2026 Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): NSF ETAP Opportunity
| Position Information |
|---|
| Company: Tennessee Technological University |
| Department:Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Location: Cookeville, TN |
| Company Contact: Mohamed Mahmoud |
| Company Contact Email: mmahmoud@tntech.edu |
Inspired by recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications (e.g., 5G cellular networks), sensing technologies, and computing, the concept of smart systems, such as smart power grids and smart healthcare, has emerged with the goal of enhancing our daily lives. These systems aim to revolutionize the services offered, but they also introduce security and privacy challenges. The proposed REU site offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in Research and Development (R&D) activities focused on cybersecurity solutions that leverage AI for smart systems. Participants will gain knowledge in various areas, including cryptography, deep learning, federated and reinforcement learning, graph-based anomaly detection, and hardware attack countermeasures.
The Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is focused on cybersecurity solutions leveraging Artificial Intelligence for smart systems. Duration is May 2026–July 2026.
Topic Areas
- Secure AI-assisted Medical Diagnosis for Smart Healthcare Systems
- Secure Communication Schemes for Smart Power Grid
- Hardware Intrinsic Security Threats in IoTs
- Security Vulnerabilities in Machine Learning models
- Anomaly Detection using Graph Streams to Protect Cyber Networks
- Leveraging the Power of Data to Analyze and Detect Cyberattacks on IoT Systems
Project Objectives
- Opportunities to conduct cybersecurity-related research and gain valuable experience in topics of national interest
- Allow interns to self-assess their interest in cybersecurity and graduate studies
- Learn advanced subjects such as machine learning, cryptography, deep learning, federated and reinforcement learning, graph-based anomaly detection, and hardware attack countermeasures
Activities
- Cybersecurity-related research and short courses
- Short course on Deep Learning Deployment in Hardware
- Preparation of research papers and posters
- Hands-on training with real equipment
- GRE and NSF GRFP preparation
Eligibility Requirements
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Electrical engineering, computer/software engineering, computer science or any other related disciplines
- Must graduate after September 2026
Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 24, 2026