LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech University recently announced the U.S. Department of Defense would give a $2.5 million grant to help fund research against cybersecurity attacks.
Dr. Stephen Bayne, Executive Director of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Security at Texas Tech, said this is a collaborative effort with two other Texas Universities: the University of Texas at San Antonio and Angelo State University.
According to a press release, the “Research and Workforce Development in the Area of Cybersecurity” project will consider various aspects of cybersecurity research.
Adidas, Texas Tech reveal new football uniforms with Patrick Mahomes logo The program is made up of a multidisciplinary team of cybersecurity experts that include Dr. Bayne, Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives, Ranadip Pal, with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; associate Professor Abdul Serwadda and Assistant Professor Tommy Dang with the Department of Computer Science; and Argenis Bilbao, senior director of the Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management and Manufacturing (GLEAMM).
The group will also allow electrical engineering and computer science engineers to assist with the research.
“The Army research lab is our partner, so the students are going to get to work up there for summer or fall or spring semester… they’re gonna get to really understand [and] see what’s going on in research,” Dr. Bayne said.
The Army research lab has multiple government labs, but Dr. Bayne said students will have the opportunity to work at the Adelphi Laboratory Center in Adelphi, Maryland.
The team will study industries that have seemed the most vulnerable in recent cyber attacks.
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Dr. Bayne said the systems are not the only thing they will study, but prevention and education for the public and how we can prevent attacks ourselves.
“They got to click on something, it’s only natural, but what’s behind that click to protect it? So that’s something we are looking at,” Dr. Bayne said.
Kristina Butts, Vice Chancellor of governmental relations for the Texas Tech University system, was part of a team who helped in getting the funds through Congress to Texas Tech, arguing they assessed the needs at a state and federal level and that Texas Tech can help provide solutions to the ongoing threat of cybersecurity attacks.
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Dr. Bayne said research has already begun and he is looking forward to sharing the findings.
“I’m excited to see what the faculty, students, and staff here at Texas Tech are doing for cyber,” Dr. Bayne said. “I’m also happy to see that the state is investing so much money to protect us … you’re not just sitting waiting, we’re trying to be more proactive.”
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