E that explore the impact of digital technology on the brain development, social behavior, and mental health of young people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDigital technology is profoundly shaping childhood and young adulthood, yet there is limited causal evidence of its effects,\u201d\u0026nbsp;said Yan Huo, founder of the Huo Family Foundation, in a press release.\u0026nbsp;\u201cWe are proud to support exceptional researchers advancing vital scientific understanding.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELed by Georgia Tech professor Munmun De Choudhury, a multi-institutional research team is launching a $1.7 million study to examine how TikTok\u2019s recommendation algorithm influences the mental health of adolescent users. The project focuses on passive consumption by analyzing the watch histories of over 10,000 young participants and using AI to simulate content \u0022rabbit holes.\u0022 By identifying patterns of negative exposure, the researchers aim to develop design interventions that can steer teenagers away from unhealthy behavioral patterns and support early mental health care.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech-led research team is conducting a multi-year study using data from more than 10,000 adolescents to investigate how TikTok\u2019s recommendation algorithm and passive content consumption impact youth mental health."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-02-24 14:29:28","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:52:52","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679406":{"id":"679406","type":"image","title":"208A9267-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1771943377","gmt_created":"2026-02-24 14:29:37","changed":"1771943377","gmt_changed":"2026-02-24 14:29:37","alt":"Munmun De Choudhury","file":{"fid":"263567","name":"208A9267-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/208A9267-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/208A9267-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":104533,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/24\/208A9267-2.jpg?itok=3fEZjVVt"}}},"media_ids":["679406"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"143","name":"Digital Media and Entertainment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"167543","name":"social media"},{"id":"190947","name":"tiktok"},{"id":"10343","name":"mental health"},{"id":"10824","name":"Children And Adolescents"},{"id":"5660","name":"algorithms"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688516":{"#nid":"688516","#data":{"type":"news","title":" Is This Your AI? Researchers Crack AI Blackbox","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtificial intelligence (AI) systems power everything from chatbots to security cameras, yet many of the most advanced models operate as \u201cblack boxes.\u201d Companies can use them, but outsiders can\u2019t see how they were built, where they came from, or whether they contain hidden flaws.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis lack of transparency creates real risks. A model could contain security vulnerabilities or hidden backdoors. It could also be a lightly modified version of an open-source system \u2014 repackaged in violation of its license \u2014 with no easy way to prove it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new framework, ZEN, to help solve this problem. The tool can recover a model\u2019s unique \u201cfingerprint\u201d directly from its memory, allowing experts to trace its origins and reconstruct how it was assembled.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAnalyzing a proprietary AI model without identifying where it came from and how it is constructed is like trying to fix a car engine with the hood welded shut,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/davidoygenblik.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Oygenblik\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech and the study\u2019s lead author.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cZEN not only X-rays the engine but also provides the complete wiring diagram.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZEN works by taking a snapshot of a running AI system and extracting information about both its mathematical structure and the code that defines it. It compares that fingerprint against a database of known open-source models to determine the system\u2019s origin.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf it finds a match, ZEN identifies the exact changes and generates software patches that allow investigators to recreate a working replica of the proprietary model for testing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat capability has major implications for both security and intellectual property protection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWith ZEN, a security analyst can finally test a black-box model for hidden backdoors, and a company can gather concrete evidence to prove its software license was infringed,\u201d Oygenblik said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo evaluate the system, the research team tested ZEN on 21 state-of-the-art AI models, including Llama 3, YOLOv10, and other well-known systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZEN correctly traced every customized model back to its original open-source foundation \u2014 achieving 100% attribution accuracy. Even when models had been heavily modified \u2014 differing by more than 83% from their original versions \u2014 ZEN successfully identified the changes and enabled full reconstruction for security testing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers will present their findings at the 2026 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ndss-symposium.org\/\u0022\u003ENetwork and Distributed System Security (NDSS) Symposium\u003C\/a\u003E. The paper, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ndss-symposium.org\/ndss-paper\/achieving-zen-combining-mathematical-and-programmatic-deep-learning-model-representations-for-attribution-and-reuse\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAchieving Zen: Combining Mathematical and Programmatic Deep Learning Model Representations for Attribution and Reuse\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, was authored by Oygenblik, master\u2019s student \u003Cstrong\u003EDinko Dermendzhiev\u003C\/strong\u003E, Ph.D. students \u003Cstrong\u003EFilippos Sofias\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EMingxuan Yao\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EHaichuan Xu\u003C\/strong\u003E, and \u003Cstrong\u003ERunze Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E, post-doctorate scholars \u003Cstrong\u003EJeman Park\u003C\/strong\u003E, and \u003Cstrong\u003EAmit Kumar Sikder\u003C\/strong\u003E, as well as Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EBrendan Saltaformaggio\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers have developed a technique to identify the origins of proprietary \u201cblack-box\u201d AI models, even when their internal structure and training data are hidden. Because many commercial AI systems cannot be externally inspected, it is difficult to detect security vulnerabilities, intellectual property theft, licensing violations, or trace a model\u2019s lineage. The new approach enables researchers to attribute models, determine whether one was derived from another, and identify potential misuse of protected data. By improving transparency and enabling verification of model provenance, the work strengthens accountability and trust in AI systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers have developed a technique to identify the origins of proprietary \u201cblack-box\u201d AI models, even when their internal structure and training data are hidden."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-02-25 17:33:20","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:52:42","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679429":{"id":"679429","type":"image","title":"Is-this-your-AI.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772040810","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 17:33:30","changed":"1772040810","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 17:33:30","alt":"A graphic showing an AI model in an outstretched hand. ","file":{"fid":"263592","name":"Is-this-your-AI.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Is-this-your-AI.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Is-this-your-AI.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1346270,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/Is-this-your-AI.jpg?itok=ehbGALRW"}}},"media_ids":["679429"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.ndss-symposium.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026-s1628-paper.pdf","title":"Read the Paper"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2835","name":"ai"},{"id":"193860","name":"Artifical Intelligence"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"365","name":"Research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;School of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jpopham3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688223":{"#nid":"688223","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Department of Energy Award to Power Nuclear Research With Machine Learning","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe future of clean energy depends on algorithms as much as it does atoms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/people\/qi-tang\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQi Tang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is building machine learning (ML) models to accelerate nuclear fusion research, making it more affordable and more accurate. Backed by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Tang\u2019s work brings clean, sustainable energy closer to reality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETang has received an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.osti.gov\/early-career\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEarly Career Research Program (ECRP) award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E from the DOE Office of Science. The grant supports Tang with $875,000 disbursed over five years to craft ML and data processing tools that help scientists analyze massive datasets from nuclear experiments and simulations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETang is the first faculty member from Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Computing and School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) to receive the ECRP. He is the seventh Georgia Tech researcher to earn the award and the only GT awardee among this year\u2019s 99 recipients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than a milestone, the award reflects a shift in how nuclear research is done. Today, progress depends on computing and data science as much as on physics and engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am honored and excited to receive the ECRP award through DOE\u2019s Advanced Scientific Computing Research program, an organization I care about deeply,\u201d said Tang, an assistant professor in the School of CSE.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am grateful to my former colleagues at Los Alamos National Laboratory and collaborators at other national laboratories, including Lawrence Livermore, Sandia, and Argonne. I am also thankful for my Ph.D. students at Georgia Tech, whose dedication and creativity make this award possible.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[Related:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/new-faculty-applies-high-performance-computing-scientific-machine-learning-interests-studies\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENew Faculty Applies High-Performance Computing, Scientific Machine Learning Interests to Studies in Plasma Physics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA problem in nuclear research is that fusion simulations are challenging to understand and use. These simulations generate enormous datasets that are too large to store, move, and analyze efficiently.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pamspublic.science.energy.gov\/WebPAMSExternal\/Interface\/Common\/ViewPublicAbstract.aspx?rv=a756f612-3409-44b8-89ea-7421bf0840e5\u0026amp;rtc=24\u0026amp;PRoleId=10\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIn his ECRP proposal to DOE\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Tang introduced new ML methods to improve the analysis and storage of particle data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETang\u2019s approach balances shrinking data so it is easier to store and transfer while preserving the most important scientific features. His multiscale ML models are informed by physics, so the reduced data still reflects how fusion systems really behave.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith Tang\u2019s research, scientists can run larger, more realistic fusion models and analyze results more quickly. This accelerates progress toward practical fusion energy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn contrast to generic black-box-type compression tools, we aim at preserving the intrinsic structures of the particle dataset during the data reduction processes,\u201d Tang said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTaking this approach, we can meet our goal of achieving high-fidelity preservation of critical physics with minimum loss of information.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EComputing is essential in modern research because of the amount of data produced and captured from experiments and simulations. In the era of exascale supercomputers, data movement is a greater bottleneck than actual computation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDOE operates three of the world\u2019s four exascale supercomputers. These machines can calculate one quintillion (a billion billion) operations per second.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe exascale era began in 2022 with the launch of Frontier at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Aurora followed in 2023 at Argonne National Laboratory. El Capitan arrived in 2024 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith Tang\u2019s data reduction approaches, all of DOE\u2019s supercomputers spend more time on science and less time waiting for data transfers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cQi\u2019s work in computational plasma physics and nuclear fusion modeling has been groundbreaking,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EHaesun Park\u003C\/strong\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor and Chair of the School of CSE.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are proud of Qi and what this award means for him, Georgia Tech, and the Department of Energy toward leveraging computation to solve challenges in science and engineering, such as sustainable energy.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrevious Georgia Tech recipients of DOE Early Career Research Program awards include:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/09\/26\/doe-recognizes-georgia-tech-researchers-prestigious-early-career-awards\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EItamar Kimchi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor, School of Physics\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/09\/26\/doe-recognizes-georgia-tech-researchers-prestigious-early-career-awards\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESourabh Saha\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/wenjing-liao-awarded-doe-early-career-award-model-simplification-deep-learning\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWenjing Lao\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor, School of Mathematics\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/news\/2018\/06\/professor-lively-receives-does-early-career-award\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERyan Lively\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Thomas C. DeLoach Professor, School of Chemical \u0026amp; Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/josh-kacher\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJosh Kacher\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/khabar.com\/community-newsmakers\/devesh-ranjan-receives-early-career-award-from-u-s-department-of-energy\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDevesh Ranjan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. School Chair and professor, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/people\/qi-tang\u0022\u003EQi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E is building machine learning (ML) models to accelerate nuclear fusion research, making it more affordable and more accurate. Backed by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Tang\u2019s work brings clean, sustainable energy closer to reality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETang has received an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.osti.gov\/early-career\u0022\u003EEarly Career Research Program (ECRP) award\u003C\/a\u003E from the DOE Office of Science. The grant supports Tang with $875,000 disbursed over five years to craft ML and data processing tools that help scientists analyze massive datasets from nuclear experiments and simulations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETang is the first faculty member from Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Computing and School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) to receive the ECRP. He is the seventh Georgia Tech researcher to earn the award and the only GT awardee among this year\u2019s 99 recipients.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u0027s Qi Tang has received an Early Career Research Program award from the Department of Energy\u0027s Office of Science. The $875,000 grant supports Tang for five years to craft ML tools that analyze data from nuclear experiments and simulations. "}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2026-02-12 15:11:55","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:52:31","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-12T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-12T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679267":{"id":"679267","type":"image","title":"Qi-TangStory-Cover.jpg","body":null,"created":"1770909124","gmt_created":"2026-02-12 15:12:04","changed":"1770909124","gmt_changed":"2026-02-12 15:12:04","alt":"DOE ECRP Qi Tang","file":{"fid":"263400","name":"Qi-TangStory-Cover.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/12\/Qi-TangStory-Cover.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/12\/Qi-TangStory-Cover.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":125283,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/12\/Qi-TangStory-Cover.jpg?itok=mPLUykJZ"}}},"media_ids":["679267"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/department-energy-award-power-nuclear-research-machine-learning","title":"Department of Energy Award to Power Nuclear Research with Machine Learning"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"663","name":"Department of Energy"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688603":{"#nid":"688603","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Industry to Instruction: Aibek Musaev Brings Real-World Insight to the CS Classroom","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERaised in Kyrgyzstan, \u003Cstrong\u003EAibek Musaev\u003C\/strong\u003E discovered his passion for computer science (CS) in a small yet pivotal place: the computer lab at his high school, Physics-Mathematical Lyceum No. 61.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe first time I worked on a computer there and wrote my first program, I was hooked,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere is something uniquely satisfying about seeing the immediate results of your work. I also appreciated how objective coding is. It either works or it does not.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMusaev\u2019s journey in CS continued at Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, where a chance discovery set the stage for his academic path abroad. After spotting a leaflet for a presidential scholarship, he applied and was among the ten winners out of roughly 1,500 applicants.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs part of the scholarship, the organizers selected an American university for me, Georgia Institute of Technology, which I had not heard of at the time,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Tech, Musaev earned his bachelor\u2019s in CS. He later continued his studies as a graduate research assistant and earned his master\u2019s in CS.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat early fascination with problem-solving and clarity continues to shape Musaev\u2019s approach to teaching today. As a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction (SCI), he teaches CS 2316 \u003Cem\u003EData Input and Manipulation \u003C\/em\u003Eand his favorite course, CS 1331 \u003Cem\u003EIntroduction to Object-Oriented Programming\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom the moment I started teaching it, something just felt natural,\u201d he said. \u201cI enjoy coding live in class, watching students grasp new ideas, and explaining not only how things work, but why they were designed that way.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough Musaev is now rooted in academia, his career has included significant time in industry. After completing his degrees, he worked at Siebel Systems, where he developed customer relationship management software and helped transition a flagship product from desktop to the web. He then returned to Kyrgyzstan to found and manage a successful software company before returning to the United States to earn his Ph.D.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe believes those experiences provide perspective that cannot be learned in a classroom alone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy advice may be nontraditional,\u201d he said. \u201cSpend time in industry. Seeing how the concepts you teach are applied in practice provides an invaluable perspective. This is something you simply cannot gain from textbooks alone.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince joining SCI in January 2020, Musaev has found a strong sense of community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am very happy to be part of this team,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone is supportive and willing to help. It truly feels like a collaborative environment.