Talk: Making Machine Learning Models Safer, 4pm Wed 11/29 Data and Model Perspectives

Making Machine Learning Models Safer: Data and Model Perspectives


Dr. Kowshik Thopalli, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

4:00-5:15pm Wed, Nov 29, ENGR 231 and WebEx

As machine learning systems are increasingly deployed in real-world settings like healthcare, finance, and scientific applications, ensuring their safety and reliability is crucial. However, many state-of-the-art ML models still suffer from issues like poor out-of-distribution generalization, sensitivity to input corruptions, requiring large amounts of data, and inadequate calibration - limiting their robustness and trustworthiness for critical real-world applications.  In this talk, I will first present a broad overview of different safety considerations for modern ML systems. I will then proceed to discuss our recent efforts in making ML models safer from two complementary perspectives - (i) manipulating data and (ii) enriching the model capabilities by developing novel training mechanisms.  I will discuss our work on designing new data augmentation techniques for object detection followed by demonstrating how, in the absence of data from desired target domains of interest, one could leverage pre-trained generative models for efficient synthetic data generation.  Next, I will present a new paradigm of training deep networks called model anchoring and show how one could achieve similar properties to an ensemble but through a single model. I will specifically discuss how model anchoring can significantly enrich the class of hypothesis functions being sampled and demonstrate its effectiveness through its improved performance on several safety benchmarks. I will conclude by highlighting exciting future research directions for producing robust ML models through leveraging multi-modal foundation models.

Kowshik Thopalli is a Machine Learning Scientist and a post-doctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. His research focuses on developing reliable machine learning models that are robust under distribution shifts. He has published papers on a variety of techniques to address model robustness, including domain adaptation, domain generalization, and test-time adaptation using geometric and meta-learning approaches. His expertise also encompasses integrating diverse knowledge sources, such as domain expert guidance and generative models, to improve model data efficiency, accuracy, and resilience to distribution shifts.  He received his Ph.D. in 2023 from Arizona State University.
]]> Making Machine Learning Models Safer: Data and Model Perspectives Dr. Kowshik Thopalli, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 4:00-5:15pm Wed, Nov 29, ENGR 231 and WebEx As machine... https://www.tejasgokhale.com/seminar.html https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137348/guest@my.umbc.edu/fb1f95eb6777b7c0b2de6de52805c12d/api/pixel ai machine-learning safety Computer Science and Electrical Engineering https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/csee https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/original.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/large.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/medium.png?1314043393 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/small.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxsmall.png?1314043393 Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 1 0 true Tue, 28 Nov 2023 17:26:53 -0500 Talk: Binding Crypto Context in Network Protocols 12pm 12/1
The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab presents

Automatically Binding Cryptographic Context to Messages in Network Protocols Using Formal Methods


Enis Golaszewski
UMBC CSEE Department

12-1 pm, Friday, 1 Dec. 2023 via WebEx

We present an automatic tool for binding formal network protocol specifications to their underlying cryptographic contexts, eliminating harmful protocol interactions, including Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks. Operating in the strand space model, our tool takes as input an arbitrary two-party protocol specification, infers a cryptographic context from the protocol terms, and outputs a specification for an improved protocol that is the composition of the input protocol and our novel context-exchange protocol.  Our context-exchange protocol binds cryptographic values to a unique session, using a Merkle hash tree to represent context.  Our tool applies the following operations on context: initialize, append, sign, and verify. For each input protocol specification, our tool outputs context-equivalence security goals, which we then verify using the Cryptographic Protocol Shapes Analyzer (CPSA). To our knowledge, our tool is the first of its kind. It represents a significant step towards eliminating attacks resulting from unwanted protocol interactions, which are the cause for most known structural weaknesses in protocols. Support for this research was provided in part by the National Security Agency under an INSuRE+C grant via Northeastern University. 

Enis Golaszewski (golaszewski@umbc.edu) is a computer science PhD student at UMBC under Alan T. Sherman, where he studies, researches, and teaches cryptographic protocol analysis.

