Not Actively Looking to hire any international PhD students for Spring or Fall 2027.
My current prioritized research areas are as follows:
Trustworthy AI/GenAI/XAI for Security: Applying trustworthy, interpretable, and explainable Machine Learning (ML)/Deep Learning (DL)/Generative AI in security domains to enhance the trust, transparency, reliability, and usability of existing and future cybersecurity and cyber defense systems through designing robust and intelligent systems for reliable cybersecurity decision-making.
Web Application Security: Design web Browser-based defense tools/frameworks/mechanisms against web application/website targeted threats (e.g., DNS Spoofing, Phishing, Malware Downloaders). Also, investivate threats associated with browser fingerprinting.
Human Machine Intelligence in Security: Enhance the XAI’s (eXplainable Artificial Intelligence) usability (e.g., perceived understanding) for AI assisted cybersecurity systems. Moreover, analyze the effectiveness of current human-centric defenses against web/email/mobile-based attacks and how to make future AI based systems more effective and trustworthy for automated reliable actions.
AI Security: We are interested in answering questions like "How to enable security and trustworthiness of XAI models against various attacks (e.g., poisoning, injection)?" or "How to defend against adversarial attacks against LLMs/LLM-based applications?".
Links for details information about the university, program, and Cookeville, TN:
# PhD Program requirements: PhD Program Handbook
# PhD Application and Deadlines: PhD Program- How to Apply
# MS Program requirements: MS in Computer Science - Program Related Info
# Graduate Assistantships in CS: Graduate Assistantships in Computer Science
# CyberCorps: SFS program (Master's/PhD) for US citizens/lawful permanent residents: Tennessee CyberCorps SFS @TenTech [If you are eligible and interested to work for federal government on cybersecurity after graduation, this program is recommended for you]
# About Tennessee Tech: Tennessee Tech ranking, Facts and Figures, Fun Facts and Activities
# Living in Cookeville, TN: Why live in Cookeville [!!!Low Living Cost!!!]
If you are interested in joining my research group and contributing to our exciting research, I would encourage you to reach out at mpritom@tntech.edu with your detailed resume/CV, Google Scholar link (if any), GitHub link (or any other repo if available), official/unofficial transcripts, and GRE & TOEFL/IELTS scores. While emailing please use "Prospective <PhD, MS, BS> Student at ReACT Lab for <Semester> <YEAR>" in the email subject line.
Lastly, If you have any related questions/queries or have your own exciting idea that aligns with the greater umbrella of cybersecurity and trustworthy/explainable AI, please send me an email to set up a meeting and discuss further. Best wishes!