The following are major faculty research projects supported by Cyber-CREWS. If you are a U.S. Citizen enrolled at UNT who is interested in collaborating on one of these projects, please contact the lead researcher for more information.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as Teammates for Cybersecurity Data Science: Achieving Cyber Threat Intelligence through Collaborative Information Behavior

Lead Researcher: Dr. Hsia-Ching Carrie Chang

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) as Teammates for Cybersecurity Data Science project aims to address gaps in cybersecurity data science (CDS), particularly in data management, cross-domain collaboration, and scientific methodology. This project focuses on collaborative efforts between individuals, specifically early career academic members and students, to understand how human-AI interaction influences the collaborative search, retrieval, use, and sharing of threat information in the context of cyber threat intelligence (CTI). Using ethnographic decision tree modeling (EDTM), the study will explore the decision criteria at key points in the CTI cycle, investigating how human-AI teams make decisions in cybersecurity data science.

 

EAGLE'S EYE: Effective Agents for Vulnerability Detection and Visualization in Critical Cyberinfrastructure Protection

Lead Researchers: Dr. Gahangir Hossain and Dr. Suliman Hawamdeh

The EAGLE'S EYE project aims to examine suitable cognitive models for automatically monitoring vulnerabilities in critical cyberinfrastructures. This project seeks to experiment with cognitive cybersecurity models to predict and respond to emerging cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. It aims to bring forth an effective prediction model and visualization solution that can collect and present real-time data from various sources of cyberinfrastructure at minimal energy, memory, and time costs.

 

Cognitive CyTutor: Development of Intelligent Cybersecurity Training System in Re-Skilling or Up-Skilling Cybersecurity Knowledge

Lead Researchers: Dr. Gahangir Hossain and Dr. Kinshuk

The CyTutor project focuses on integrating intelligent tutoring systems suitable for cybersecurity training, emphasizing hands-on experience, team skill development, and real-life fidelity. Leveraging various ITSs such as AutoTutor, MetaTutor, Deep Tutor, and Virtual Reality-based tutor, the project aims to link active learning with information systems, web-based projects, and cybersecurity courses. This project will support flexible, individualized learning, allowing students to take skill tests, search for courses, and rebuild necessary skills for cyber challenges.

 

ACTOR: Anticipating Cyber Threats in Organizations

Lead Researcher: Dr. Tozammel Hossain

The project focuses on anticipating cyber threats by understanding the stages leading to an attack through mining digital traces left by cyber actors during target selection, identification of vulnerabilities, acquisition of exploits, and communication with other actors. The project will develop an end-to-end prototype for forecasting emerging cyber threats, employing machine learning methods for time series prediction based on historical data. The models will capture patterns in historical data to enhance predictions of new cyber-attacks. Additionally, external web data sources will be leveraged to improve prediction accuracy.

 

Blockchain for Cybersecurity: Improving Accessibility and Inclusivity for Minority Communities

Lead Researcher: Dr. Brady Lund

The continuous evolution of technology has heightened cybersecurity threats, necessitating secure methods for data storage and management. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized and transparent attributes, holds promise for revolutionizing cybersecurity. However, challenges persist, particularly in ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for minority communities. The Blockchain for Cybersecurity projects seeks to address these challenges by understanding the cultural and linguistic needs of minority communities and devising culturally responsive strategies for implementing blockchain technology in cybersecurity.