Host: Alan T. Sherman, sherman@umbc.edu; January 16-19, 2024, UMBC SFS/CySP Research Study; Support for this event was provided in part by the National Science Foundation under SFS grant DGE-1753681.
]]> The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab presents Automatically Binding Cryptographic Context to Messages in Network Protocols Using Formal Methods Enis Golaszewski UMBC CSEE Department 12-1 pm,... https://cisa.umbc.edu/ https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137340/guest@my.umbc.edu/915c089754153467f3eb70d5db482cf5/api/pixel cybersecurity Computer Science and Electrical Engineering https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/csee https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/original.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/large.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/medium.png?1314043393 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/small.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxsmall.png?1314043393 Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 0 0 true Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:08:50 -0500 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:15:26 -0500 Intern of the Week: Anurag Varshney Check out Anurag's internship!
Name: Anurag Varshney

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Summer 2023 

Major: Engineering Management

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Baltimore Aircoil Company

Location of the Organization (City, State): Jessup, Maryland

Title of position: Product Engineering Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities: 
The way of working defines the future of the organization and with the pace of change in technology, this has become an imperative part of any organization. 

My role at BAC helped me deep dive into SharePoint document-sharing practices that can change the outlook of document-sharing practices across the organization. Collaborating with suppliers and protecting intellectual property is one of the major challenges organizations face. But, after a lot of user interviews and brainstorming, we focused on redefining the structure, refining the sharing practices, and preparing the work instructions. With 3 successful pilot sites and 3 additional sites, we ended the project with flying colors ahead of schedule. The name of the project, "Aurora," did justice to the dawn of a new way of working and collaboration amongst 14 engineering teams and 27 product teams.

Day to day activity: My usual day consisted of a lot of meetings to gather requirements and feedback from the users. Researching SharePoint best practices and prioritizing the needs and wants of the users following MoSCoW and other prioritization techniques comprised the rest of time.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I will break down the process of obtaining a position into 3 categories.

Resume Preparation: 

I started applying for summer internships in September 2022 one month after landing in the US but I started updating my resume in the first week here in the US. I got my resume reviewed by the UMBC Career Center, professionals in the industry, peers, and professors to get a good amount of feedback.

Lead Generation: 

Applied to 400+ roles and didn't hear back from any of the recruiters. No emails or interviews were bothering me a lot. I changed my strategy to mass applying to a focused approach by following a 5-step process:
1. Understanding the job requirements clearly (at least read it thrice)
2. Ensuring all the skills required are well catered in the resume 
3. Tailoring the resume accordingly
4. Networking: This is the key. I connected with recruiters, employees, and alumni to understand more about the role, and culture and asked to connect with relevant stakeholders.
5. Consistent Follow-up: This is the difference between average and excellent candidates. They keep on following unless they get some kind of answer.

Cracking Interviews: 

Keep your seat belt tightened because this is where the journey starts taking off. This is not something that could be learned in a single day or a week, this takes time. But two words that can make the difference are: environment and practice.
Stay connected with fellow colleagues who are applying for jobs and learn from each other. The tools, platforms, and opportunities keep on changing, but staying in the environment provides the motivation and guidance as and when required. 
Last but not least, keep practicing; tools like Big Interview provided by UMBC for free were the game changer in this whole journey.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?
UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, Networking events (UMBC Connects, Info Sessions, Arts With a Purpose, etc.), Alumni Networking, Student Organizations/Scholar Groups, Faculty Connections, Handshake, LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
Cross-functional collaboration

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
Three teams started using the templates I created for them, and there were three additional teams looking forward to it. In product management, we discuss customer satisfaction, repeat customers, and conversion rates. I served three customers (internal teams) and there were four other teams asking for it. This shows the impact that was created in just three months of time. 

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Research, practice, network. Just keep doing this and that's it. 

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
Consistency differentiates the average from the excellent. Just do it and keep doing it, believe in the process and fantastic results will be waiting for you.