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Musaev, the most meaningful moments come from students, often unexpectedly.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRecently, I was walking with a head TA discussing course-related topics when a student suddenly stepped in front of us and interrupted our conversation. He told me I was the best professor he had ever had. Moments like that are difficult to put into words, but they mean everything to us as instructors,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said he hopes students find value in his classes and leave each lecture having learned something new. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI also want them to genuinely enjoy CS. It is an incredible field, and I cannot imagine doing anything else.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERaised in Kyrgyzstan, \u003Cstrong\u003EAibek Musaev\u003C\/strong\u003E discovered his passion for computer science (CS) in a small yet pivotal place: the computer lab at his high school, Physics-Mathematical Lyceum No. 61.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe first time I worked on a computer there and wrote my first program, I was hooked,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Musaev\u2019s journey in CS continued at Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, where a chance discovery set the stage for his academic path abroad."}],"uid":"36613","created_gmt":"2026-02-27 17:15:07","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:52:18","author":"Emily Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679473":{"id":"679473","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile1.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Aibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263640","name":"aibekprofile1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1083803,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile1.jpg?itok=YrPBsnC_"}},"679474":{"id":"679474","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBefore working in academia, Musaev\u0027s career path included significant time in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Before working in academia, Musaev\u0027s career path included significant time in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263641","name":"aibekprofile2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":56853,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile2.jpg?itok=PkvHsNtX"}},"679475":{"id":"679475","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile3.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Aibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263642","name":"aibekprofile3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1164221,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile3.jpg?itok=qttdh7u2"}},"679476":{"id":"679476","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile4.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMusaev advises students to gain experience and perspective by working in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Musaev advises students to gain experience and perspective by working in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263643","name":"aibekprofile4.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile4.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile4.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1595763,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile4.jpg?itok=zZbXF5H-"}}},"media_ids":["679473","679474","679475","679476"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660374","name":"School of Computing Instruction"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193866","name":"school of computing instruction"},{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"104601","name":"faculty profile"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688648":{"#nid":"688648","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New \u2018Touchable Sound\u2019 Museum Display Makes Data More Accessible","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBlind and low vision (BLV) people may soon have access to and more easily understand scientific data in museum exhibits through new \u201ctouchable sound\u201d displays.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssociate Professor Jessica Roberts and Ph.D. student Emily Amspoker of Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing are working with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gacoast.uga.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUniversity of Georgia\u2019s Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in Savannah\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Together, they\u2019ve developed a prototype display that uses sonification and texture to convey sea floor habitat information from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/graysreef.noaa.gov\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGray\u2019s Reef National Marine Sanctuary\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E off the coast of Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESonification is the process of translating data points into sound.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe display functions as a map that BLV users can follow to learn about each habitat. It is made from a wooden board with laser-cut patterns engraved into the surface. Each pattern represents information about the four types of habitats found in Gray\u2019s Reef. Each pattern has a distinct sound that corresponds to a legend on the board, which provides an audio description of each habitat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe four habitats are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFlat sand \u2014 smooth sandy seafloor with little topographic variation that provides habitat for burrowing organisms such as worms, clams, and sand dollars.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERippled sand \u2014 sandy bottom shaped into small wave-like ridges by currents and wave action; supports microhabitats of small invertebrates and attracts fish feeding on buried prey.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESparse live bottom \u2014 areas of exposed hard surfaces with scattered attached organisms like sponges, corals, and algae, offering structure and shelter for reef-associated fish and invertebrates.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDense live bottom \u2014 hard-bottom reef areas with abundant attached marine life, providing high biodiversity and offering food, and breeding sites for numerous species.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy allowing learners to explore these habitats, the team hopes to emphasize the importance of protecting diverse ocean habitats.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur job was to figure out how we can use sounds and touch to represent each of the four habitat types so our visitors can explore the ocean without being able to see it,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERoberts said the project is critical to advance understanding of how science and informal learning can be more inclusive to those who have difficulty processing visual data displays.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis was particularly exciting to figure out how we could broaden accessibility to data sets because just like so much other scientific data, it\u2019s out there and available, but when it\u2019s presented to the public, it\u2019s usually in visual form,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are many open questions about how to do this well within a museum with complex scientific data. We\u2019re moving the needle on that, but there\u2019s a long way to go.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERight Combination\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmspoker and Roberts created three different versions of the prototype. One was sound-only, one was texture-only, and the other was a combination of sound and texture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe expected the multimodal version would work best,\u201d Amspoker said. \u201cWe found people used sound and texture in different ways when interacting with it. In cases where people relied on texture, it was still difficult to tell when they crossed the barrier from one texture to another. Sound was very useful in that case.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmspoker said computer vision and an app she designed allow the technology to be deployed on any surface, whether a mobile device, a wooden board, or even a classroom floor. A camera set up above the display tracks the user\u2019s hand movements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt figures out where you are on the board, and then our code uses the location of your finger to decide what sound should play from the computer,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat\u2019s nice about our system is it only needs a computer and a webcam, and you can use whatever materials you have on hand for the map.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding on a Legacy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERoberts said she is building on the work of a previous NSF-funded collaboration with Dr. Amy Bower, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts who is blind.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBower lost her vision in graduate school, but because of her lifelong interest in oceanography, she set out to create ways to learn about ocean data through sound.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2021, she launched the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/accessibleoceans.whoi.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAccessible Oceans\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E project through the National Science Foundation\u2019s Advancing Informal STEM Learning program. The interdisciplinary team, including Roberts and collaborators Leslie Smith of Your Ocean Consulting and Jon Bellona of the University of Oregon, created auditory displays of sonified data for museums.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2023, the team published \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tos.org\/oceanography\/article\/expanding-access-to-ocean-science-through-inclusively-designed-data-sonifications\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ean article in \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOceanography,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E the official magazine of the Oeanography Society\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cInformal learning environments are increasingly recognizing the importance of employing multiple modalities to engage all learners and are leveraging sound to enhance visitor experience,\u201d the authors wrote.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile sonic additions of music, soundscapes, and field recordings add qualitative value, there is a need to explore the potential of sound to facilitate engagement with quantitative information. Data sonification is a promising avenue for increasing accessibility to data within the museum context.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have created a prototype \u201ctouchable sound\u201d museum exhibit that helps blind and low-vision visitors explore scientific data by combining tactile maps with sonification of seafloor habitats. The display translates information about different ocean environments into distinctive textures and sounds so users can follow a physical map of Gray\u2019s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and hear data-driven audio cues. The team hopes this multimodal approach will make complex visual data more inclusive and broaden access to informal science learning.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers have developed a prototype \u201ctouchable sound\u201d museum display that uses sonification and tactile maps to make complex scientific data about ocean habitats more accessible to blind and low-vision visitors."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-03-03 15:13:03","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:52:09","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679503":{"id":"679503","type":"image","title":"2026-Jessica-Roberts-Reef-Data-Sonification-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772550793","gmt_created":"2026-03-03 15:13:13","changed":"1772550793","gmt_changed":"2026-03-03 15:13:13","alt":"Jessica Roberts","file":{"fid":"263675","name":"2026-Jessica-Roberts-Reef-Data-Sonification-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/03\/2026-Jessica-Roberts-Reef-Data-Sonification-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/03\/2026-Jessica-Roberts-Reef-Data-Sonification-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":118705,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/03\/2026-Jessica-Roberts-Reef-Data-Sonification-2.jpg?itok=UaqIj7yh"}}},"media_ids":["679503"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"}],"keywords":[{"id":"360","name":"accessibility"},{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"9092","name":"museums"},{"id":"181370","name":"oceanography"},{"id":"176552","name":"data sonification"},{"id":"1102","name":"blind"},{"id":"2751","name":"visually impaired"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688916":{"#nid":"688916","#data":{"type":"news","title":" Undergrads Earn National Recognition for Computing Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETwo Georgia Tech undergraduates are being recognized for their contributions to computing research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERyan\u0026nbsp;Punamiya\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(CS 2025)\u0026nbsp;and \u003Cstrong\u003ESummer Abramson\u003C\/strong\u003E, a third-year\u0026nbsp;computational\u0026nbsp;media student, have been honored by the Computing Research Association (CRA) through its 2025\u20132026 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.org\/about\/awards\/outstanding-undergraduate-researcher-award\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOutstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award (URA) program.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;was named a runner-up for the prestigious award, while Abramson received an honorable mention among hundreds of applicants from universities across North America.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.org\/about\/awards\/outstanding-undergraduate-researcher-award\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;recognized eight awardees in 2026, along with eight runners-up, nine finalists, and over 200 honorable mentions from thousands of applications.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvancing\u0026nbsp;Robotics Research\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;knew early on that he\u0026nbsp;didn\u2019t\u0026nbsp;want to wait until starting his Ph.D. to do meaningful and impactful robotics research.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;joined the Robot Learning and Reasoning Lab (RL2) directed by Assistant Professor\u0026nbsp;Danfei\u0026nbsp;Xu. While there, he contributed to the lab\u2019s Meta-sponsored\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/new-algorithm-teaches-robots-through-human-perspective\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEgoMimic\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;project, which trains robots to perform human tasks using recordings captured by Meta\u2019s Project Aria research glasses.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;also the first author of a paper accepted to the 2025 Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS),\u0026nbsp;one of the world\u2019s most prestigious artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning conferences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRyan is the strongest undergraduate I\u0027ve worked with,\u201d Xu said, \u201cincluding students who went on to Stanford, Berkeley, and leadership roles in major tech companies.\u0026nbsp;He\u2019s\u0026nbsp;already\u0026nbsp;operating\u0026nbsp;at the level of a strong\u0026nbsp;third-year Ph.D.\u0026nbsp;student.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;said it was a challenge to balance his undergraduate coursework with his research in Xu\u2019s lab.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou get out how much you put in,\u201d\u0026nbsp;he\u0026nbsp;said.\u0026nbsp;\u201cI built my class schedule to give myself as much time to do research as possible. It also boils down to having the right research mentors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201c(Xu) never saw me as an\u0026nbsp;undergrad\u0026nbsp;who\u2019s\u0026nbsp;just there to do grunt work. I was\u0026nbsp;fortunate\u0026nbsp;he saw my curiosity and cultivated me as a researcher.\u0026nbsp;That\u2019s\u0026nbsp;really how\u0026nbsp;you get more\u0026nbsp;undergrads\u0026nbsp;motivated to research \u2014 giving them the chance to be independent and explore ideas of their own.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;said his work in Xu\u2019s lab has already helped him identify the research areas he wants to focus on as he considers his next steps. He will continue developing generalized training models for robots using human data so they can perform tasks instantly upon deployment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The amount of data needed to train a robot is difficult to obtain even for top industry companies,\u0022 he said. \u0022We have embodied robot data available in billions of humans. With the advent of extended reality devices, we can get a scalable source of diverse interactions within environments.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;graduated in December and recently started an internship at Nvidia. He mentioned he has been accepted into several Ph.D. programs, including Georgia Tech, and he is choosing where to continue his research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s the first time my research has been\u0026nbsp;acknowledged\u0026nbsp;externally by the robotics community,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s\u0026nbsp;good to\u0026nbsp;know\u0026nbsp;the problem\u0026nbsp;I\u2019m\u0026nbsp;working on is important, and that motivates me. Robotics is an exciting field. We are doing things now that two years ago were difficult to do.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearching Inclusion in Computing Education\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbramson conducts research in the People-Agents Research for Computing Education (PARCE) Laboratory under the mentorship of\u0026nbsp;Pedro Guillermo Feij\u00f3o-Garc\u00eda, a faculty member\u0026nbsp;in the School of Computing Instruction. He and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Olufisayo Omojokun, nominated her for the award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer work focuses on the intersection of computing education and human-AI interaction, where she\u2019s been exploring ways to create more equitable technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is such a huge milestone, and I couldn\u0027t be prouder of Summer,\u201d Feij\u00f3o-Garc\u00eda said. \u201cMentoring her for almost two years has been an amazing experience.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbramson has received the Georgia Tech President\u2019s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA) twice, which supports her research exploring how user-centered design curricula can help address attrition among women in computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve had the amazing opportunity to pursue research at the intersection of student identity, community belonging, and how we can build tools that support our diverse student population,\u201d Abramson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDr. Pedro and I have a goal to build community through a human-first approach, and I could not be more grateful for his support and guidance in my own journey. The CRA highlights the best of what the computing discipline has to offer, and I am incredibly honored for our work to be recognized.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbramson will spend the summer researching how user-centered design curricula can help promote confidence, belonging, and retention for women in computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENominees for the PURA program were recognized for contributing to multiple research projects, authoring or coauthoring papers, presenting at conferences, developing widely used software artifacts, and supporting their communities as teaching assistants, tutors, and mentors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESchool of Computing Instruction Communications Officer Emily Smith contributed to this story.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMain Photo: Ryan Punamiya works with a robot during the 2025 International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Atlanta. Photo by Terence Rushin\/College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERyan\u0026nbsp;Punamiya\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(CS 2025)\u0026nbsp;and \u003Cstrong\u003ESummer Abramson\u003C\/strong\u003E, a third-year\u0026nbsp;computational\u0026nbsp;media student, have been honored by the Computing Research Association (CRA) through its 2025\u20132026 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.org\/about\/awards\/outstanding-undergraduate-researcher-award\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOutstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award (URA) program.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPunamiya\u0026nbsp;was named a runner-up for the prestigious award, while Abramson received an honorable mention among hundreds of applicants from universities across North America.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.org\/about\/awards\/outstanding-undergraduate-researcher-award\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;recognized eight awardees in 2026, along with eight runners-up, nine finalists, and over 200 honorable mentions from thousands of applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ryan Punamiya (CS 2025) and Summer Abramson, a third-year computational media student, have been honored by the Computing Research Association (CRA) through its 2025\u20132026 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award (URA) program. "}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-03-13 14:57:26","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:51:21","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679613":{"id":"679613","type":"image","title":"ICRA-2025_P9A0421-Enhanced-NR.jpg","body":null,"created":"1773413856","gmt_created":"2026-03-13 14:57:36","changed":"1773413856","gmt_changed":"2026-03-13 14:57:36","alt":"Ryan Punamiya","file":{"fid":"263795","name":"ICRA-2025_P9A0421-Enhanced-NR.