Page Contents
Advisors
Dr. Sahra Sedigh Sarvestani
Associate Professor – Electrical & Computer Engineering, Computer Science (Courtesy)
Dr. Ali Hurson
Professor – Electrical & Computer Engineering
Current Members
Ph.D. Students
Sanfan Liu
Computer Engineering, GAANN Fellow
Project: Quantitative Dependability Analysis of Cyber-Physical Systems
Graduating: May 2026
Justin King
Computer Engineering, GAANN Fellow
Project: Cybersecurity and Survivability Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles Under Cyber Attack
Graduating: December 2025
Sara McDaniel
Electrical Engineering, GAANN Fellow
Project: Lightwave Technology Lab (LTL) Research
Graduating: May 2027
Alex Hook
Electrical Engineering, GAANN Fellow
Project: Microwave Sensing (µSense) Laboratory Research
Graduating: May 2028
M.S. Students
Jeremy Thomas
Computer Engineering
Project: Distributed Analysis and Prediction of Vehicular Traffic
Graduating: December 2025
Jojo Afful
Electrical Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Quantitative Dependability Analysis of Cyber-Physical Systems
Graduating: December 2025
Mitchell Skaggs
Computer Engineering
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduating: December 2024
B.S. Students
Peyton Odum
Electrical Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Design of a Low-Cost, High Performance RF Switch
Graduating: May 2026
Xavier Forte
Electrical Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Patch Antenna Dielectric and Thickness Investigation
Graduating: May 2025
Natasha Cox
Computer Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Sandia Parametric Response Integrated Test Environment (SPRITE)
Graduating: May 2025
Jacob Byers
Computer Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Power Electronics
Graduating: May 2025
Charles Hunn
Electrical Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Patch Antenna Dielectric and Thickness Investigation
Graduating: May 2025
Austin Beckerdite
Computer Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduating: May 2025
Aaron Yocom
Computer Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduating: December 2025
Joseph Stecher
Electrical Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Tampering Research and Material Characterization of Liquid using Strip Lines
Graduating: May 2024
Sydney Clark
Computer Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Cybersecurity and Survivability Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles Under Cyber Attack
Graduating: May 2024
Past Members
Ph.D. Students
Natasha Jarus
Computer Engineering – GAANN Fellow
Doctoral Dissertation: “Instrumentation, Modeling, and Sound Metal-Modeling Foundations for Complex Hybrid Systems”
Graduated: December 2021
First Employed By: ngrok
Mark Woodard
Computer Engineering – GAANN Fellow, CpE Department Fellow
Doctoral Dissertation: “Survivability Modeling for Cyber-Physical Systems Subject to Data Corruption”
Graduated: May 2017
First Employed By: Sandia National Laboratories
Koosha Marashi
Computer Engineering – UTC Fellow
Doctoral Dissertation: “Quantitative Dependability and Interdependency Models for Large-Scale Cyber-Physical Systems”
Graduated: May 2017
First Employed By: Romeo Power
Shaun Wagner
Computer Science
Doctoral Dissertation: “Using Outcome-Based Dynamic Nearest-Neighbor Recommendation Algorithms to Improve Search Engine Efficacy”
Graduated: December 2014
First Employed By: Medical University of South Carolina
Pratik Maheshwari
Computer Engineering
Doctoral Dissertation: “Emission Source Microscopy for Electromagnetic Interference Source Localization”
Graduated: August 2014
First Employed By: Apple
Jing Lin
Computer Engineering
Doctoral Dissertation: “Agent-Based Analysis and Mitigation of Failure for Cyber-Physical Systems”
Graduated: August 2011
First Employed By: Cisco Systems
Ayman Faza
Computer Engineering – Fulbright Fellow, UTC Fellow
Doctoral Dissertation: “A Case Study in Quantitative Analysis of Cyber-Physical Systems: Reliability of the Smart Grid”
Graduated: December 2010
First Employed By: Princess Sumaya University of Technology
M.S. Students
Joel Schott
Computer Science
Master’s Thesis: “Automated Generation of Malware Metadata Signatures”
Graduated: May 2024
First Employed By: Sandia National Laboratories
Arianna Chaves
Computer Engineering, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Master’s Thesis: “The Graduation Walk: Pareto Optimization of Degree Paths”
Graduated: May 2024
First Employed By: Garmin
Danilo Pejovic
Computer Engineering