Do you want the chance to be the next Intern of the Week? Fill out this form to be considered!
]]> Name: Anurag Varshney Pronouns: He/Him Semester of Internship: Summer 2023  Major: Engineering Management Current Class Level: Master's Student This semester I completed... https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137323/guest@my.umbc.edu/5b7223e9b8a0d5c7c2ea10c9bfa75b73/api/pixel engineering-management intern intern-of-the-week internship iotw product-engineering Career Center https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/careers https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xsmall.png?1411655278 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/original.jpg?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xxlarge.png?1411655278 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xlarge.png?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/large.png?1411655278 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/medium.png?1411655278 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/small.png?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xsmall.png?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xxsmall.png?1411655278 Career Center https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/323/50ea2cb714371eafca62e8d5601a0bc0/xxlarge.jpg?1701127599 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/323/50ea2cb714371eafca62e8d5601a0bc0/xlarge.jpg?1701127599 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/323/50ea2cb714371eafca62e8d5601a0bc0/large.jpg?1701127599 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/323/50ea2cb714371eafca62e8d5601a0bc0/medium.jpg?1701127599 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/323/50ea2cb714371eafca62e8d5601a0bc0/small.jpg?1701127599 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/323/50ea2cb714371eafca62e8d5601a0bc0/xsmall.jpg?1701127599 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/323/50ea2cb714371eafca62e8d5601a0bc0/xxsmall.jpg?1701127599 2 4 true Mon, 27 Nov 2023 18:31:30 -0500 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 18:50:56 -0500 For Freshmen and Sophomores interested in Finance QUICK TURNAROUND BUT VERY MANAGEABLE!!!!!
Are you (or do you know) a college freshman or sophomore looking to dip your toe in the financial profession? Interested in learning more about the Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB) at JPMorgan Chase? 

This opportunity is principally aimed at attracting freshman and sophomore students who self-identify as Black or African American and a woman; however, all freshman and sophomore students regardless of background who are interested in exploring job opportunities at JPMorgan Chase are welcome to register.  

The application process seems very manageable despite the short turnaround.  Who knows - maybe this opportunity could be a game-changer for you?  

The deadline to register: December 3, 2023 by 10:00PM (EST). Staff plan to connect with applicants by mid-December. 

Sadie Summit Information page and form.  

]]> Are you (or do you know) a college freshman or sophomore looking to dip your toe in the financial profession? Interested in learning more about the Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB) at... https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137310/guest@my.umbc.edu/d41eb586411ee0a41169e554d250778e/api/pixel The Shriver Center https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/shriver https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xsmall.png?1441293069 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/original.jpg?1441293069 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xxlarge.png?1441293069 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xlarge.png?1441293069 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/large.png?1441293069 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/medium.png?1441293069 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/small.png?1441293069 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xsmall.png?1441293069 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xxsmall.png?1441293069 The Shriver Center 0 0 true Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:53:14 -0500 Govern For America Information Session New Partnership w/ Shriver Center MD Public Service Scholars The Shriver Center's Maryland Public Service Scholars programs is excited to partner with Govern For America (GFA) to host a GFA virtual information session for students and recent graduates on Tuesday, December 5, 5pm-6pm

This information session is NOT limited to only MPSS alumni or only UMBC students, so please feel free to share with others who may be interested!

Register at https://bit.ly/GFAandUMBC
]]> The Shriver Center's Maryland Public Service Scholars programs is excited to partner with Govern For America (GFA) to host a GFA virtual information session for students and recent graduates on... https://bit.ly/GFAandUMBC Flyer https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/attachments/616c0760a9a7fb1ef86980cc945426bc/6a01115e/news/000/137/309/4d3d78ccf29acb7e70c7153b4d15bb93/GFA and UMBC Info Session.pdf?1701110249 https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137309/guest@my.umbc.edu/90faaeff1d82b9d4d1a5531d3f26f1b3/api/pixel The Shriver Center https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/shriver https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xsmall.png?1441293069 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/original.jpg?1441293069 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xxlarge.png?1441293069 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xlarge.png?1441293069 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/large.png?1441293069 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/medium.png?1441293069 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/small.png?1441293069 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xsmall.png?1441293069 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/008/0bfad113286cf6b1bc6dedbdbfc7e5ef/xxsmall.png?1441293069 The Shriver Center 0 0 true Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:37:29 -0500 Talk: Learning Actions from Humans in Video, 4pm Mon. Nov 27 Modeling & understanding actions is key for computer vision

Advances in Perception, Prediction, and Reasoning

Learning Actions from Humans in Video


4:00-5:15pm ET, Monday, Nov 27, 2023
UMBC, Engineering 231 and via WebEx

Eadom Dessalene 
University of Maryland, College Park

The prevalent computer vision paradigm in the realm of action understanding is to directly transfer advances in object recognition toward action understanding. In this presentation, I discuss the motivations for an alternative embodied approach centered around the modeling of actions rather than objects and survey recent work of ours along these lines, as well as promising possible future directions.

