Cyber Security Engineering faculty members, recognized as the best in their fields, conduct valuable research. Their funding sources include a variety of federal agencies, as well as grants from business and industry.
2025
Threat hunting enhanced by generative AI (LLMs)
Associate Professor Mohamed Gebril was awarded funding for the project: "Threat Hunting Enhanced by Generative AI (LLMs)." This research explores how generative AI and large language models (LLMs) can enhance threat-hunting capabilities, improving the detection, analysis, and mitigation of advanced cybersecurity threats. Gebril's work aims to bridge the gap between AI innovation and practical cybersecurity applications.
The project is part of the Cyber Initiative's AI for Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity for AI program.
Automated threat-hunting system development learning program
Associate Professor Mohamed Gebril received funding for the project: "Automated Threat Hunting System Development Learning Program." This project focuses on creating an automated threat-hunting system to enhance cybersecurity education and workforce development. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and experiential learning, Gebril aims to equip participants with the skills necessary to tackle modern cybersecurity challenges effectively.
Gebril received funding under the 2024 Experiential Learning Program for this research.
Secure, privacy-conscious threat detection research
Assistant Professor Zhuangdi Zhu received funding for the project: "Secure, Privacy-Conscious Threat Detection." This research focuses on developing advanced methods for detecting cybersecurity threats while ensuring the privacy of sensitive data. Zhu's work aims to design innovative, privacy-preserving solutions that enhance threat detection without compromising user confidentiality.
The project is part of the Cyber Initiative's AI for Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity for AI program.
2024
NTIA Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund
Assistant Professor Vijay Shah and ECE Professor Kai Zeng received a grant for their project on AI-assisted efficient testing methods for 5G radio access networks. This project focuses on the research and development of AI-assisted methods for the testing of O-RAN's radio units (RU), distributed units (DU), and central units (CU) in terms of their interoperability, performance, and security. Specifically, it aims to design an AI-based testing software framework that can facilitate and automate the 5G O-RAN testing process.
Securing chipset-based semiconductor manufacturing from untrusted supply chains
Md Tanvir Arafin, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity Engineering, received funding for the project: "Securing Chiplet-based Semiconductor Manufacturing from Untrusted Supply Chains." In this project, Arafin and his group will design provable trust embedding techniques for counterfeit chiplet detection.
Awarded Amount: $50,000
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Cybersecurity testing framework for 5G Radio Access Networks
Vijay K. Shah received funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Wireless Innovation Fund on O-RAN Testing R&D award to build a comprehensive cybersecurity testing framework for 5G Radio Access Networks.
Award Amount: $480K
AI-assisted testing methods and AI-based testing software framework fro 5G O-RAN
Vijay K. Shah and Kai Zeng received funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Wireless Innovation Fund. The project aims to formulate AI-assisted testing methods for 5G O-RAN components (i.e., RU, DU, and CU) and design an AI-based testing software framework to automate broader 5G Open RAN testing.
Award Amount: $700K
Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority
Vijay K. Shah received funding from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority for Fingerprinting Technology for Enhancing 5G/NextG O-RAN Supply Chain Risk.
Award Amount: $49,993
2023
National Science Foundation (NSF)
mmWave Communications
Vijay K. Shah, Kai Zeng, and Parth Pathak received funding from the National Science Foundation to secure mmWave communications with reconfigurable intelligence surfaces.
Award Amount: $800K
Distributed Space and Terrestrial Networking Infrastructure
Vijay K. Shah received funding from the National Science Foundation for Collaborative Research: Research Infrastructure: CCRI: New: Distributed Space and Terrestrial Networking Infrastructure for Multi-Constellation Coexistence.
Award Amount: $299,989
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
Vijay K. Shah and Parth Pathak received funding from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative for Open-Milli-IoT: An Open Programmable Platform for mmWave Wireless Internet of Things.
Award Amount: $50K
2022
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Robust Multi-Robot Systems in Dynamic Environments
Md Tanvir Arafin, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity Engineering, received funding for the project: "Collaborative Research: CISE-MSI: DP: CNS: An Edge-Based Approach to Robust Multi-Robot Systems in Dynamic Environments." Arafin and his group will work on integrating modern cryptographic and security primitives to secure collaboration among edge nodes in multi-robot systems.
Award Amount: $95,000
IUCRC for Planning Grant
Duminda Wijesekera Brian Mark, Parth Pathak, Vijay Shah, Kai Zeng received funding from NSF for IUCRC for Planning Grant George Mason University: Center for Wireless Innovation Towards Secure, Pervasive, Efficient and Resilient Next G Networks (WISPER).
Award Amount: $20,000
Context-Aware Spectrum Coexistence dEsign aNd implemenTation in Satellite Bands (ASCENT)
Vijay Shah received funding from the National Science Foundation for Collaborative Research: SWIFT: Context-Aware Spectrum Coexistence dEsign aNd implemenTation in Satellite Bands (ASCENT) National Science Foundation (NSF).
Award Amount: $184,500
Prototyping Artificial Intelligence Enabled Control and Testing Systems for Cellular Communications Research
Vijay Shah received funding from the National Science Foundation for "Collaborative research: CCRI: New: Open AI Cellular (OAIC): Prototyping Artificial Intelligence Enabled Control and Testing Systems for Cellular Communications Research."
Award Amount: $295,018
US Department of the Army
Vijay K Shah received funding from US Department of the Army for “5G Technology Platform for Military Base with a Resilient, Green, And Secure Electric Grid (5G-BASE).”
Award Amount: $10,000
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Vijay K. Shah received funding from the NIST under Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program (PSIAP) to design, prototype and demonstrate a highly precise 5G-based Indoor Positioning System (5G-IPS) that addresses three long-standing and difficult challenges in emergency environments (i) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and traditional global positioning system (GPS) do not work reliably in indoor setting, (ii) reliable communication infrastructure may not always be available, and (ii) accurate mapping and visualization of the building map may not be available.
Award Amount: $1.2M