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/13\/ICRA-2025_P9A0421-Enhanced-NR.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/13\/ICRA-2025_P9A0421-Enhanced-NR.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":133995,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/13\/ICRA-2025_P9A0421-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=r8p0C5IW"}}},"media_ids":["679613"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"101271","name":"Computing Research Association"},{"id":"22861","name":"undergraduate research awards"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689034":{"#nid":"689034","#data":{"type":"external_news","title":" Professor to Advise OpenAI on Improving Well-Being Through ChatGPT","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOpenAI, the developer of the text-to-text generative artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT, announced in October the establishment of an Expert Council on Well-Being and AI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.munmund.net\u0022\u003EMunmun De Choudhury\u003C\/a\u003E is one of eight experts serving on the initial council. OpenAI invited De Choudhury for her expertise on how digital resources affect youth mental health.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOpenAI, the developer of the text-to-text generative artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT, announced in October the establishment of an Expert Council on Well-Being and AI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.munmund.net\u0022\u003EMunmun De Choudhury\u003C\/a\u003E is one of eight experts serving on the initial council. OpenAI invited De Choudhury for her expertise on how digital resources affect youth mental health.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-03-19 14:11:37","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 14:16:21","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","publication":"Georgia Tech College of Computing","field_article_url":"","publication_url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/professor-advise-openai-improving-well-being-through-chatgpt","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1317","name":"News Briefs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689033":{"#nid":"689033","#data":{"type":"external_news","title":"How Bad Are A.I. Delusions? We Asked People Treating Them.","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOpenAI has consulted with mental health experts to improve how ChatGPT responds to people who appear to be in a psychological crisis. The company has also formed a council with eight\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eoutside experts in psychology and human-computer interaction to advise its policy team.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOpenAI has consulted with mental health experts to improve how ChatGPT responds to people who appear to be in a psychological crisis. The company has also formed a council with eight\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eoutside experts in psychology and human-computer interaction to advise its policy team.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-03-19 14:13:11","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 14:14:39","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","publication":"The New York Times","field_article_url":"","publication_url":"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/26\/us\/chatgpt-delusions-psychosis.html","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1317","name":"News Briefs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689012":{"#nid":"689012","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cohort of Computing Students Named Squarepoint Foundation Scholars","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFive Georgia Tech computer science (CS) students have been named Squarepoint Foundation Scholars, receiving merit- and need-based scholarships for their undergraduate studies. The Squarepoint Foundation is providing $100,000 to fund the awards, which offer $10,000 per year for two years to rising third-year students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow in its second year of supporting the College of Computing, the Squarepoint Foundation continues to expand opportunities, enabling students to focus fully on their studies and pursue activities outside the classroom. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA selection committee led by \u003Cstrong\u003EMary Hudachek-Buswell\u003C\/strong\u003E, interim chair of the School of Computing Instruction (SCI), chose this year\u2019s cohort.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese students exemplify the curiosity, talent, and determination we strive to cultivate in computer science,\u201d Hudachek-Buswell said. \u201cThe Squarepoint Foundation Scholarships will give them the opportunity to focus fully on their studies while pursuing research and projects that have the potential to make a real-world impact.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe scholars have demonstrated strong leadership across campus, with all five serving as teaching assistants (TAs) and earning faculty honors. The cohort is also engaged in\u0026nbsp;research and study abroad opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFounded in 2021, the Squarepoint Foundation supports STEM education and research while partnering with organizations worldwide to expand opportunity and access.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are proud to continue our partnership with Georgia Tech, as we extend our support to a number of students working towards achieving their academic goals,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EAllison Henry\u003C\/strong\u003E, Squarepoint Foundation manager.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Squarepoint Foundation aims to increase access to education, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to pursue the degree of their choice, no matter their circumstances. We wish these talented students the best of luck as they undertake their studies and recognize them for their hard work and dedication to the STEM field.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeet the Scholars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaria Cymbalyuk\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECymbalyuk studies \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/threads-better-way-learn-computing\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECybersecurity and Information Internetwork threads\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, focusing on how technical systems shape who is protected or exposed in digital environments. She\u2019s interested in supporting public defenders and improving access to justice through technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis scholarship made this semester feel less financially stressful and more like I can focus on building the skills and experiences I care about,\u201d Cymbalyuk said. \u201cI want to use my skills to build tools and do research that supports public interest organizations.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMarziah Islam\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIslam concentrates on the People and Intelligence threads, exploring how humans interact with technology. She is developing a sign-language learning mobile app through a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vip.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVertically Integrated Project\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and hopes to build accessible, reliable systems in healthcare technology. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am fascinated by the intersection of humans and computing, and I want to design technology that better supports real people,\u201d Islam said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESahadev Bharath\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBharath studies Architecture and Information Internetworks threads, with interests in low-level programming, operating systems, and large-scale systems. He plans to begin his career in software engineering, focusing on distributed systems and AI infrastructure.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cComing from India, being able to afford out-of-state tuition has been a challenge. This scholarship relieves financial stress and gives me more time to focus on my academics and career,\u201d Bharath said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am passionate about teaching and sharing my knowledge with fellow students. Being a TA has been extremely fulfilling and motivates me to continue contributing to education.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoie Yeung\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYeung studies Information Internetworks and Intelligence threads, with a focus on data and artificial intelligence. She has received the President\u2019s Volunteer Service Award for completing more than 100 service hours in one year. In addition to pursuing a career in software engineering, she is passionate about mentoring younger girls and addressing the gender gap in STEM. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI want to create meaningful and impactful technology while giving back to my communities. I also aim to show younger girls that they can succeed in computing despite the gender gap,\u201d Yeung said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJun Hong Wang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWang studies system architecture and intelligence with a minor in mathematics, concentrating on computer architecture and low-level optimization. He is considering careers in software engineering, research, or entrepreneurship at the intersection of hardware and software.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m especially interested in how hardware and software intersect, and I hope to use my work to create solutions that are meaningful and helpful for the world,\u201d Wang said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe scholarships offer vital support as these students keep advancing research, leadership, and influence in computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Squarepoint Foundation is providing $100,000 to fund the awards, which offer $10,000 per year for two years to rising third-year students.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Squarepoint Foundation is providing $100,000 to fund the awards, which offer $10,000 per year for two years to rising third-year students. "}],"uid":"36613","created_gmt":"2026-03-18 16:23:48","changed_gmt":"2026-03-18 17:11:18","author":"Emily Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679669":{"id":"679669","type":"image","title":"sp2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA new cohort of computing students has been named Squarepoint Foundation scholars.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773851158","gmt_created":"2026-03-18 16:25:58","changed":"1773851158","gmt_changed":"2026-03-18 16:25:58","alt":"A new cohort of computing students has been named Squarepoint Foundation scholars.","file":{"fid":"263855","name":"sp2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/18\/sp2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/18\/sp2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2146822,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/18\/sp2.jpg?itok=kj6YWko0"}}},"media_ids":["679669"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660374","name":"School of Computing Instruction"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EEmily Smith\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Computing\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688976":{"#nid":"688976","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Groundbreaking Speaker Series Will Welcome Its 15th Turing Award Winner as Its Last Guest","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAlthough it\u2019s often unintentional, faculty can seem intimidating. So, reaching out to a professor with questions can be quite a challenge for some students. For others, not so much.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/zackaxel\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZachary Axel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a great example. Reaching well beyond Georgia Tech faculty, he started sending \u201ccold call\u201d emails in 2023 to A.M. Turing Award winners and other computing luminaries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe emails shared Axel\u2019s vision for a virtual platform that would enable Georgia Tech students and faculty to connect with some of the most distinguished minds in computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first to accept was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/awards.acm.org\/award_winners\/vardi_9543503#150\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMoshe\u0026nbsp;Vardi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a distinguished professor of computer science at Rice University and recipient of the 2020 AAAI Allen Newell Award and several other ACM awards. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZjKQTgxAOkU?si=tCcdVKLyaRrMgf4j\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVardi\u2019s January 2024 presentation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E was a hit and served as a template for what grew to become the Turing Mind Series at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThree years and nearly two dozen emails later, the series is wrapping up later this month, hosting its 22nd event and its 15th Turing Award winner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/luma.com\/n3fqy7hu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegistration is open for the final session of the Turing Mind Series on March 30, featuring 2019 Turing Laureate Patrick Hanrahan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, widely renowned for his enduring contributions to 3D computer graphics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are approximately 70-75 living Turing Award winners. I am proud to say that we have hosted roughly 20% of them for the Turing Minds Series,\u201d said Axel, a former\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omscs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOnline Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E student.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFifteen felt like the right number to end on. We set out to connect Georgia Tech students and researchers with Turing Laureates, and we did exactly that. Mission accomplished.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs one might guess, Turing Award winners don\u2019t receive a lot of unsolicited emails from students.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.turing.rsvp\/speaker\/vint-cerf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVinton Cerf\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a 2004 Turing Award winner, says people typically hesitate to engage without some form of endorsement or introduction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat is notable about Zachary\u2019s initiative is that he undertook to \u2018cold call,\u2019 well, \u2018cold email,\u2019 Turing Award recipients to ask them to participate in the program,\u201d said Cerf, who, along with fellow 2004 Turing Laureate\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/amturing.acm.org\/award_winners\/kahn_4598637.cfm\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERobert Kahn\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, was instrumental in the pioneering development of fundamental internet communication protocols.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is a measure of his confidence and optimism that he succeeded in persuading Turing awardees to engage in the speaking program. Zachary did not hesitate and, in some ways, that may be why he was so successful,\u201d said Cerf.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAxel credits GT Computing Dean Emeritus\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/zvi-galil\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZvi Galil\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E with encouraging him and offering guidance along the way.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cZach is amazing, and he has a lot of chutzpah,\u201d said Galil. \u201cThe Turing Minds Series is a remarkable achievement and has become the premier global speaker platform for computer science luminaries.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAxel thinks he was successful early on for two reasons: he kept it simple, and he used his Georgia Tech email address. He emailed the first five Turing Laureates from the perspective of a student hungry for knowledge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI simply asked the Laureates I reached if they would give 30 minutes of their time to virtually present to me and my GT classmates,\u201d said Axel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe says he would thoroughly research each winner so he could reference a presentation, paper, or another specific aspect of their work in his email. \u201cI did my homework. I made it very easy for them to say yes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAxel\u2019s request emails also offered the Turing Laureates \u2013and the Nobel Prize Laureates who were also invited\u2013 the option of sharing a presentation or participating in a Q\u0026amp;A. It was this decision to offer a Q\u0026amp;A format that led to one of the most significant moments of the Turing Mind Series for Axel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat\u0027s how we got legendary 1974 Turing Laureate\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.turing.rsvp\/speaker\/donald-knuth\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDonald Knuth\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Known for being extremely selective in accepting speaking invitations, he specifically stated that the offer to do a Q\u0026amp;A format was the reason he accepted,\u201d said Axel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI also don\u0027t think it hurt that the email was coming from an @gatech.edu\u0026nbsp;address, as the Georgia Tech name offered us significant credibility.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKnuth, widely regarded as the \u201cfather of algorithm analysis,\u201d and renowned for his foundational work, \u003Cem\u003EThe Art of Computer Programming\u003C\/em\u003E, joined the Turing Minds Series in October 2025 as its 12th guest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThanks so much to you and Parsa for honoring me with an invitation to speak in the online \u2018Turing Minds\u2019 series at Georgia Tech,\u201d Knuth said in a note written to Axel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was lots of fun for me this morning to try to answer the excellent questions posed by so many of the viewers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/parsas\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EParsa Khazaeepoul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is also a former OMSCS student and the co-founder of the series. Axel says that Khazaeepoul\u2019s technical expertise led to the success of the series\u2019 virtual platform.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cParsa built the series website and managed all of the challenges of hosting and scaling a platform that has impacted to date 4,000+ students and faculty from Georgia Tech and throughout the world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Turing Minds Series at Georgia Tech hosted its first speaker in January 2024. The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/luma.com\/n3fqy7hu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Efinal installment is scheduled for March 30 at 1 p.m.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut this isn\u2019t the end of the series. Live video recordings of each of the soon-to-be 15 events in the series are available at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.turing.rsvp\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.turing.rsvp\/\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond the website, Axel says the Turing Minds Series is partnering with the ACM, the creators and distributors of the A.M. Turing Award. The goal is to integrate the series into the ACM ecosystem, where it will be accessible to the ACM\u2019s 110,000 student and professional members in more than 170 countries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We had a lot of people reach out to us to thank us for what we were doing. Knowing that students left these conversations seeing what\u0027s possible in computer science, that meant everything to us,\u0022 said Axel.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFollowing 22 events featuring conversations with some of the brightest minds in computing, the Turing Minds Series at Georgia Tech draws to a close on March 30.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"What started with cold-call emails turned into a premier platform for students and faculty to connect with computing luminaries."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2026-03-17 17:52:19","changed_gmt":"2026-03-17 18:40:56","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679658":{"id":"679658","type":"image","title":"Turing-Mind-Letter.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA composite graphic of the mind featuring an overlay of a thank you note from Turing Award winner Donald Knuth following a virtual Q\u0026amp;A at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773769948","gmt_created":"2026-03-17 17:52:28","changed":"1773769948","gmt_changed":"2026-03-17 17:52:28","alt":"A composite graphic of the mind featuring overlay of thank you note from Turing Award winner Donald Knuth following a virtual Q\u0026A at Georgia Tech.","file":{"fid":"263841","name":"Turing-Mind-Letter.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/17\/Turing-Mind-Letter.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/17\/Turing-Mind-Letter.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":114546,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/17\/Turing-Mind-Letter.jpg?itok=VZoQgW4S"}}},"media_ids":["679658"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"431631","name":"OMS"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"168868","name":"Turing Award Winner"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Senior Communications Mgr.