RMU MS Cybersecurity students Peyton Lutchkus and Chloe Dzuba presented posters on their cybersecurity team projects at the national INSuRE (Information Security Research and Education) cybersecurity showcase event held at the Rayburn House Office building in Washington DC on December 3, 2025. Their projects and presentations were supervised by Dr. Ping Wang.
Congratulations, Peyton and Chloe!
The CIS Department has organized a workshop for RMU students at the National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA) in Pittsburgh. The workshop will focus on areas of interest to cybersecurity students, but all computing students are welcome to attend. However, the event will be limited to the first 20 students. Transportation to/from the event and a light lunch will be provided by the CIS department.
Cyber Workshop for RMU @ National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA)
Location: 2000 Technology Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Event Date: Wednesday, February 4th 2025
Event Time: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Agenda:
8:15 am Bus from Campus to NCFTA
9:00 am FBI Briefing on Current Events (unclassified) and Career Info
Aaron Hays, FBI Special Agent
9:45 am Industry CISO Panel
John O'Rourke, Chief Information Security Officer, PPG
Jim Mahony, Chief Information Security Officer, RMU
10:30 am Hands-On Cybersecurity Capture-the-Flag Exercise
11:30 am NCFTA Facility Tour including Malware Lab
12:00 am Lunch with:
Emily Kerry, Intelligence Analyst at NCFTA; RMU Class of 2024
1:00 pm Bus returns to Campus
Sign-up Below
If you are interested in attending this event, please fill out the application below and submit to indicate your interest.
Click here: Cyber Workshop Application
You will be notified in January if you have been selected to attend the event (limited to the first 20 students), and asked to confirm your attendance at that time. (If you have class on Wednesdays, you will need to miss class to attend this event on February 4th. You will have time to discuss with your professor(s) to ensure that this will be OK before confirming your attendance.)
The International Conference on Data-Processing and Networking
(ICDPN-2025) was held from November 7th – 8th. During the conference, the FUSION Awards 2025 celebrated trailblazers, thinkers, researchers, and change-makers who exemplify excellence in academia, industry, and innovation. This prestigious international platform recognizes collaborative brilliance, where ideas meet execution, research drives real-world impact, and cross-sector synergy accelerates global progress.
Dr. Parul Yadav, who won the International Educator of the Year Award, was recognized for her global educational leadership and cross-border impact. “I am delighted and humbled…the experience was truly enriching. The sessions offered valuable insights into emerging research, innovation, and collaborations happening across the globe. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with experts and educators from different countries”, said Dr. Yadav.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Yadav on her most recent accomplishment.
For more information on the awards and selection criteria, please click here to visit their website: 2025 ICDPN Fusion Awards
The Three Rivers Information Security Symposium (TRISS) is an annual, single-day event featuring multiple presentation tracks. It serves as a vital meeting ground for Pittsburgh’s leading IT and security professionals, enabling them to exchange knowledge and foster collaborative partnerships.
This symposium is an entirely volunteer-driven effort, dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging cooperation, and strengthening expertise within the regional information security sector.
TRISS is proudly sponsored and organized by a coalition of influential local organizations, such as:
Furthermore, the symposium shows its commitment to the future of the field by offering a robust education and scholarship program.
The conference attracts key experts and executives from major Pittsburgh institutions, including U.S. Steel, PNC, PPG, Wesco, UPMC, and others. A commitment to quality is upheld through a merit-based speaker selection process, guaranteeing a diverse and unbiased program.
This year, 30 students from RMU were in attendance! The symposium provided them with a truly great learning and networking opportunity, allowing them to immerse themselves in the latest industry trends, cutting-edge research, and practical defense strategies presented by leading security professionals.
TRISS 2025 was a fantastic success, underscoring the vital connection between local industry groups and the next generation of cybersecurity talent. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
This free and open event showcases cutting-edge robotics, automation, and AI solutions that are driving innovation across multiple industries.
From business leaders looking to innovate, to tech enthusiasts exploring the latest trends, to job seekers searching for emerging career opportunities, to those simply curious about how robotics and AI are reshaping our world – this event has something for everyone.
Be part of the action, engage with industry influencers, and witness firsthand the power of robotics and advanced technology in the heart of Western Pennsylvania. Your journey into the future starts here—mark your calendar and join the thousands attending Pittsburgh Robotics & AI Discovery Day!
For more information: Pittsburgh Robotics & AI Discovery Day
Need a ride? Fill out the form. If there is enough interest, RMU will provide transportation. Interest Form
The countdown is on! We are just two weeks away from Red Chair Pittsburgh’s 2025 Annual Event, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our incredible community of women in tech, allies, and changemakers.
This year’s theme, New Horizons: Empowering Women, Shaping What’s Next, is all about exploring bold ideas, sparking new connections, and celebrating the future we are building together.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
VIP Experience for deeper networking and meaningful conversations Dynamic Keynote to inspire innovation and growth Powerful Panel of bold voices sharing real-world strategies and stories A Room Full of Trailblazers ready to elevate one another
Date: October 23, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: UPMC Events Center
Seats are limited, and the countdown is ticking. Secure your ticket today before they’re gone!
Get Your Ticket Now
We are a 100% volunteer organization. Your donations (big or small), sponsorships, and ticket purchases directly support the opportunities we are able to offer to future candidates.
RMU has a limited number of discounted tickets available for students. Please contact Dr. Paullet (paullet@rmu.edu) for more details.