Project: Distributed Analysis and Prediction of Vehicular Traffic
Graduated: May 2024: University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Bikis Muhammed
Computer Science
Master’s Thesis: “A GAT-BiLSTMA Model for Weather-Aware Prediction of Traffic Speed”
Graduated: December 2023
First Employed By: Ameren
Colton Walker
Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Master’s Thesis: “Learn from the Past: Using Peer Data to Improve Course Recommendations in Personalized Education”
Graduated: December 2023
First Employed By: NBH Bank
Curtis Brinker
Computer Science
Project: Cybersecurity and Survivability Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles Under Cyber Attack
Graduated: May 2023
First Employed By: Sandia National Laboratories
Nicolas Dobbins
Computer Engineering
Master’s Thesis: “Personalizing Student Graduation Paths Using Expressed Student Interests”
Graduated: May 2022
First Employed By: Ameren
Tyler Morrow
Computer Science – GAANN Fellow
Master’s Thesis: “Personalizing Education with Algorithmic Course Selection”
Graduated: May 2017
First Employed By: Sandia National Laboratories
Erik Burgdorf
Computer Engineering
Master’s Thesis: Predicting the Impact of Data Corruption on the Operation of Cyber-Physical Systems
Graduated: August 2017
Antonio Sabatini
Computer Engineering
Master’s Thesis: “Software-Based Instrumentation for Analysis of Electrostatic Discharge Effects”
Graduated: May 2014
First Employed By: Boeing
Murtadha Albsrawi
Computer Engineering – Fellowship from the Government of Iraq
Master’s Thesis: “Quantitative Modeling of Reliability and Survivability for Cyber-Physical Power Systems”
Graduated: May 2014
Kamlesh Joshi
Electrical Engineering
Master’s Thesis: “Analysis and Modeling of Resilience for Networked Systems”
Graduated: December 2013
First Employed By: Black and Veatch
Arun Gunasekaran
Computer Engineering
Master’s Thesis: “Increasing interoperability and coverage of automated monitoring and detection systems”
Graduated: December 2012
First Employed By: Tesla Motors
Pratik Shah
Computer Engineering/Electrical Engineering
Master’s Thesis: “Maximum Likelihood Fusion for Detection of lED Precursors using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy“
Graduated: December 2010
First Employed By: Harman Kardon
Tyler Harms
Computer Engineering – Chancellor’s Fellow
Master’s Thesis: “Zigbee-Enabled Structural Health Monitoring Using the SmartBrick System”
Graduated: May 2009
First Employed By: Garmin
John Koch
Computer Engineering – DoD SMART Fellow
Master’s Thesis: “A Hybrid Sensor Network for Watershed Monitoring”
Graduated: May 2008
First Employed By: US Navy
Thomas Freiberger
Computer Engineering – Chancellor’s Fellow
Master’s Thesis: “Hybrid Sensor Networks for Hydrological Monitoring”
Graduated: May 2007
First Employed By: MYNAH Technologies
Sandeep Kunchum
Computer Engineering
Master’s Thesis: “A Network Infrastructure for Real-Time Monitoring of Campus Energy Consumption”
Graduated: December 2007
First Employed By: Sprint
Ayman Faza
Computer Engineering – Fulbright Fellow, UTC Fellow
Master’s Thesis: “Reliability Modeling for the Advanced Electric Power Grid”
Graduated: December 2007
First Employed By: Princess Sumaya University of Technology
Valerio Plessi
Computer Engineering – UTC Fellow
Master’s Thesis: “The Flood Frog: An Autonomous Wireless Device for Flood Detection and Monitoring”
Graduated: December 2006
First Employed By: Cisco Systems
B.S. Students
Seth Sievers
Computer Engineering, Dean’s Undergraduate Research Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduating: May 2025
Joshua Perkins
Computer Engineering
Project: Cybersecurity and Survivability Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles Under Cyber Attack
Graduating: May 2025
Ian Hoffman
Computer Engineering
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2024
Owen Miller-Fast
Computer Science, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Cybersecurity and Survivability Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles Under Cyber Attack
Graduated: December 2023
Jake Mason
Computer Science and Mathematics, NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Quantitative Dependability Analysis of Cyber-Physical Systems
Graduated: May 2023
Elanor Jackson
Computer Engineering – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Cybersecurity and Survivability Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles Under Cyber Attack
Graduated: May 2022
First Employed By: Boeing