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688933":{"#nid":"688933","#data":{"type":"external_news","title":"US Military Leans into AI for Attack on Iran, but the Tech Doesn\u2019t Lessen the Need for Human Judgment in War","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe military has used Claude, the AI tool from Anthropic, combined with Palantir\u2019s Maven system, for real-time targeting and target prioritization in support of combat operations in Iran and Venezuela.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn an article for The Conversation, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-military-leans-into-ai-for-attack-on-iran-but-the-tech-doesnt-lessen-the-need-for-human-judgment-in-war-277831\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech international relations scholar and former U.S. Navy intelligence officer Jon Lindsay says that success or failure in war usually depends not on machines but the people who use them\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe military has used Claude, the AI tool from Anthropic, combined with Palantir\u2019s Maven system, for real-time targeting and target prioritization in support of combat operations in Iran and Venezuela.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn an article for The Conversation, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-military-leans-into-ai-for-attack-on-iran-but-the-tech-doesnt-lessen-the-need-for-human-judgment-in-war-277831\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech international relations scholar and former U.S. Navy intelligence officer Jon Lindsay says that success or failure in war usually depends not on machines but the people who use them\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2026-03-13 16:55:50","changed_gmt":"2026-03-13 16:58:52","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","publication":"The Conversation","field_article_url":"","publication_url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-military-leans-into-ai-for-attack-on-iran-but-the-tech-doesnt-lessen-the-need-for-human-judgment-in-war-277831","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679628":{"id":"679628","type":"image","title":"AdobeStock image depicting the use of AI in modern warfare","body":null,"created":"1773420957","gmt_created":"2026-03-13 16:55:57","changed":"1773420957","gmt_changed":"2026-03-13 16:55:57","alt":"AdobeStock image depicting the use of AI in modern warfare","file":{"fid":"263810","name":"AdobeStock_755527611.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/13\/AdobeStock_755527611.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/13\/AdobeStock_755527611.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":121365,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/13\/AdobeStock_755527611.jpeg?itok=8CgXFj4Y"}},"679629":{"id":"679629","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech international relations scholar and former U.S. Navy intelligence officer Jon R. Lindsay","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech international relations scholar and former U.S. Navy intelligence officer Jon R. Lindsay\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773421006","gmt_created":"2026-03-13 16:56:46","changed":"1773421006","gmt_changed":"2026-03-13 16:56:46","alt":"Georgia Tech international relations scholar and former U.S. Navy intelligence officer Jon R. Lindsay","file":{"fid":"263811","name":"jon-lindsay.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/13\/jon-lindsay.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/13\/jon-lindsay.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":41075,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/13\/jon-lindsay.jpg?itok=tXIQrKxM"}}},"media_ids":["679628","679629"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688719":{"#nid":"688719","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Registration Open for Speaker Series That Spotlights Creativity in Computing","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe chief arts and music officer for The Ludacris Foundation will share his experience and expertise in digital audio tools, immersive media, and creative expression with the Georgia Tech community this spring.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/geraldkeys\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGerald Keys\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;chief of production for\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EChris \u0022Ludacris\u0022 Bridges\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2019 media company, Karma\u0027s World LLC, will be on campus April 14 as part of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECTRL+CM Speaker Series.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event is one of three in the series scheduled this spring. The series will bring together students, faculty, alumni, and industry professionals from Georgia Tech and the Atlanta region to explore the evolving creative technology landscape. Events are scheduled for March 11, March 31, and April 14.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CTRL + CM Speaker Series, developed by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/constellations.gatech.edu\/cict-collective-impact-creative-technology-program\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Collective Impact of Creative Technology (CICT)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, is open to all. The events are free, but registration is required. Registration links for each event are included below.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe series was created with students in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/degree-programs\/bachelor-science-computational-media\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ecomputational media\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dm.lmc.gatech.edu\/program\/ms-program\/?doing_wp_cron=1772555490.2302570343017578125000\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Edigital media\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/degree-programs\/master-science-human-computer-interaction\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehuman-computer interaction\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;programs in mind,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAneesah\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAllen\u003C\/strong\u003E, an education outreach manager with the College of Computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHowever, due to its popularity and success, we have expanded the audience for the speaker series to include the broader Georgia Tech community, students from other Atlanta-area colleges, and anyone interested in creative technology.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDesigned to help students take greater control of their academic and professional paths, the CTRL+CM Speaker Series exposes attendees to career fields on the creative side of technology. Each event will feature a moderated panel discussion with industry leaders, alumni, and faculty, followed by networking opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETopics will span emerging tools and workflows, creative practice, professional development, and ethical considerations surrounding AI, generative media, and other emerging technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe spring CTRL + CM Speaker Series lineup includes:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECode That Creates: AI, Generative Media, and the Future of Creative Practice\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;will take place on March 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Coda at Tech Square, 9th Floor Atrium. The discussion will explore how creative coding and generative systems are reshaping artistic practice and the ethical responsibilities of AI-driven creative work.\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFeatured panelists include\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eilab.gatech.edu\/mark-riedl.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMark Riedl\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cas.gsu.edu\/profile\/elizabeth-strickler\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElizabeth Strickler\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jelaniliddell\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJelani Liddell\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/judithu.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJudith Uchidiuno\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;Moderated by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bryan-cox-432bb84\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBryan Cox\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERSVP link:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/forms.office.com\/r\/zGMYdqUemZ\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehttps:\/\/forms.office.com\/r\/zGMYdqUemZ\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWorlds in Motion: Exploring Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;is scheduled for March 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Price Gilbert Library\u2019s Scholars Event Theater. Panelists will examine developments in augmented, virtual, and extended reality technologies, immersive storytelling, and interactive systems, and how these developments are impacting design and research.\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFeatured panelists:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/library.gatech.edu\/alison-valk\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlison Valk\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.communicationcenter.gatech.edu\/williams\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKelly Williams\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/c21u.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/meryem-yilmaz-soylu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeryem Yilmaz Soylu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERSVP link:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/forms.office.com\/r\/Cdp0vxG22u\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehttps:\/\/forms.office.com\/r\/Cdp0vxG22u\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EComposing with Technology: Digital Tools, Interactive Sound, and Creative Expression\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;will be held on April 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., also at the Price Gilbert Library. The session will focus on digital audio tools, interactive sound, and innovative approaches to composition and storytelling across games, film, and immersive media.\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFeatured panelist: Gerald Keys, chief of production for Chris \u0022Ludacris\u0022 Bridges media company, Karma\u0027s World LLC\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERSVP link:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/forms.office.com\/r\/exLGwYMTgF\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehttps:\/\/forms.office.com\/r\/exLGwYMTgF\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECICT draws on expertise from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Computing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/design.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Design\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lmc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The collective is housed in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/constellations.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstellations Center for Education in Computing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, which has worked since 2017 to expand access to computing education through research, advocacy, and community building.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe CTRL + CM Speaker Series is designed to help students take greater control of their academic and professional paths. Each event will feature a moderated panel discussion with industry leaders, alumni, and faculty, followed by networking opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"\u0027CTRL + CM\u0027 Speaker Series will bring together students, faculty, alumni, and industry professionals to explore the evolving creative technology landscape."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2026-03-04 14:56:50","changed_gmt":"2026-03-11 01:20:10","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-04T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-04T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679523":{"id":"679523","type":"image","title":"CTRL-CM-series-stock-graphic-main-image.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn Adobe Stock graphic illustrating the creative side of computing as colorful geometric streams of thought flow from a young woman\u0027s mind.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772644910","gmt_created":"2026-03-04 17:21:50","changed":"1772644910","gmt_changed":"2026-03-04 17:21:50","alt":"Creativity and Computing connect at GT\u0027s CTRL + CM Speaker Series","file":{"fid":"263696","name":"CTRL-CM-series-stock-graphic-main-image.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/04\/CTRL-CM-series-stock-graphic-main-image.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/04\/CTRL-CM-series-stock-graphic-main-image.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":113108,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/04\/CTRL-CM-series-stock-graphic-main-image.jpeg?itok=YvdzjJLq"}}},"media_ids":["679523"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"606703","name":"Constellations Center"}],"categories":[{"id":"143","name":"Digital Media and Entertainment"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"175066","name":"constellations"},{"id":"168831","name":"College of Design"},{"id":"174523","name":"Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"124","name":"Digital Media"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Sr. Communications Mgr.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687708":{"#nid":"687708","#data":{"type":"news","title":" Researchers Warn AI \u2018Blind Spot\u2019 Could Allow Attackers to Hijack Self-Driving Vehicles","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA newly discovered vulnerability could allow cybercriminals to silently hijack the artificial intelligence (AI) systems in self-driving cars, raising concerns about the security of autonomous systems increasingly used on public roads.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech cybersecurity researchers discovered the vulnerability, dubbed VillainNet, and found it can remain dormant in a self-driving vehicle\u2019s AI system until triggered by specific conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce triggered, VillainNet is almost certain to succeed, giving attackers control of the targeted vehicle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research finds that attackers could program almost any action within a self-driving vehicle\u2019s AI super network to trigger VillainNet. In one possible scenario, it could be triggered when a self-driving taxi\u2019s AI responds to rainfall and changing road conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce in control, hackers could hold the passengers hostage and threaten to crash the taxi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers discovered this new backdoor attack threat in the AI super networks that power autonomous driving systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSuper networks are designed to be the Swiss Army knife of AI, swapping out tools, or in this case sub networks, as needed for the task at hand,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/davidoygenblik.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Oygenblik\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech and the lead researcher on the project.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022However, we found that an adversary can exploit this by attacking just one of those tiny tools. The attack remains completely dormant until that specific subnetwork is used, effectively hiding across billions of other benign configurations.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis backdoor attack is nearly guaranteed to work, according to Oygenblik. This blind spot is nearly undetectable with current tools and can impact any autonomous vehicle that runs on AI. It can also be hidden at any stage of development and include billions of scenarios.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWith VillainNet, the attacker forces defenders to find a single needle in a haystack that can be as large as 10 quintillion straws,\u0022 said Oygenblik.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Our work is a call to action for the security community. As AI systems become more complex and adaptive, we must develop new defenses capable of addressing these novel, hyper-targeted threats.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe hypothetical fix to the problem was to add security measures to the super networks. These networks contain billions of specialized subnetworks that can be activated on the fly, but Oygenblik wanted to see what would happen if he attacked a single subnetwork tool.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn experiments, the VillainNet attack proved highly effective. It achieved a 99% success rate when activated while remaining invisible throughout the AI system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research also shows that detecting a VillainNet backdoor would require 66x more computing power and time to verify the AI system is safe. This challenge dramatically expands the search space for attack detection and is not feasible, according to the researchers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H1fyPD8vWDo\u0022\u003Epresented\u003C\/a\u003E at the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS) in October 2025. The paper, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/davidoygenblik.github.io\/pdfs\/VNET.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EVillainNet: Targeted Poisoning Attacks Against SuperNets Along the Accuracy-Latency Pareto Frontier\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, was co-authored by Oygenblik, master\u0027s students \u003Cstrong\u003EAbhinav Vemulapalli \u003C\/strong\u003Eand \u003Cstrong\u003EAnimesh Agrawal\u003C\/strong\u003E, Ph.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EDebopam Sanyal\u003C\/strong\u003E, Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EAlexey Tumanov\u003C\/strong\u003E, and Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EBrendan Saltaformaggio\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA newly discovered vulnerability could allow cybercriminals to silently hijack the artificial intelligence (AI) systems in self-driving cars, raising concerns about the security of autonomous systems increasingly used on public roads.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech cybersecurity researchers discovered the vulnerability, dubbed VillainNet, and found it can remain dormant in a self-driving vehicle\u2019s AI system until triggered by specific conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce triggered, VillainNet is almost certain to succeed, giving attackers control of the targeted vehicle.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A newly discovered vulnerability could allow cybercriminals to silently hijack the artificial intelligence (AI) systems in self-driving cars, raising concerns about the security of autonomous systems increasingly used on public roads."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-01-27 14:51:58","changed_gmt":"2026-02-19 17:34:58","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-27T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-27T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679102":{"id":"679102","type":"image","title":"Car-Blind-Spot.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1769525530","gmt_created":"2026-01-27 14:52:10","changed":"1769525530","gmt_changed":"2026-01-27 14:52:10","alt":"A car\u0027s side view mirror with a alert in the center of the mirror. ","file":{"fid":"263221","name":"Car-Blind-Spot.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/27\/Car-Blind-Spot.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/27\/Car-Blind-Spot.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":467609,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/27\/Car-Blind-Spot.jpeg?itok=6bYsIEkx"}}},"media_ids":["679102"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"182941","name":"cc-research; ic-cybersecurity; ic-hcc"},{"id":"175307","name":"Brendan Saltaformaggio"},{"id":"365","name":"Research"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"188667","name":"go-"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jpopham3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687813":{"#nid":"687813","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Fusion to Self-Driving Cars, High Performance Computing and AI are Everywhere in 2026","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile not as highlight-reel worthy as the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, experts expect high-performance computing (HPC) to have an even bigger impact on daily life in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers say HPC and artificial intelligence (AI) advances this year are poised to improve how people power their homes, design safer buildings, and travel through cities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tangqi.github.io\/\u0022\u003EQi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, scientists will take progressive steps toward cleaner, sustainable energy through nuclear fusion in 2026.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am very hopeful about the role of advanced computing and AI in making fusion a clean energy source,\u201d said Tang, an assistant professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFusion systems involve many interconnected processes happening across different scales. Modern simulations, combined with data-driven methods, allow us to bring these pieces together into a unified picture.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETang\u2019s research connects HPC and machine learning with fusion energy and plasma physics. This year, Tang is continuing work on large-scale nuclear fusion models.