Eadom Dessalene is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park, advised by Yiannis Aloimonos and Cornelia Fermuller in the Perception and Robotics Group. Eadom received his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from George Mason University. He has made several important contributions to research on video understanding, ego-centric vision, and action understanding through publications in CVPR, ICLR, T-PAMI, and ICRA, as well as winning first place in the 2020 EPIC Kitchens Action Anticipation Challenge.

The Advances in Perception, Prediction, and Reasoning (PPR) talks are organized and hosted by UMBC Professor Tejas Gokhale.

]]> Advances in Perception, Prediction, and Reasoning Learning Actions from Humans in Video 4:00-5:15pm ET, Monday, Nov 27, 2023 UMBC, Engineering 231 and via WebEx Eadom Dessalene ... https://www.tejasgokhale.com/seminar.html https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137288/guest@my.umbc.edu/bff3b3da5a23f897e487d43b3f3dc333/api/pixel actions ai computer-vision talk Computer Science and Electrical Engineering https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/csee https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/original.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/large.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/medium.png?1314043393 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/small.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxsmall.png?1314043393 Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 1 0 true Sun, 26 Nov 2023 19:29:10 -0500 Un. of Chicago Summer Research Opportunity in Economics Stipend, Housing, Travel & Meal Plan- Deadline to Apply 1/3

Un. of Chicago Summer Research Opportunity in Economics
Stipend, Housing, Travel Expenses & Meal Plan- Deadline to Apply Wednesday, 1/3/24 by 9am

In special partnership with The Leadership Alliance, the University of Chicago will select up to three current UMBC undergraduates for an amazing research internship in economics.  The program is designed for undergraduate students with strong quantitative and analytical backgrounds of ALL majors.  This nine-week residential program exposes students to three program components: research, mentorship, and graduate school preparation.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 (by 9am)

PROGRAM COMPONENTS  include:
Research Mentors: Students will be matched with a faculty/research mentor. Students can learn more about research opportunity offerings by looking at faculty research profiles. All students participating in the summer session will also be guided by advisers outside of the laboratory environment.

Activities: Students are expected to spend a minimum of 40 hours/week conducting research and working with faculty/research mentors. In addition, students will participate in several program activities that will allow them to interact with other members of the academic community and summer research programs at the University of Chicago:

Weekly Workshops/Panel Discussions: Workshops on how to navigate the academy, including topics like getting the mentoring you need, self-care and community, communicating your research, the graduate admissions process, preparing grad applications, fellowships and funding opportunities, and study abroad.

Library or Facility tours: Participants will be acquainted with the shared library, research, and laboratory facilities as it pertains to their research placement.

University of Chicago Research Symposium: Near the end of the nine-week summer session, participants will give oral presentations of their work to fellow participants, faculty mentors, and research associates in a symposium on campus.

The Leadership Alliance National Research Symposium: Participants will travel to attend the national meeting of the Leadership Alliance to present their work and to network with other SR-EIP participants from different institutions, faculty/research mentors, and Leadership Alliance members and directors.

Recreational Activities: Social activities organized to acquaint participants with life on the University of Chicago campus and in the city of Chicago at large.

Program Dates:
Monday, June 10, 2024 through Saturday, August 10, 2024 (9 weeks)

STIPEND AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:
- Housing: Participants will be offered room and board in an air-conditioned student dormitory residence located in the center of campus near several amenities, including a new state-of-the-art athletic facility.
- Participating students are eligible for reimbursement of approved expenses associated with round-trip travel to the University of Chicago from the student’s home city.
- Stipend & Meals: Participants will be offered a $5,000 stipend plus a $550 meal plan. Participating students will be given a dining card for the purchase of meals at the University dining facilities.


Qualifications to Apply:
We seek applicants with an interest in research and willing to work hard for the summer in a stimulating environment!
- Rising Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors (at least one semester of undergraduate education remaining by the start of the summer program)
- Open to all analytical backgrounds including economic, finance, global studies, engineering, mathematics, physics, etc.
- 3.0 cumulative GPA or above
- Demonstrate an interest to pursue graduate study toward a PhD or MD/PhD
- Be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status at the time of application.

