National Science Foundation awards two

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected two SUNY Poly Professors to receive funding and support for their ongoing research.

Dr. Firas Khasawneh, SUNY Poly Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded $196,000 for research related to finding ways to use high-level mathematics to make data analysis more reliable, and Dr. Roopa Vishwanathan, SUNY Poly Assistant Professor of Computer Science, will receive $175,000 for research related to automating proof construction and verification techniques for a new family of cryptosystems called “attribute-based cryptosystems,” which are comprised of attribute-based encryption and signatures that are useful in situations where a computer user must possess the right credentials and anonymity is required to protect privacy.

“These National Science Foundation awards are further testament to the success of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s innovation-centered ecosystem in New York State, and SUNY Poly is proud to play a primary role in enabling state-of-the-art research by its world-class faculty as a platform for catalyzing unprecedented research and educational opportunities across the state,” said Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, President and CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. “We are honored that the work of Drs. Vishwanathan and Khasawneh is being recognized for its potential to advance current understanding in the areas of mechanical engineering and computer science.”

“This funding recognizes the importance of the research being done by both Dr. Khasawneh and Dr. Vishwanathan, and all of us at SUNY Poly offer our heartiest congratulations on this achievement as it aligns perfectly with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s high-tech educational paradigm for New York State,” said Dr. Robert Geer, Senior Vice President and COO of SUNY Poly. “Our faculty is second to none in their commitment to excellence as they continue to innovate in the classroom and laboratory, providing a top tier educational environment for our students to gain the skills they need to thrive in the growing number of New York State’s 21^st Century careers.”

“I am proud that the research conducted by Drs. Vishwanathan and Khasawneh has received validation through significant grant awards of the National Science Foundation,” said Dr. William Durgin, SUNY Poly Provost. “This is a wonderful example of the outstanding work conducted by our faculty, and I know I am joined by all of our colleagues in congratulating them both.”

Dr. Firas Khasawneh

The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Firas Khasawneh $196,000 for his project, “Collaborative Research: A Unified Framework for the Investigation of Time Series Using Topological Data Analysis.” Under the direction of Dr. Khasawneh, the research aims to advance the frontiers of data analysis in three important fields: time series analysis, which involves using several methods to analyze data over time in order to obtain valuable information that can be used to predict future outcomes; dynamical systems, or mathematical models that can explain physical movement, for example; and applied topology, which is a branch of mathematics that investigates the shape of data. The findings of his research will lay the foundation for improving current analytical tools and advance understanding in a number of applications related to both science and engineering.

“I am excited about the opportunity presented by this National Science Foundation award which will not only enable a greater ability to analyze complex data, but also empower graduate and undergraduate students who will take part in this critical research and pursue careers in the exciting, STEM-centered fields,” said Dr. Khasawneh. “Currently, intensive user expertise and input are essential for analyzing the data of dynamical systems. This makes the process of data analysis more of an art than a science and, consequently, more prone to errors. This proposal will help us investigate how to leverage high-level mathematics to make the process of data analysis more systematic and reliable.”

Dr. Roopa Vishwanathan

Dr. Roopa Vishwanathan has been awarded $175,000 from the NSF for her project, “CRII: SaTC: Automated Proof Construction and Verification for Attribute-based Cryptography,” which will lead to the design and development of a comprehensive framework that can extend the current protocols which are utilized by computers around the world to maintain security for a variety of critical systems, such as for encrypted communications. By advancing this area of attribute-based cryptography, Dr. Vishwanathan and her team aim to take existing encryption tools to the next level, and will also explore cryptographic protocols in high-level languages such as C or Java. Additionally, this research will support educational opportunities for SUNY Poly students who will be able to work on advanced areas of cryptography to develop in-demand industry skills.

“I’m thrilled to receive this award, and I am thankful to the NSF for this support,” said Dr. Vishwanathan. “This project will help me build on my prior work in theoretical cryptography and enable me to work on an exciting new area in crypto: attribute-based cryptography.”

“Drs. Khasawneh and Vishwanathan’s success in obtaining NSF funding is an indication of the emphasis placed by SUNY Poly’s College of Engineering on hiring faculty who are teachers, researchers, and at the top of their game,” said Dr. Andrew Wolfe, Interim Dean of the College of Engineering. “I am confident that this is just the beginning of the recognition of the unmatched research being conducted at SUNY Poly’s College of Engineering, and we are thrilled that it will simultaneously enhance SUNY Poly’s educational offerings for students who are interested in pursuing the exciting possibilities that are available to them in these fields.”