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnly a few experimental fusion reactors exist worldwide compared to more than 400 nuclear fission reactors. Tang\u2019s work supports a broader effort to turn fusion from a promising idea into a practical energy source.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENuclear fusion occurs in plasma, the fourth state of matter, where gas is heated to millions of degrees. In this extreme state, electrons are stripped from atoms, creating a hot soup of fast-moving ions and free electrons. In plasma, hydrogen atoms overcome their natural electrical repulsion, collide, and fuse together. This releases energy that can power cities and homes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EComputers interpret extreme temperatures, densities, pressures, and plasma particle motion as massive datasets. Tang works to assimilate these data types from computer models and real-world experiments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo do this, he and other researchers rely on machine learning approaches to analyze data across models and experiments more quickly and to produce more accurate predictions. Over time, this will allow scientists to test and improve fusion reactor designs toward commercial use.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond energy and nuclear engineering,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pk.linkedin.com\/in\/umarkhayaz\u0022\u003EUmar Khayaz\u003C\/a\u003E sees broader impacts for HPC in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHPC is the need of the day in every field of engineering sciences, physics, biology, and economics,\u201d said Khayaz, a CSE Ph.D. student in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHPC is important enough to say that we need to employ resources to also solve social problems.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKhayaz studies dynamic fracture and phase-field modeling. These areas explore how materials break under sudden, rapid loads.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike nuclear fusion, Khayaz says dynamic fracture problems are complex and data-intensive. In 2026, he expects to see more computing resources and computational capabilities devoted to understanding these problems and other emerging civil engineering challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECSE Ph.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ahren09.github.io\/\u0022\u003EYiqiao (Ahren) Jin\u003C\/a\u003E sees a similar relationship between infrastructure and self-driving vehicles. He believes AI will innovate this area in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, Jin develops efficient multimodal AI systems. An autonomous vehicle is a multimodal system that uses camera video, laser sensors, language instructions, and other inputs to navigate city streets under changing scenarios like traffic and weather patterns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJin says multimodal research will move beyond performance benchmarks this year. This shift will lead to computer systems that can reason despite uncertainty and explain their decisions. In result, engineers will redefine how they evaluate and deploy autonomous systems in safety-critical settings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMany foundational problems in perception, multimodal reasoning, and agent coordination are being actively addressed in 2026. These advances enable a transition from isolated autonomous systems to safer, coordinated autonomous vehicle fleets,\u201d Jin said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs these systems scale, they have the potential to fundamentally improve transportation safety and efficiency.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile not as highlight-reel worthy as the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, experts expect high-performance computing (HPC) to have an even bigger impact on daily life in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers say HPC and artificial intelligence (AI) advances this year are poised to improve how people power their homes, design safer buildings, and travel through cities.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers say HPC and artificial intelligence (AI) advances this year are poised to improve how people power their homes, design safer buildings, and travel through cities."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2026-01-29 14:30:57","changed_gmt":"2026-02-19 15:53:29","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-29T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-29T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679125":{"id":"679125","type":"image","title":"CSE-in-2026_2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1769704332","gmt_created":"2026-01-29 16:32:12","changed":"1769704332","gmt_changed":"2026-01-29 16:32:12","alt":"CSE in 2026","file":{"fid":"263246","name":"CSE-in-2026_2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/CSE-in-2026_2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/CSE-in-2026_2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":348721,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/29\/CSE-in-2026_2.jpg?itok=JDq9Sr_p"}}},"media_ids":["679125"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/fusion-self-driving-cars-high-performance-computing-and-ai-are-everywhere-2026","title":"From Fusion to Self-Driving Cars, High Performance Computing and AI are Everywhere in 2026"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"172288","name":"School of Computational Science Engineering"},{"id":"167864","name":"School of Civil and Environmental Engineering"},{"id":"594","name":"college of engineering"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"15030","name":"high-performance computing"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"194384","name":"Tech AI"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687824":{"#nid":"687824","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cyber Risk is Business Risk: A Georgia Tech Alum on What Leaders Must Learn in 2026","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen \u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Craig\u003C\/strong\u003E arrived at Georgia Tech as an undergraduate in 1995, the campus and the field of cybersecurity looked very different.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was the era of look left and look right, and one of you will not be here at graduation,\u201d Craig said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig worked hard and graduated with his computer science (CS) bachelor\u2019s degree in 2000, just as the dot-com bubble burst. He returned to Georgia Tech about a year later and has been here ever since.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig is the enterprise cybersecurity architect in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.oit.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Information Technology\u003C\/a\u003E and has spent nearly three decades at Tech as a student, employee, and instructor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong the way, he has earned three degrees from the Institute and helped shape how Georgia Tech approaches cybersecurity in an increasingly complex digital landscape.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig began his career at Tech supporting student registration and other core IT systems. He moved fully into cybersecurity about 15 years ago. His technical background was strong, but he saw a gap in his experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI had a lot of technical background and work experience, but not much policy experience,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig enrolled in Georgia Tech\u2019s Master of Science in Information Security to fill in this gap. He said his decision to enroll in the policy track was intentional.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf you\u2019ve been doing the technical work for 10 years, a technical master\u2019s helps some,\u201d Craig said. \u201cBut it is much more useful to study the areas you do not already know well.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig moved into management as his GT career progressed. This path led him once again to the classroom. This time, he pursued an MBA from Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/index.html\u0022\u003EScheller College of Business\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig believes the combination of cybersecurity and business education is increasingly important for leaders and others.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere is a big gap in the industry,\u201d he said. \u201cYou need people who understand cybersecurity and the business side, and people in business leadership who understand cybersecurity risk.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig is an instructor in the online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. He teaches incident response and often sees this gap among his students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMany business professionals do not know how to respond to a cybersecurity incident,\u201d Craig said. \u201cThey are not trained in it. At the same time, many cybersecurity professionals are learning business impacts on the job.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig said business knowledge is essential for aspiring chief information security officers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt that level, understanding how cybersecurity supports business goals is more important than deep technical detail,\u201d he said. \u201cYou still need the basics, but you also need to talk to the CFO.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, Craig focuses on cybersecurity architecture. His work centers on the design and protection of enterprise systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor example, student information systems have a design,\u201d he said. \u201cWe look at how firewalls and other controls fit into that design to protect the data.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis role continues to evolve as the Institute\u2019s cybersecurity needs change. That evolution mirrors the field itself, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAI has impacted cybersecurity for longer than people want to admit,\u201d Craig said. \u201cUnderstanding what is unusual is a big part of security, and AI can be very good at that. It can also be very good at avoiding detection.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig said AI introduces new architectural risks, particularly around data privacy. Tools that analyze student or employee data must be carefully designed to prevent sensitive information from leaking through training or outputs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou have to understand the inputs and outputs,\u201d he said. \u201cOtherwise, you can accidentally release data you really care about.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrivacy has been a recurring theme throughout Craig\u2019s career. He credits courses such as the privacy policy class taught by Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/peterswire.net\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPeter Swire\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the J.Z. Liang Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/a\u003E, with shaping his thinking.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSo much of security is about personal data,\u201d Craig said. \u201cUnderstanding what actually makes data anonymous or not is critical.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig believes that privacy protection depends on training and system design within an institution as large and decentralized as Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTraining can only get you so far,\u201d Craig said. \u201cPeople make mistakes. Strong processes limit exposure even when human error happens.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking back, Craig describes his time at Georgia Tech as one of constant growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe industry has massively changed,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat you learn becomes outdated quickly. You have to keep growing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom undergraduate student to cybersecurity leader, Craig\u2019s career reflects both the evolution of Georgia Tech and the fast-changing world of cybersecurity. For him, the learning never stops.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech alum Christopher Craig\u2019s nearly three-decade journey as a student, employee, and instructor shows how combining cybersecurity, policy, and business education is essential for leaders navigating evolving risks\u2014from incident response to AI and data privacy\u2014in an increasingly complex digital landscape.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech alum Christopher Craig\u2019s nearly three-decade journey as a student, employee, and instructor shows how combining cybersecurity, policy, and business education is essential for leaders navigating evolving risks\u2014from incident response to AI and "}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-01-29 16:39:45","changed_gmt":"2026-02-19 15:53:07","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-28T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-28T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679126":{"id":"679126","type":"image","title":"Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","body":null,"created":"1769704813","gmt_created":"2026-01-29 16:40:13","changed":"1769704813","gmt_changed":"2026-01-29 16:40:13","alt":"A man looks up from his laptop computer and into a camera. There is a whiteboard with illegible writing on it behind him. ","file":{"fid":"263247","name":"Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1938873,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/29\/Christopher-Craig_1.jpg?itok=FFcaJWfX"}}},"media_ids":["679126"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jpopham3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687892":{"#nid":"687892","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Computing Hosts Venture Capital Summit to Push Research Beyond the Lab","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Computing is forging new relationships with Atlanta\u2019s venture capital community to advance entrepreneurial opportunities for students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENearly two dozen venture capital (VC) leaders based in Atlanta and the Southeast participated in a half-day summit at the College on Jan. 21.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECo-hosts Dean of Computing \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vsarkar\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVivek Sarkar\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and Noro-Moseley Partners General Partner\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alantaetle\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlan Taetle\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E organized the invitation-only summit. Their goals were to:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EShowcase the College\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/research-areas\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eresearch strengths\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/entrepreneurship-gt-computing\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eentrepreneurial culture\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDeepen connections between academic innovation and startups\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExplore opportunities for collaboration, commercialization, and startup growth\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe summit\u2019s guest list included founders, partners, and leaders from VC firms. Many of these firms focus on early-stage startups in SaaS, fintech, cybersecurity, and other emerging technology markets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch With Commercial Impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESarkar outlined the College of Computing\u2019s academic mission and research priorities during his opening remarks. He emphasized the College\u2019s role in advancing innovation in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging research areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the College\u2019s strategic pillars is what I call \u2018X to the power of Computing\u2019,\u201d Sarkar said. \u201cLook at any discipline or industry X to see where they\u0027re innovating and where their advances are being made, and that\u2019s where Computing meets that discipline.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with remarks from the dean, the summit featured presentations highlighting Georgia Tech\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem and College-led research initiatives with strong commercialization potential.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpanding Support for Student Founders\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jenniferwhitlow\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen Whitlow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E leads Community Partnerships at Fusen, a global platform for student founders created by Atlanta philanthropist\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/chklaus\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher W. Klaus\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. She described Klaus\u2019s support for student entrepreneurship, including GT Computing\u2019s annual\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/klaus-startup-challenge\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKlaus Startup Challenge\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. In 2025,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/klaus-startup-challenge-showcases-georgia-techs-rising-entrepreneurial-talent\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKlaus awarded five winning teams $150,000 each\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to cover startup costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhitlow also updated guests on Klaus\u2019s commitment, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/02\/tech-visionary-chris-klaus-empowers-georgia-tech-grads-launch-startups\u0022\u003Eannounced in May 2025\u003C\/a\u003E, to covering the incorporation costs for any graduating student who aspires to launch a startup.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMore than 600 graduates from last year\u2019s Spring and Fall Commencements have accepted the gift, and more than 225 recent graduates have completed their incorporation to date,\u201d Whitlow said. She added that a second cohort of Fall 2025 graduates is being processed over the next few weeks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOffering an enterprise-level view, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/saxenar\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERahul Saxena\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Epresented recent updates to commercialization at Georgia Tech and efforts to streamline entrepreneurial processes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaxena emphasized the launch of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/velocity\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVelocity Startups\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an accelerator that provides the resources and infrastructure student startups need to bring their innovations to market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding the Pipeline From Research to Startup\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing these updates, GT Computing faculty delivered lightning-round presentations highlighting the College\u2019s research strengths in AI, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe tighter the local investing community is with Georgia Tech, the better off both are,\u201d said Taetle, who has been a member of the College\u2019s Advisory Board for more than 20 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s critical in this super-competitive world that we do everything that we can to support this fantastic university.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaetle added that the summit was part of a broader effort to strengthen the College\u2019s entrepreneurial pipeline.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are some really big ideas here, which could turn into really big companies,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve made some great strides on the commercialization front, but we still have that opportunity and challenge in front of us.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe afternoon concluded with a discussion of next steps and engagement opportunities, led by Sarkar and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jzwang\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJason Zwang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, GT Computing\u2019s senior director of development. The discussion focused on research partnership opportunities, startup formation, and student involvement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZwang emphasized the importance of investing in Atlanta\u2019s innovation ecosystem, citing the city\u2019s strong fundamentals and pro-growth climate for entrepreneurship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis gives us a unique opportunity to start working more closely with the local VC community, and it\u2019s also great for our students,\u201d Zwang said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESarkar agreed, saying, \u201cThere\u2019s no downside for students to get involved in a startup. It might take off and be a bonanza. If not, the experience makes you a more competitive hire because of the breadth of experience you gain at a startup.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo foster these opportunities for students, Zwang said that a key priority is to establish earlier, more intentional connections among students, startups, and investors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is a pivotal moment,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can determine how to connect students with the VC and startup community earlier and ensure these investors remain involved with the College.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollege leaders said the summit underscored Computing\u2019s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial culture and to building lasting relationships that can help accelerate the real-world impact of its research beyond the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech is a force multiplier for entrepreneurship,\u201d said Sarkar. \u201cWe\u2019re here to change the world. We want to inspire a culture of bold, big entrepreneurial thinking, and look forward to the next steps that will follow this VC summit.