Application Process- Required materials: 
- Current Resume or Curriculum vitae
- Personal Statement: Two page essay (no more than 1,000 words)
The statement of purpose should be an essay crafted to convey your academic and career goals, with an emphasis on your current research interests. Consider the statement of purpose your opportunity to introduce yourself to a review committee and limit your statement of purpose to no more than 1,000 words. Sample questions to consider in preparing your statement of purpose include:
What are your current research interests? How have previous research projects, coursework or other experiences influenced your interests? What are your future educational and career goals, and how does training as a researcher fit with your goals? What are the academic, volunteer or work experiences that have best prepared you to engage in research? How do you understand the Leadership Alliance's goal of developing a diverse research workforce?
- Two letters of recommendation.  Letters should be addressed to "Selection Committee." 
- Unofficial Transcript

Please send these materials including recommendations via e-mail to:     
Christine Routzahn, Director
UMBC Career Center
routzahn@umbc.edu, 410-455-3671
+ Faculty, staff, and employers can send recommendations directly to Christine Routzahn (routzahn@umbc.edu) too.

Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 (by 9am)
]]> Un. of Chicago Summer Research Opportunity in Economics Stipend, Housing, Travel Expenses & Meal Plan- Deadline to Apply Wednesday, 1/3/24 by 9am In special partnership with The Leadership... https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137287/guest@my.umbc.edu/cceadb439262dab0a5755b14e1f0cca6/api/pixel Career Center https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/careers https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xsmall.png?1411655278 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/original.jpg?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xxlarge.png?1411655278 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xlarge.png?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/large.png?1411655278 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/medium.png?1411655278 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/small.png?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xsmall.png?1411655278 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/018/729f2c7eeeab66f50f4ab3677539a585/xxsmall.png?1411655278 Career Center https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/287/11644f3e4a5524272ec67ee35d5c6226/xxlarge.jpg?1701009357 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/287/11644f3e4a5524272ec67ee35d5c6226/xlarge.jpg?1701009357 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/287/11644f3e4a5524272ec67ee35d5c6226/large.jpg?1701009357 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/287/11644f3e4a5524272ec67ee35d5c6226/medium.jpg?1701009357 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/287/11644f3e4a5524272ec67ee35d5c6226/small.jpg?1701009357 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/287/11644f3e4a5524272ec67ee35d5c6226/xsmall.jpg?1701009357 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/137/287/11644f3e4a5524272ec67ee35d5c6226/xxsmall.jpg?1701009357 1 0 true Sun, 26 Nov 2023 09:37:00 -0500 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 20:53:59 -0500 CMSC Alum and CyberDawg wins Marine Corps Marathon 50K CMSC Alum and CyberDawg wins Marine Corps Marathon



CMSC Alum and former CyberDawg, Anna Staats '21 crushes the 48th Marine Corps Marathon 50K, claiming victory in a remarkable time of 03:35:56!






]]> CMSC Alum and former CyberDawg, Anna Staats '21 crushes the 48th Marine Corps Marathon 50K, claiming victory in a remarkable time of 03:35:56! https://wtop.com/dc/2023/10/runners-take-on-48th-annual-marine-corps-marathon/ https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137240/guest@my.umbc.edu/36dd49e19a46b7219c20ad779a3b6e2b/api/pixel cmsc cyberdawg marinecorpsmarathon runwiththemarines usmc Computer Science and Electrical Engineering https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/csee https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/original.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/large.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/medium.png?1314043393 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/small.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxsmall.png?1314043393 Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 3 1 true Tue, 21 Nov 2023 11:51:35 -0500 Fri, 24 Nov 2023 12:04:54 -0500 Talks on cybersecurity and transportation 8-9am ET Tue 11/28 Part of the INCS-CoE Expert Community Seminar series

INCS-CoE Expert Community Seminar on Cybersecurity Issues in Transportation

8-9:00 am ET Tuesday, 28 November 2023 via Zoom

Host: Dr. Karl V. Steiner, UMBC VP for Research & Creative Achievement

GraphCAN: Graph-Based Controller Area Network Security

Dr. Riadul Islam, UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA

Vulnerabilities and security threats associated with the widely adopted vehicular Controller Area Network (CAN) will be examined. Novel techniques for the creation of graphs from CAN data will be introduced. Subsequently, various methods, encompassing statistical analyses, machine learning algorithms, and graph neural network approaches, will be presented as potential means to enhance the security of CAN networks. Furthermore, the challenges related to processing extensive sensor data within a stringent timing budget will be addressed, emphasizing the significance of implementing intrusion detection algorithms on edge devices with a focus on cost-effectiveness.