Thomas Gleiforst
Computer Engineering – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduated: May 2021
Hans Hernandez
Computer Engineering – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduated: May 2021
Hayden Dixon
Computer Engineering and Computer Science – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduated: May 2021
First Employed By: Garmin
Evan Hite
Computer Engineering – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2021
First Employed By: Sandia National Laboratories
Connor Jones
Computer Engineering – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2021
Áva Klingbeil
Computer Science
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: May 2019
Madison Childress
Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: May 2019
Alex Schriewer
Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering – OURE Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Graduated: May 2019
Jaxon Johnson
Computer Engineering
Project: Cyber-Physical System Model Transformation
Graduated: December 2019
Riley Maersch
Computer Engineering
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2019
Melanie Bruce
Computer Engineering
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2019
Johnathan Dunker
Computer Engineering
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2019
Gabriel Krukowski
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2017
First Employed By: McEnery Automation
Andrea Miller
Computer Engineering
Project: Quantitative Dependability Analysis of Cyber-Physical Systems
Graduated: May 2014
First Employed By: Sandia National Laboratories
Neil Patel
Computer Engineering and Computer Science – OURE Scholar
Project:The SmartBrick Wireless Sensor Platform for High-Resolution Structural Health Monitoring
Graduated: May 2013
Natasha Jarus
Computer Science – OURE Scholar
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Graduated: December 2013
David Lecko
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Graduated: May 2012
First Employed By: Accenture
Shawn Cross
Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Project: The SmartBrick Wireless Sensor Platform for High-Resolution Structural Health Monitoring
Graduated: May 2012
Peter Nicholas Chulick
Computer Engineering
Project: The SmartBrick Wireless Sensor Platform for High-Resolution Structural Health Monitoring
Graduated: May 2011
Michael Wyatt
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Graduated: December 2010
Anthony Lambropoulos
Computer Engineering
Project: The SmartBrick Wireless Sensor Platform for High-Resolution Structural Health Monitoring
Graduated: December 2010
Phillip Ponzer
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Project: A Hybrid Monitoring Network For Hydrological Environments
Graduated: May 2009
Zac Bourque
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Projects: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
The SmartBrick Wireless Sensor Platform for High-Resolution Structural Health Monitoring
Graduated: May 2009
John Koch
Computer Engineering and Computer Science – OURE Scholar
Project:A Hybrid Monitoring Network For Hydrological Environments
Graduated: May 2007
First Employed By: US Navy
Nicholas Grither
Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering – OURE Fellow
Project: Embedded System Support for Canine Mine Detection
Graduated: December 2007
Randall Bilbrey
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Graduated: May 2006
Todd Acinelli
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Graduated: December 2006
First Employed By: Garmin
Matthew Gann
Computer Engineering – OURE Scholar
Graduated: December 2005
Michael Ellebrecht
Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering – OURE Scholar
Graduated: December 2005
First Employed By: Garmin
Karl Frank
Computer Science – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Distributed Analysis and Prediction of Vehicular Traffic
Nicolas Dobbins
Computer Engineering
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
First Employed By: Ameren
Antonio Kotoni
Computer Science – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Pervasive Cyberinfrastructure for Personalized eLearning and Instructional Support (PERCEPOLIS)
Austin Potter
Computer Engineering
Project: Software-Based Analysis of the Immunity of Embedded Systems to ESD
Ryan Brothers
Computer Science – NSF S-STEM Scholar
Project: Cybersecurity and Survivability Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles Under Cyber Attack