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENearly two dozen venture capital leaders from Atlanta and across the Southeast joined the College of Computing on Jan. 21 for a half-day VC summit focused on research, innovation, and collaboration.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The College of Computing is working to connect student and faculty entrepreneurs with early-development startup support."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2026-02-02 15:57:16","changed_gmt":"2026-02-19 15:52:21","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679150":{"id":"679150","type":"image","title":"GT Computing 2026 Venture Capital Summit group photo","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETop executives from Atlanta\u0027s venture capital community participated in the College of Computing\u0027s first VC summit, held on Jan. 21. Photo by Terence Rushin\/GT Computing\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1770047844","gmt_created":"2026-02-02 15:57:24","changed":"1770047844","gmt_changed":"2026-02-02 15:57:24","alt":"Top executives from Atlanta\u0027s venture capital community participated in the College of Computing\u0027s first VC summit, held on Jan. 21.","file":{"fid":"263273","name":"Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/02\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":205876,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/02\/Venture-Capitalists-_86A0835-copy.jpg?itok=McAV65N9"}}},"media_ids":["679150"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"137161","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"194105","name":"aspiring entrepreneurs"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:albert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBen Snedeker\u003C\/a\u003E, Senior Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687358":{"#nid":"687358","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New LLMs Could Provide Strength-based Job Coaching for Autistic People","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPeople with autism seeking employment may soon have access to a new AI-based job-coaching tool thanks to a six-figure grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/jennifer-kim\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJennifer Kim\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eilab.gatech.edu\/mark-riedl.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMark Riedl\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E recently received a $500,000 NSF grant to develop large language models (LLMs) that provide strength-based job coaching for autistic job seekers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two Georgia Tech researchers work with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/excel.gatech.edu\/excel-staff\/heather-dicks\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHeather Dicks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a career development advisor in Georgia Tech\u2019s EXCEL program, and other nonprofit organizations to provide job-seeking resources to autistic people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDicks said the average job search for people with autism can take three to six months in a good economy. It can take up to 18 months in a bad one. However, the new LLMs from Georgia Tech could help to reduce stress and fast-track these job seekers into employment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKim is an assistant professor who specializes in human-computer interaction technology that benefits neurodivergent people. Riedl is a professor and an expert in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u2019s goal is to identify job-search pain points and understand how job coaches create better employment prospects for their autistic clients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLarge-language models have an opportunity to support this kind of work if we can have more data about each different individual strength,\u201d Kim said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to know what worked for them in specific settings at work, what didn\u2019t work, and what kind of accommodations can better help them. That includes how they should prepare for interviews, how they can better represent their skills, how they can address accommodations they need, and how to write a cover letter. It\u2019s a broad range.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDicks has advocated for neurodivergent people and helped them find employment for 20 years. She worked at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta before coming to Georgia Tech in 2017.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe said most nonprofits that support neurodivergent people offer career development programs and many contract job coaches, but limited coach availability often leads to long waitlists. However, LLMs could fill this availability gap to address the immediate needs of job seekers who may not have access to a job coach.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese organizations often run at a slow pace, and there\u2019s high turnover,\u201d Dicks said. \u201cAn AI tool could get the job seeker quicker support. Maybe they don\u2019t even need to wait on the government system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf they\u2019re on a waitlist, it can help the user put together a resume and practice general interview questions. When the job coach is ready to work with them, they\u2019re able to hit the ground running.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENailing the Interview\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDicks said the job interview is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey have trouble picking up on visual and nonverbal cues \u2014 the tone of the interview, figuring out the nuances that a question is hinting at,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re not giving the warm and fuzzy vibes that allow them to connect on a personal level.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why Kim wants the models to reflect a strength-based coaching approach. Strength-based coaching is particularly effective for individuals with autism. Many possess traits that employers value. These include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClose attention to detail\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStrong technical proficiency\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUnique problem-solving perspectives\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe issue is that they don\u2019t know how these strengths can be applied in the workplace,\u201d Kim said. \u201cOnce they understand this, they can communicate with employers about their strengths and the accommodations employers should provide to the job seeker so they can successfully apply their skills at work.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHandling Rejection\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, Kim understands that candidates will need to handle rejection to make it through the search process. She envisions LLMs that help them refocus their energy and regain their confidence after being turned down.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen you get a lot of rejection emails, it\u2019s easy to feel you\u2019re not good enough,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing constantly reminded about your strengths and their prior successes can get them through the stressful job-seeking process.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDicks said the models should also be able to provide feedback so that candidates don\u2019t repeat mistakes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt can tell them what would\u2019ve been a better answer or a better way to say it,\u201d Dicks said. \u201cIt can also encourage them with reminders that you get 100 noes before you get a yes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u2019re Hired, Now What?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDicks said the role of a job coach doesn\u2019t end the moment a client is hired. Government-contracted job coaches may work with their clients for up to 90 days after they start a new job to support their transition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, she said, sometimes that isn\u2019t enough. Many companies have probationary periods exceeding three months. Autistic individuals may struggle with on-the-job training or communicating what accommodations they need from their new employer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese are just a few gaps an AI tool can fill for these individuals after they\u2019re hired.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI could see these models evolving to being supportive at those critical junctures of the probationary period being over or the one-year job review or the annual evaluation that everyone dreads,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDicks has an average caseload of 15 students, whom she assists in landing jobs and internships through the EXCEL program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEXCEL provides a mentorship program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the time they set foot on campus through graduation and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information and to apply, visit EXCEL\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/excel.gatech.edu\/home\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewebsite\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are using an NSF grant to create new large-language models that help autistic job seekers understand their strengths and how to leverage them during the application process.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers are using an NSF grant to create new large-language models that help autistic job seekers understand their strengths and how to leverage them during the application process."}],"uid":"36530","created_gmt":"2026-01-15 19:04:04","changed_gmt":"2026-01-22 13:41:09","author":"Nathan Deen","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679012":{"id":"679012","type":"image","title":"Jennifer-Kim_86A4154-copy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1768503854","gmt_created":"2026-01-15 19:04:14","changed":"1768503854","gmt_changed":"2026-01-15 19:04:14","alt":"Jennifer Kim","file":{"fid":"263123","name":"Jennifer-Kim_86A4154-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Jennifer-Kim_86A4154-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Jennifer-Kim_86A4154-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":71820,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/15\/Jennifer-Kim_86A4154-copy.jpg?itok=hbn_0e9T"}}},"media_ids":["679012"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"}],"keywords":[{"id":"6053","name":"Autism"},{"id":"191680","name":"neurodiverse"},{"id":"780","name":"employment"},{"id":"174112","name":"excel program"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"193556","name":"large language models"},{"id":"7011","name":"NSF grant"},{"id":"6957","name":"Job Search"},{"id":"13786","name":"job search strategies"},{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687371":{"#nid":"687371","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Wins Fifth Straight NSA Codebreaker Challenge","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe United States Air Force\u0027s Cyber Operations Squadron was in a crisis. A sophisticated foreign adversary was threatening national security, and it was up to the National Security Agency to help.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis was the fictional \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nsa-codebreaker.org\/challenge\u0022\u003Escenario\u003C\/a\u003E of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nsa-codebreaker.org\/leaderboard\u0022\u003E2025 NSA Codebreaker Challenge\u003C\/a\u003E, which was once again dominated by Georgia Tech students, faculty, and alumni. With a score of nearly 300,000 points, they took first among Division I schools.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech continues to win this highly challenging competition each year because of our outstanding students and the excellence of the cybersecurity and privacy curriculum that has been developed by SCP faculty,\u201d said Mustaque Ahamad, Interim Chair for the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur courses provide not only foundational knowledge of the discipline, but also give students experience with tools and techniques that help them shine at this competition.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the keys to Georgia Tech\u2019s success is that it integrates the challenge into students\u2019 coursework. Professor Taesoo Kim has included it in his \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omscs.gatech.edu\/cs-6265-information-security-lab\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECS 6265: Information Security Lab\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E every year to give students real-life experience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe NSA Codebreaker Challenge highlights the strength of Georgia Tech\u2019s cybersecurity program and the hands-on, mission-driven training our students receive. Through courses like CS 6265 and others like it, students apply advanced security concepts to real-world problems, reinforcing Georgia Tech\u2019s long-standing excellence and leadership in cybersecurity education.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year was the first time the NSA broke the Codebreaker Challenge for colleges and universities into divisions based on the number of participants. The winners of divisions one, two, and three were considered the winners of the challenge. Georgia Tech was in the top division with 272 students, four instructors, 27 alumni, and two in the other category. The Institute had a total of 305 participants, the second largest in the competition.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NSA Codebreaker Challenge is open to anyone with an email address from a recognized U.S. school or university. All players register and log in individually. Students, professors, and alumni can participate, but only students earn points and awards.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2025 NSA Codebreaker Challenge, which was once again dominated by Georgia Tech students, faculty, and alumni. With a score of nearly 300,000 points, they took first among Division I schools.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The 2025 NSA Codebreaker Challenge, which was once again dominated by Georgia Tech students, faculty, and alumni."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-01-16 13:50:02","changed_gmt":"2026-01-22 13:40:45","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:mailto;jpopham3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686843":{"#nid":"686843","#data":{"type":"news","title":"NSF Grant Funds Protein Research for Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProteins, including antibodies, hemoglobin, and insulin, power nearly every vital aspect of life. Breakthroughs in protein research are producing vaccines, resilient crops, bioenergy sources, and other innovative technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite their importance, most of what scientists know about proteins only comes from a small sample size. This stands in the way of fully understanding how most proteins work and unlocking their full potential.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~yunan\/\u0022\u003EYunan Luo\u003C\/a\u003E believes artificial intelligence (AI) could fill this knowledge gap. The National Science Foundation agrees. Luo is the recipient of an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/career-faculty-early-career-development-program\u0022\u003ECAREER\u003C\/a\u003E) award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSo much of biology depends on knowing what proteins do, but decades of research have concentrated on a relatively small set of well-studied proteins. This imbalance in scientific attention leads to a distorted view of the biological landscape that\u0026nbsp;quietly shapes our data and our algorithms,\u201d Luo said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy group\u2019s goal is to build machine learning (ML) models that actively close this gap by generating trustworthy\u0026nbsp;function predictions for the many proteins that remain understudied.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[Related: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/faculty-use-ai-protein-design-and-discovery-support-18-million-nih-grant\u0022\u003EYunan Luo to use AI for Protein Design and Discovery with Support of $1.8 Million NIH Grant\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/awardsearch\/show-award\/?AWD_ID=2442063\u0026amp;HistoricalAwards=false\u0022\u003Eproposal to NSF\u003C\/a\u003E, Luo coined this rich-get-richer effect \u201cannotation inequality.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne problem of annotation inequality is that it slows progress in disease prognosis, drug discovery, and other critical biomedical areas. It is challenging to innovate the few proteins that scientists already know so much about.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA cascading effect of annotation inequality is that it diminishes the effectiveness of studying proteins with\u0026nbsp;AI. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI methods learn from existing experimental data. Datasets skewed toward well-known proteins propagate and become entrenched in models. Over time, this makes it harder for computers to research understudied proteins.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cProtein annotation inequality creates an effect analogous to a vast library where 95% of patrons only read the top 5% popular books, leaving the rest of the collection to gather dust,\u201d Luo said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis has resulted in knowledge disparities across proteins in current literature and databases, biasing our understanding of protein functions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NSF CAREER award will fund Luo with over $770,000 for the next five years to tackle head-on the problem of protein annotation inequality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuo will use the grant to build an accurate, unbiased protein function prediction framework at scale. His project aims to:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReveal how annotation inequality affects protein function prediction systems\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECreate ML techniques suited for biological data, which is often noisy, incomplete, and imbalanced \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIntegrate data and ML models into a scalable framework to accelerate discoveries involving understudied proteins\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore enduring than the ML framework, Luo will leverage the NSF award to support educational and outreach programs. His goal is to groom the next generation of researchers to study other challenges in computational biology, not just the annotation inequality problem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuo teaches graduate and undergraduate courses focused on computational biology and ML. Problems and methods developed through the CAREER project can be used as course material in his classes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuo also championed collaboration with Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ceismc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECEISMC\u003C\/a\u003E) in his proposal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough this partnership, local high school teachers and students would gain access to his data and models. This promotes deeper learning of biology and data science through hands-on experience with real-world tools. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuo sees reaching students and the community as a way of paying forward the support he received from Georgia Tech colleagues.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am incredibly grateful for this recognition from the NSF,\u201d said Luo, an assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (CSE).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis would not have been possible without my students and collaborators, whose hard work laid the groundwork for this proposal.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuo praised CSE faculty members \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~badityap\/\u0022\u003EB. Aditya Prakash\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/xiuweizhang.wordpress.com\/\u0022\u003EXiuwei Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/chaozhang.org\/\u0022\u003EChao Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E for their guidance. All three study \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning\u0022\u003Emachine learning\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/computational-bioscience-and-biomedicine\u0022\u003Ecomputational bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E, two of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/research\u0022\u003ECSE\u2019s five core research areas\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuo also thanked \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~hpark\/\u0022\u003EHaesun Park\u003C\/a\u003E for her support and recommendation for the CAREER award. Park is a Regents\u2019 Professor and the chair of the School of CSE.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProteins, including antibodies, hemoglobin, and insulin, power nearly every vital aspect of life. Breakthroughs in protein research are producing vaccines, resilient crops, bioenergy sources, and other innovative technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite their importance, most of what scientists know about proteins only comes from a small sample size. This stands in the way of fully understanding how most proteins work and unlocking their full potential.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~yunan\/\u0022\u003EYunan Luo\u003C\/a\u003E believes artificial intelligence (AI) could fill this knowledge gap. The National Science Foundation agrees. Luo is the recipient of an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/career-faculty-early-career-development-program\u0022\u003ECAREER\u003C\/a\u003E) award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Yunan Luo is the recipient of an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award to use artificial intelligence to solve the protein annotation inequality problem."