Advancing Cyber-Resilience in the Age of Autonomous Vehicles

Dr. Rolando Martins, University of Porto, Portugal

The adoption of autonomous vehicles requires shifting cyber-physical infrastructures. They are high-value targets, and while Zero Trust is vital, it is insufficient against modern cyber threats. The traditional firewall-based "fortress" approach falls short against advanced adversaries. This situation has reignited interest in Intrusion Tolerance, underutilized since the '90s due to its complexity. We will showcase work at the UP Cybersecurity and Privacy Centre (C3P)'s on cybersecurity, focusing on autonomous vehicles.

From Skyjacking to Carjacking: Challenges and Opportunities in Securing Modern Navigation Technologies

Dr. Aanjhan Ranganathan, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

Modern transportation systems rely heavily on accurate positioning and navigation technologies, which have become increasingly vulnerable to security threats. In this talk, we will explore the security challenges associated with secure positioning and navigation in modern vehicles, including the impact of GPS spoofing on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the security problems of instrument landing systems used in aviation as one of the primary means of navigation aid for landing. We will also discuss the security problems of automotive radar, where we will show how easily radio frequency radar signals can be manipulated to fake distances and velocities, compromising the safety of the vehicle and passengers. We will see how even with cryptographic primitives, the challenges to securing positioning, navigation, and timing technologies is no trivial task. The talk will aim to highlight the fundamental limits that exist in securing current technologies and a call for designing secure alternatives.

]]> INCS-CoE Expert Community Seminar on Cybersecurity Issues in Transportation 8-9:00 am ET Tuesday, 28 November 2023 via Zoom Host: Dr. Karl V. Steiner, UMBC VP for Research & Creative... https://incs-coe.org/research/ https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/137241/guest@my.umbc.edu/41c26721bacf27fc7e21bb3b37516064/api/pixel cybersecurity incs-coe transportation Computer Science and Electrical Engineering https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/csee https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/original.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xlarge.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/large.png?1314043393 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/medium.png?1314043393 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/small.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xsmall.png?1314043393 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/099/d117dca133c64bf78a4b7696dd007189/xxsmall.png?1314043393 Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 0 0 true Tue, 21 Nov 2023 11:49:03 -0500 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 11:50:35 -0500 Intern of the Week: Adrien Baumert Check out Adrien's internship!
Name: Adrien Baumert

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Summer 2023

Major: Computer Science

Current Class Level: Sophomore

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship 

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Johns Hopkins University

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD

Title of position: Software Engineering Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities: 
I work on a healthcare provider centric web application. We provide tools which interface with the Epic healthcare provider database. Day-to-day I work on anything from bug fixes to new features. Recently, I completed a user feedback form which completed the development life cycle and was pushed to production. I am currently wrapping up a dynamic menu system which displays tools based on user permissions. Along with writing code, I typically meet/chat with manager/coworker as needed about tasks. I also participated in a daily scrum where all team members discuss the tasks they completed for the day.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I found the position through a Google Jobs listing. I heard/submitted my application Spring 2022. I interviewed shortly thereafter. Hopkins was very transparent and my manager was extremely helpful throughout the process.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?
LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
The most enjoyable part of my position/organization are the wonderful team, flexible hours, and impact of my development. My manager and coworkers are all extremely kind and always there if I need help. Along with this my hours are flexible enough where, when extended an offer to extend my internship into the school year, I was able to excitedly accept. I also feel that there is a positive impact of my work given that it is directly improving the lives of healthcare professionals.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Apply to positions as early into your academic career as possible. I interviewed during freshman year and interned the summer after. I know how stressful it is to get the ball rolling but can also personally attest to how rewarding/beneficial it was.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
The experience I have gained is invaluable and I have nothing but thanks to my manager as well as Hopkins for the opportunity!
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