We hope to see you soon for an unforgettable evening of empowerment, connection, and celebration.
Dr. Jamie Pinchot received the Ben Bauman Award for Excellence at the International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS) 2025 Conference in Clearwater, FL, on October 3, 2025. (conference link here)
The Ben Bauman Award for Excellence honors faculty members who have demonstrated significant contributions and dedication to the field of information systems, including service to their university and community.
Dr. Pinchot was recognized during the ceremony as a distinguished academic who has taught at the university level for over 20 years with a teaching portfolio that spans undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses. Her scholarly research has focused on the areas of information privacy and security, mobile technologies, social media and online human behavior, and human-centered design in software development. Further, she has chaired 15 doctoral dissertation committees and served on an additional 33 dissertation committees during her tenure at RMU. Dr. Pinchot has also served RMU as Director of the Ph.D. in Information Systems and Communications and currently serves as Department Head for the Computer and Information Systems department, where she oversees 5 undergraduate programs, 6 Master’s degree programs, and the Ph.D. program. She has also served as Co-PI on two NSF grants and has been RMU’s representative for the National Center for Women & Technology (NCWIT). Dr. Pinchot’s full bio can be found here.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Pinchot on this award, honoring her impressive record of service as a teacher, scholar, and administrator in the field of information systems.
————
Students and Faculty attended the 64th IACIS Annual Conference to present research and to learn about new findings in the field from colleagues.
Robert Pava, Reese Martin, and Dr. Sushma Mishra presented their research: Unveiling Exploitation Potential: A Comparative Analysis of Flipper Zero and Rubber Ducky.
James Bonacci, Peyton Lutchkus, Reese Martin, Robert Pava, Dr. Ping Wang, and Bradford Kline presented their research on: Estimating Intrinsic Dimension To Architect Compact Neural Networks.
(Pictured: Peyton Lutchus, James Bonacci, Reese Martin and Robert Pava)
Dr. John Stewart, Dr. G. Alan Davis, and William Glascoe presented their research on Determining Successful Translocation of Large Mammalian Carnivores Using Random Forest Classification. Imran Hossain was also a co-author on this paper.
(Pictured: Dr. John Stewart & Dr. William Glascoe)
William Glascoe presented his research on Human Digital Twin Initiatives. (Dr. Wenli Wang was also a co-author on this paper.)
Dr. Sushma Mishra, Dr. Natalya Bromall, and Dr. Kevin Slonka presented their research on What do High School Students Know About The Field of Cyber Security? A Survey of Perception and Experiences. Dr. Slonka is a graduate of RMU’s doctoral program and currently teaches at Saint Francis University. Dr. Peter Draus was also a co-author on this paper.
(Pictured: Dr. Kevin Slonka and son)
Dr. Ping Wang, and Christopher Johnson presented their research on The Impacts of Generative Artificial Intelligence (ai) In Knowledge Discovery and Generation For Cyber Defense.
(Pictured: Christopher Johnson)
Jing Hua, Dr. Ping Wang, and Peyton Lutchkus presented their research on How Effective Are Large Language Models In Detecting Phishing Emails?
Reese Martin, Robert Pava, and Dr. Sushma Mishra presented their research on Analyzing Machine Learning Algorithms For Antivirus Applications: A Study On Decision Trees, Support Vector Machines, and Neural Networks.
Dr. Natalya Bromall, Dr. Jamie Pinchot and Dr. Sushma Mishra presented their research on Racing To Build Your Ai Skills: Programming Rl Models With Aws Deepracer. Dr. Steve Mancini and Dr. Peter Draus were also co-authors on this paper.
(Pictured: Dr. Natalya Bromall)
Dr. Sushma Mishra, and Dr. Noory Etezady presented their research on Embedding Ai Competencies In A Cyber Security Graduate Program: Identifying Existing Gaps.
Dr. Karen Paullet and Dr. Jamie Pinchot presented their research on Can Gptzero Detect If Students Are Using Artificial Intelligence To Create Assignments? Evan Kinney and Tyler Stewart were also co-authors on this paper.
(Pictured: Dr. Jamie Pinchot & Dr. Karen Paullet)
A special shoutout to the students who attended as NSF Scholarship for Service:
Peyton Lutchkus, James Bonacci, Reese Martin, and Robert Pava
Two NSF Scholarship for Service (NSF-SFS) students, Reese Martin and Robby Pava, presented their research project at the NEDSI conference this month. The Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) is one of five regions in the Americas Division of the professional society, the Decision Sciences Institute. This region encompasses the Northeastern United States. NEDSI holds an annual regional meeting each spring.
Their paper was presented in poster format and was titled, “Comparing Machine Learning Algorithms in the Context of Antiviruses: A Content Analysis of Decision Tree, Support Vector Machines and Neural Networks Research.” Authors were Reese Martin, Robby Pava, and Dr. Sushma Mishra (advisor).
Their paper presents a comparative study of three major machine learning algorithms and the impact they can have on antivirus detection and response. The three algorithms reviewed in this study were decision trees, support vector machines, and neural networks. They analyzed how these ML approaches effectively impact antivirus’s ability to locate and adequately block incoming malware. Implications are drawn, and future research directions are discussed.
Update: This poster won Second Place in the Undergraduate Poster Award competition at the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI) Conference.
Congratulations on this accomplishment!
CIS @ RMU 