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-12-10 16:57:22","changed_gmt":"2026-01-09 13:37:31","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678817":{"id":"678817","type":"image","title":"Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_1.jpg","body":null,"created":"1765385865","gmt_created":"2025-12-10 16:57:45","changed":"1765385865","gmt_changed":"2025-12-10 16:57:45","alt":"Yunan Luo NSF CAREER Award","file":{"fid":"262902","name":"Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/10\/Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/10\/Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":108350,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/10\/Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_1.jpg?itok=j83dW4Sn"}},"678818":{"id":"678818","type":"image","title":"Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1765385967","gmt_created":"2025-12-10 16:59:27","changed":"1765385967","gmt_changed":"2025-12-10 16:59:27","alt":"Yunan Luo NSF CAREER Award","file":{"fid":"262903","name":"Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/10\/Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/10\/Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":100260,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/10\/Yunan-Luo-NSF-CAREER_2.jpg?itok=CShGR6nJ"}}},"media_ids":["678817","678818"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/nsf-grant-funds-protein-research-drug-discovery-and-personalized-medicine","title":"NSF Grant Funds Protein Research for Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"362","name":"National Science Foundation"},{"id":"191934","name":"National Science Foundation (NSF)"},{"id":"170447","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"176858","name":"machine learning center"},{"id":"173894","name":"ML@GT"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686871":{"#nid":"686871","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet CSE Profile: Ph.D. Graduate Ziqi Zhang","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPh.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E has built a career blending machine learning with single-cell biology. His work helps scientists study cellular mechanisms that advance disease research and drug development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/award-winning-computer-models-propel-research-cellular-differentiation\u0022\u003Edecorated with awards\u003C\/a\u003E and appearances in leading journals, Zhang will achieve his greatest accomplishment tonight at McCamish Pavilion. He will join the Class of 2025 in walking across the stage, receiving diplomas, and graduating from Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore he \u201cgets out\u201d of Georgia Tech, we interviewed Zhang to learn more about his Ph.D. journey and where his degree will take him next.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGraduate:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/peterzzq.github.io\/\u0022\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch Interests:\u003C\/strong\u003E Machine learning, foundational models, cellular mechanisms, single-cell gene sequencing, gene regulatory networks\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEducation:\u003C\/strong\u003E Ph.D. in Computational Science and Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty Advisor\u003C\/strong\u003E: School of CSE J.Z. Liang Early-Career Associate Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/xiuweizhang.wordpress.com\/\u0022\u003EXiuwei Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat persuaded you to study at Georgia Tech?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI chose Georgia Tech because it is one of the top engineering institutions in the United States, known for its strength in machine learning and data science. The university offers exceptional research resources and the opportunity to work with leading scholars in my field. Georgia Tech also has very good research infrastructure. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/coda\u0022\u003ECoda Building\u003C\/a\u003E is one of the most well-designed and productive research environments I have experienced. Having access to such a space has been a genuine privilege.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow has working on your CSE degree helped you so far in your career?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorking toward my CSE degree has been instrumental in my career development. As an interdisciplinary program, CSE has equipped me with strong computational skills while also deepening my understanding of key application domains. This breadth of training has opened more opportunities during my job and internship searches. In addition, CSE community events, such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hotcse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EHotCSE\u003C\/a\u003E, the weekly coffee hour, and faculty recruiting activities, have helped me strengthen my scientific communication skills, which are essential for my long-term career growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat research project from Georgia Tech are you most proud of?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy favorite research project was\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-023-36066-2\u0022\u003EscMoMaT\u003C\/a\u003E, a matrix tri-factorization algorithm for single-cell data integration. I invested a significant amount of time and effort into this work, iterating on the model many times. I\u2019m very proud that it ultimately evolved into a clean, robust, and elegant algorithm.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat advice would you give someone interested in graduate school?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is important to find an advisor who is supportive and genuinely invested in your career development. A Ph.D. is not an easy journey, and you will inevitably encounter challenges along the way. Having an advisor who can provide thoughtful guidance and dedicated mentorship is one of the most crucial factors in helping you navigate those difficulties.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is your most favorite memory from Georgia Tech?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECSE\u2019s new student campus visit day every year was one of my favorite times of the year. It was always fun to meet new people, have good food, and enjoy the beautiful view from the Coda rooftop.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are your plans after graduation?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI plan to keep working in academia after graduation. I\u2019m on the job hunt, currently applying for positions and preparing for interviews.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPh.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E has built a career blending machine learning with single-cell biology. His work helps scientists study cellular mechanisms that advance disease research and drug development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/award-winning-computer-models-propel-research-cellular-differentiation\u0022\u003Edecorated with awards\u003C\/a\u003E and appearances in leading journals, Zhang will achieve his greatest accomplishment tonight at McCamish Pavilion. He will join the Class of 2025 in walking across the stage, receiving diplomas, and graduating from Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore he \u201cgets out\u201d of Georgia Tech, we interviewed Zhang to learn more about his Ph.D. journey and where his degree will take him next.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ph.D. graduate Ziqi Zhang will join the Class of 2025 in walking across the stage, receiving diplomas, and graduating from Georgia Tech."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-12-11 15:58:37","changed_gmt":"2026-01-09 13:36:26","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678827":{"id":"678827","type":"image","title":"Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","body":null,"created":"1765468731","gmt_created":"2025-12-11 15:58:51","changed":"1765468731","gmt_changed":"2025-12-11 15:58:51","alt":"Meet CSE Ziqi Zhang","file":{"fid":"262915","name":"Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/11\/Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/11\/Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":119733,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/11\/Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg?itok=LsnALgbn"}}},"media_ids":["678827"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"194880","name":"2025 fall commencement"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686865":{"#nid":"686865","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Shaping Tomorrow\u2019s Talent: Alumna and CNN VP on Giving Back, Leadership, and Real-World Impact","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/elbanks\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EErica Banks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president of technology for CNN\u2019s platforms group, oversees the teams that alert millions of people worldwide to breaking news. She\u2019s also a computer science alumna who credits her Georgia Tech education with shaping her problem-solving skills and preparing her for a fast-paced career in global media technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer own financial challenges as a student inspired her to establish a needs-based scholarship supporting first-generation and underrepresented students in the College of Computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBanks shares her story and why she wants to expand opportunity and help future technologists build their own paths forward in the following Q\u0026amp;A.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did your time at Georgia Tech influence the trajectory that brought you to your current role with CNN?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImagine millions of people rushing to\u0026nbsp;CNN.com\u0026nbsp;and CNN apps the moment breaking news happens, all while your teams are deploying a major platform update! That is my world. My B.S. in computer science taught me to think in systems and logic, not just write software code.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, I lead an organization of 80+ engineers and technical leaders building CNN\u0027s news publishing platforms and frameworks. As a VP of Software Engineering, I balance system design, crisis response, organization strategy, and diverse problem-solving all at scale.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt sounds like your team hires many early-career software engineers. What skills or qualities do you look for in new talent, and how do Georgia Tech students stand out?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcademic achievements matter because they demonstrate your technical intellect and prove you can master complex concepts. Georgia Tech students naturally excel in pushing through intellectual challenges and rigorous curricula. What stands out beyond your GPA are curiosity, willingness to learn, ability to collaborate, and resilience. Can you go from abstract ideas to tactical software directions? Can you debug your own thinking? Do you ask great questions to understand risks and uncertainties? How well do you work on project teams? The best technologists I have hired have strong technical fundamentals, the ability to collaborate, and the humility to learn. This self-awareness is invaluable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u0027re helping expand internship\u2014and potentially co-op\u2014pipelines in Atlanta, New York, and Ottawa. What opportunities do you hope these pathways will create for students?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring my undergraduate years at Georgia Tech, I worked as an intern and co-op at IBM. Transitioning to full-time at IBM after graduating was significantly easier with this real-world work experience. I was already experienced with shipping \u0022real\u0022 code, understanding production systems, and learning how corporate organizations operate. I hope to create the same real impact through new hiring pathways, where early experience across different industries equips students with sufficient real-world experience and career jump-starts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAs a HOPE Scholar who faced challenges with living expenses, how did those experiences shape your perspective on access and affordability in higher education?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027m incredibly grateful to have been a HOPE Scholar during my undergraduate years at Georgia Tech. The program had just started 2 years prior to my entry, so I knew my tuition, fees, and books were covered for 4+ years as long as I maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher. However, I did not qualify for need-based aid because I came from a middle-class family. I did not have the resources to cover my room and board to live on campus. This taught me the lesson that \u0022access\u0022 requires far more than admission. I was fortunate to have supportive parents and income from my internships and co-op experiences. But I can only imagine how much more difficult it is for brilliant students to fill financial gaps each semester. Financial stress doesn\u0027t just limit opportunities. It steals focus from learning and creates a \u0022ceiling\u0022 for how far you can go academically.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYour existing scholarship fund supports\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Efirst-generation and\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;underrepresented students. Why is this focus especially meaningful to you?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnderrepresented students often carry what I call an \u0022invisible\u0022 weight: how to navigate environments without a clear roadmap on what\/who\/why\/when\/how, all while trying to build their own future. During my undergraduate years, I was frequently the only, or one of a few, women and\/or people of color in my computer science classes. This same pattern has continued throughout my 25+ year career, especially as I have climbed higher on the tech leadership career ladder. As a VP, I have personally met only 10 or so other black female VPs in technology (ever). I established my scholarship fund at Georgia Tech to help change this narrative for future generations. I want to support underrepresented students in pursuing their dream degree at one of the best schools in this country!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u0027ve made a new commitment\u2014$100K over five years\u2014that will qualify your scholarship for the Invest in the Best match. What inspired you to expand your support at this moment?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI am very grateful that the Invest in the Best Match will help my scholarship fund reach a level where a significant financial impact can be achieved every academic year. I am at a stage in my career where I can accelerate what I wish had existed for me. I am personal proof that only one semester of financial security can change a student\u0027s entire trajectory. This commitment is also a huge stepping stone toward my ultimate goal of my scholarship fund reaching the $1 million level in future years, creating sustainable support that outlasts my own contributions and my lifetime.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen you think about the long-term impact of a $200K need-based endowed scholarship, what outcomes or student stories do you hope to see?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI hope scholarship recipients will graduate and then find rewarding careers or seek entrepreneurship that changes their lives. This is how my personal journey has progressed: I continue to seek life-fulfilling challenges, overcome any hurdles, and fulfill my life\u0027s purpose by helping others. I hope they reach a point in their life where they look back with gratitude and choose to pay it forward. I am looking forward to reading their alumni newsletter feature one day, where they announce their new self-named scholarship fund and tell the next generation of students, \u0022Someone invested in me. Now I am investing in you.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMany alumni want to give back but aren\u0027t sure where to start. What advice would you offer to donors who want their philanthropy to be meaningful and aligned with their values?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI had the idea of starting a scholarship fund at Georgia Tech for over 10 years. I feared making the financial commitment and kept deferring the decision for years. Finally, in 2021, I decided to reach out and request information on the starting steps. There is flexibility in how to meet the initial commitment, including funding sources and the timeframe. Start with this, then focus on scaling the fund later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe bigger picture is that you are helping future students with their financial needs and letting them know that a Georgia Tech alum believes in them. This profound impact is far greater than any fears over starting a fund.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking ahead, how do you envision partnerships between industry leaders like CNN and academic institutions like Georgia Tech shaping the next generation of computing talent?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe best partnerships treat students as colleagues, not just pipelines of talent. We need stronger two-way connections between academia and industry, where theoretical boundaries merge with real-world opportunities. Take streaming video delivery as a concrete example: millions of simultaneous viewers need to watch a live presidential debate or a live March Madness game on their iPhones. How do you maintain quality when network bandwidth drops during a debate? How do you scale real-time infrastructure when traffic spikes from 10 million viewers to 20 million viewers at one time? How do you personalize video delivery by various factors without introducing latency? The next generation of technologists will greatly benefit from learning to solve these problems while actively earning their degrees.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EComputer science alumna and CCN VP Erica Banks has endowed a needs-based scholarship for the College of Computing.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A computer science alumna has endowed a needs-based scholarship for the College of Computing."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2025-12-11 15:00:45","changed_gmt":"2026-01-09 13:36:15","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678834":{"id":"678834","type":"image","title":"Erica Banks at Georgia Tech","body":null,"created":"1765558853","gmt_created":"2025-12-12 17:00:53","changed":"1765559002","gmt_changed":"2025-12-12 17:03:22","alt":"Erica Banks at Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"262923","name":"EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":92118,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/12\/EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg?itok=86eVZS9t"}}},"media_ids":["678834"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"193234","name":"Campaign Stories"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"596","name":"Alumni Association"},{"id":"194752","name":"transforming tomorrow"},{"id":"2284","name":"Giving"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Communications Mgr. II\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686854":{"#nid":"686854","#data":{"type":"news","title":" In Her Own Words: A First-Gen Grad on Perseverance, Parenthood, and Possibility","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPursuing a master\u2019s degree had always been a dream, but becoming a new mom during the pandemic shifted everything.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a newborn and the world in lockdown, I paused my software engineering career and applied to Georgia Tech\u2019s Master of Science in Computer Science program to continue learning without leaving my baby behind.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy journey became a true test of resilience. I completed assignments late at night after my daughters had fallen asleep. I welcomed my second baby in the middle of the program, balancing late-night feedings with project deadlines and Sunday night submissions. It wasn\u2019t easy, but it was worth every moment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, I graduate with a master\u2019s degree, two beautiful daughters, and overwhelming gratitude for my husband, whose unwavering support made this possible, and for my parents in Bangladesh, whose blessings carried me from afar. I\u2019m proud to be the first in my family to graduate from Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I step into the next chapter, I am building my tech startup in Austin, combining my expertise in Industrial Engineering with practical, real-world AI to help businesses evaluate, optimize, and automate their workflows.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a mom of two balancing family, work, and grad school, earning this degree has been one of the most transformative chapters of my life. To every mother, dreamer, and non-traditional student: you don\u2019t have to do it all at once; you just have to keep going.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith her MS degree in hand, new alumna Karina Islam is ready for her next chapter.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"With her MS degree in hand, new alumna Karina Islam is ready for her next chapter."