Three G. Brint Ryan College of Business faculty have earned grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The follow-on funding awards from the DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions totaled more than $300,000. UNT was the only university to receive more than one follow-on funding award in this awards cycle.
Awardee: Michel Fathi
Award Total: $100,000
About the Research: Fathi and his team are working to improve the U.S. political asylum process by using artificial intelligence, game theory and queueing theory principles to create a decision framework that balances fairness and efficiency. The goal is to optimize resource allocation, address processing inefficiencies and anticipate policy changes, ultimately leading to a more humane, transparent and effective asylum system.
Impact Goal: “We hope this research will enhance the U.S. asylum process, making it more efficient and fairer while also bolstering transparency and public trust in the system,” Fathi says. “The research will provide evidence-based policy recommendations that balance humanitarian concerns and national interests, ultimately improving the lives of asylum seekers and the functioning of the immigration system.”
Awardee: Dan J. Kim
Award Total: $115,990
About the Research: As email phishing attacks evolve and become more sophisticated, they pose a significant threat to individuals’ and organizations’ sensitive information and critical infrastructure. Kim and his team of student researchers are working to develop a comprehensive framework for detecting fraudulent email content based on thematic dimensions of phishing techniques, which can help users identify and combat different types of email phishing attacks. The main objectives include developing a multi-dimensional framework of phishing techniques, ranking the severity of phishing techniques, assessing the proposed model using two different sets of phishing datasets and suggesting customized strategies.
Impact Goal: “We hope this research can be used in the future to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity posture by enhancing security against phishing attacks and contributing to more secure and resilient homeland security,” Kim says. “This work also will provide valuable research opportunities and interdisciplinary learning experiences in cybersecurity and related fields for our students, giving them a real-world understanding of the challenges facing individuals and organizations in today’s increasingly digitized world.”
Awardee: Dipakkumar Pravin
Award Total: $99,979
About the Research: Pravin and his team are using machine learning to map information from cybersecurity frameworks to one another. They’ll also work to enhance a standard for a digital credentialing system so an individual can use it as a universal system for proving their credentials, such as a degree, certificate or work experience.
Impact Goal: “The immediate use of this research will provide standardized cybersecurity job descriptions that people understand based on their own education and experience,” Pravin says.