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2025-12-10 20:14:38","changed_gmt":"2026-01-09 13:36:06","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678835":{"id":"678835","type":"image","title":"Karina Islam is graduating in Fall 2025 with an MS degree in computer science from Georgia Tech.","body":null,"created":"1765560284","gmt_created":"2025-12-12 17:24:44","changed":"1765560284","gmt_changed":"2025-12-12 17:24:44","alt":"Karina Islam is graduating in Fall 2025 with an MS degree in computer science from Georgia Tech.","file":{"fid":"262924","name":"Karina-Islam-MSCSgraduate-fall2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/Karina-Islam-MSCSgraduate-fall2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/Karina-Islam-MSCSgraduate-fall2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":632732,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/12\/Karina-Islam-MSCSgraduate-fall2025.jpg?itok=0e2aCg-3"}}},"media_ids":["678835"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"627","name":"commencement"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Communications Mgr. II\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686884":{"#nid":"686884","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Students Collaborating with Nonprofit to Reduce Bird Collisions with Buildings","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn 2015, before the cleaning crews hit the sidewalks of downtown Atlanta and before scavenger animals arose to snag an easy meal, Adam Betuel would venture into the darkness of the early mornings to look for birds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome were still alive, but most of the birds were dead. They were all too easy to find.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI knew birds hit buildings, but I didn\u2019t know much more about the issue at that time, and I was surprised how easily I just found birds,\u201d Betuel said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBirds flying into windows aren\u2019t isolated events. Environmentalists estimate between 365 million and one billion birds die each year from colliding with structures in the U.S. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat statistic is hard for most people to comprehend,\u201d Betuel said. \u201cWhen you think about the millions of homes we have and these high-rise buildings, and if each one is killing a few a year, that number can get big pretty quick.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetuel is the executive director of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.birdsgeorgia.org\/mission-and-programs.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBirds Georgia\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a nonprofit affiliate of the Audubon network that leads bird conservation efforts in Georgia. For 10 years, volunteers from the organization have combed Atlanta\u2019s streets, collecting bird specimens.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBirds Georgia launched Project Safe Flight in 2015 to reduce bird building-collision mortality through data collection. Through legislation, the group aims to make building construction bird-friendly and reduce light pollution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnvironmentalists who study the issue have ranked Atlanta, which sits squarely on a migration route, as the fourth-most dangerous city for birds during fall migration. It is the ninth-most dangerous city during spring migration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe number of bird deaths from collisions in Atlanta and across the state remains unknown. However, new data tools developed by student researchers in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech are helping Birds Georgia get a clearer picture of the issue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve been working with different folks at Georgia Tech for years now, but it\u2019s really picked up lately,\u201d Betuel said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of momentum and interest on campus to try to make the city safer for birds.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPushing for Policy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/abooneportfolio.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAshley Boone\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Ph.D. student in human-centered computing in Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing, has led the student effort to help Birds Georgia organize its data.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoone said organizing data and knowing how to use it is critical to spark conversations about adopting legislation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe often see a gap between data collection and data advocacy,\u201d she said. \u201cBirds Georgia has done an amazing job of tracking collisions in Atlanta over the last 10 years. My goal is to understand the role technology can play in making data useful for policy change.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUser-interface tools designed by computer science undergraduate students James Kemerait and Ian Wood have\u0026nbsp;ramped\u0026nbsp;up that process. One tool converts data input into visualizations optimized for social media, while another consolidates the data collected by volunteers and external sources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoone said the desired legislation would mirror policies implemented by New York City. Those policies require the use of bird-safe materials \u2014 like window film with patterned designs that break up reflections \u2014 in new buildings and buildings undergoing significant renovations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat Can Residents Do?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResidents, whose homes account for about 40% of bird collision deaths in the U.S., can also make an impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHouseholds are an underexamined cause of bird collisions,\u201d Boone said. \u201cWe focus on the big buildings because it\u2019s easier to convince one manager of a large building to use bird-safe materials, and it\u2019s easier for a policy to address a commercial building. But the sheer volume of residential buildings in the U.S. has a tremendous impact on the number of collisions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteps that homeowners can take include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBuying bird-safe film or making do-it-yourself versions of it to put on windows.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPlacing attractive objects like birdhouses and birdfeeders very close or very far away from windows.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETurning off lights after 9 p.m. on the busiest migration nights of the year.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetuel said millions of birds can fly over Atlanta on a single night during migration, and they are attracted to the city lights.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey\u2019ll come into urban centers and collide with an illuminated building, or maybe they overnight somewhere that isn\u2019t safe,\u201d he said. \u201cThe next day, they\u2019re surrounded by glass, and birds don\u2019t understand reflection.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResidents can visit the Birds Georgia website to sign up for the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.birdsgeorgia.org\/lights-out-georgia.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELights Out Pledge\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Those who sign up will receive a text on the 10 busiest migratory nights of the year, and they will be asked to turn their lights off early.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe tools provided by Georgia Tech gave Birds Georgia insight into the number of bird species affected by collisions \u2014 more than 140, according to Betuel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetuel said that when the organization reaches an estimate of bird collisions, he hopes the number will raise alarms and turn people\u2019s attention to the ecological impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAll these birds being lost results in fewer birds to eat pest insects, fewer birds to pollinate flowers, fewer birds to disperse seeds \u2014 all the ecological functions that we need, that they\u2019re doing in the background that most people aren\u2019t keen to,\u201d he said. \u201cIf this decline in bird life continues to happen, at some point, there will be issues with our ecosystems functioning as they always have.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAtlanta is one of the country\u0027s deadliest cities for migratory birds. Human-centered computing students in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing are helping Birds Georgia organize its data to better understand how to reduce the likelihood of birds flying into tall buildings..\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Interactive computing students are developing new data tools to reduce bird\/building strikes in Atlanta, which is among the country\u0027s deadliest cities for migratory birds."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2025-12-12 22:04:38","changed_gmt":"2026-01-09 13:35:54","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-12T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-12T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678838":{"id":"678838","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech human-centered computing Ph.D. student Ashley Boone is building data tools to reduce the likelihood of birds flying into buildings.","body":null,"created":"1765577088","gmt_created":"2025-12-12 22:04:48","changed":"1765577088","gmt_changed":"2025-12-12 22:04:48","alt":"Georgia Tech human-centered computing Ph.D. student Ashley Boone is building data tools to reduce the likelihood of birds flying into buildings.","file":{"fid":"262927","name":"Ashley-Boone_86A1373-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/Ashley-Boone_86A1373-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/Ashley-Boone_86A1373-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":66310,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/12\/Ashley-Boone_86A1373-copy.jpg?itok=iPD3xf3i"}}},"media_ids":["678838"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50876","name":"School of Interactive Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENathan Deen, Communications Officer I\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech School of Interactive Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Endeen6@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686984":{"#nid":"686984","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Community and Collaboration Shape the Class of 2025","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJust as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community of faculty, mentors, research collaborators, and staff to raise a Georgia Tech graduate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Yellow Jacket community swarmed campus for the final time of the fall semester to celebrate Commencement ceremonies held Dec. 11 to 13. Graduates from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) were among the 7,177 new alumni \u201cgetting out\u201d of Tech. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are immensely proud of School of CSE and CSE programs graduates in the Class of 2025,\u201d said Haesun Park, Regents\u2019 Professor and Chair of the School of CSE.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur collaborative approach to CSE education has prepared these graduates to attain roles in academia, national labs, industry, government, and beyond, where they will lead the next generation of interdisciplinary research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with administering its flagship CSE Ph.D. and M.S. CSE programs, the School of CSE offers doctoral degrees in computer science and machine learning. Ph.D. graduates who received their diplomas and doctoral hoods on Dec. 11 at McCamish Pavilion included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/grantbruer\u0022\u003EGrant Bruer\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Professor and Associate Chair Edmond Chow\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.jinchoi.xyz\/\u0022\u003EDongjin Choi\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Regents\u2019 Professor and Chair Haesun Park\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/event\/2023\/06\/27\/phd-proposal-hyungu-choi\u0022\u003EHyungu Choi\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-AE 2025), advised by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Regents\u2019 Professor Dimitri Mavris\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaxfield Comstock\u003C\/strong\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by Elizabeth Cherry, College of Computing Associate Dean for Graduate Education and School of CSE Associate Professor\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dilab.gatech.edu\/andrew-hornback\/\u0022\u003EAndrew Hornback\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CS-CSE 2025), co-advised by School of CSE Assistant Professor Yunan Luo and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Professor May Wang\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/grad.gatech.edu\/events\/phd-defense-ayush-jain\u0022\u003EAyush Jain\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-MSE 2025), advised by School of Materials Science and Engineering Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur and Professor Rampi Ramprasad\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/anurendk\/\u0022\u003EAnurendra Kumar\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CS-CSE 2025), co-advised by School of CSE J.Z. Liang Early Career Associate Professor Xiuwei Zhang and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Professor Saurabh Sinha\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/jxie1997.github.io\/\u0022\u003EJiajia Xie\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-BME 2025), advised by Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor Cassie Mitchell\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/night-chen.github.io\/\u0022\u003EYuchen Zhuang\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Edenfield Early Career Associate Professor Chao Zhang\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/peterzzq.github.io\/\u0022\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE J.Z. Liang Early Career Associate Professor Xiuwei Zhang\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeven CSE Ph.D. students completed M.S. degrees this fall and will continue their studies at Georgia Tech. They are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jesusarias9\/\u0022\u003EJesus Arias\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Assistant Professor Spencer Bryngelson\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/isabel-berry\/\u0022\u003EIsabel Berry\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CHEM 2025), advised by Regents\u2019 Professor C. David Sherrill, who is jointly appointed with the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of CSE\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/maxhawkins.info\/\u0022\u003EMax Hawkins\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), co-advised by School of CSE Professor Rich Vuduc and Assistant Professor Spencer Bryngelson\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/xiao-jing-738641a3\/\u0022\u003EXiao Jing\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-AE 2025), advised by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Regents\u2019 Professor Dimitri Mavris\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haoyunli.wordpress.com\/\u0022\u003EHaoyun Li\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by Professor Felix Herrmann, who is jointly appointed with the Schools of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and CSE\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/yuan-qiu-a47404227\/\u0022\u003EYuan Qiu\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Assistant Professor Peng Chen\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/william-schertzer\/\u0022\u003EWilliam Schertzer\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-MSE 2025), advised by School of Materials Science and Engineering Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur and Professor Rampi Ramprasad\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s CSE graduate program includes 12 schools and departments participating as home units. These home units represent the colleges of Computing, Engineering, and Sciences. This approach facilitates an immersive, interdisciplinary experience in which students study computational approaches within domain fields.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech jointly celebrated master\u2019s graduates at a ceremony on Dec. 13 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. After the Institute celebration, graduates were recognized during ceremonies held by their respective colleges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMawutor Kofi Amanfu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESunyoung An (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENischal Bandi (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElijah Bellamy (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeiwen Bi (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHao-Cheng Chang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETianyu Chen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYilong Chen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhiyu Chen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeung Eun Choi (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVinodhini Comandur (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhiyi Dai (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlejandro Danies-Lopez (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZixing Fan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStefan Faulkner (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMihiri Fernando (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlexandra Freeman (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuhan Fu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJack Ganem (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOmar Atef Garib (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMartin Graffigna (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBochun Guo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoyi Guo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXinyu Guo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuqi Han (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETianyang Hu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMingzheng Huang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPo-Han Huang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWentao Jiang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoxiao Jin (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWilliam-Michael Johnson (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaryoung Lee (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETzu Jung Lee (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECongyan Li (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPeiru Li (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuhan Li (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhiyun Liang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuexi Liao (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChenyu Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHonglin Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShuojiang Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXuanzhang Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYue Lu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFang Lunt (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJinrui Ma (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYu Miao (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHui-Chun Mo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrajwal Kumar (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKavya Krishnan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFelicity Nielson (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJonathan Perng (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYinzhu Quan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDevanshi Shah (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuxuan Shen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteven Stewart (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinjun Su (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJingyun Sun (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbdul Rehman Tariq (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYu Chu Tsai (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXunzhi Wen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJinghua Weng (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndi Xia (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZihao Xiao (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYunxiang Yan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZiyuan Ye (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinyuan Yu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBingqing Zhang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETiankuo Zhang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYu Zheng (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoye Zhou (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXinjie Zhu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZilu Zhu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJust as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community of faculty, mentors, research collaborators, and staff to raise a Georgia Tech graduate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Yellow Jacket community swarmed campus for the final time of the fall semester to celebrate Commencement ceremonies held Dec. 11 to 13. Graduates from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) were among the 7,177 new alumni \u201cgetting out\u201d of Tech. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Yellow Jacket community swarmed campus for the final time of the fall semester to celebrate Commencement ceremonies held Dec. 11 to 13. Graduates from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) were among the 7,177 new alumni \u201cgetting o"}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-12-18 14:56:42","changed_gmt":"2025-12-18 14:57:35","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678889":{"id":"678889","type":"image","title":"Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","body":null,"created":"1766069812","gmt_created":"2025-12-18 14:56:52","changed":"1766069812","gmt_changed":"2025-12-18 14:56:52","alt":"Fall 2025 College of Computing Masters Commencement","file":{"fid":"262979","name":"Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":105246,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/18\/Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg?itok=pWTczKbt"}}},"media_ids":["678889"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/community-and-collaboration-shape-class-2025","title":"Community and Collaboration Shape the Class of 2025"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}