Celebrating over 16 years of REU ASSET program alumni (2009-2025) and their continued success in STEM fields
Over 16 years of excellence in undergraduate research
Click on a year to view detailed information about our alumni
10 Alumni • 7 Universities • 6 Faculty Mentors
REU ASSET 2023 Cohort
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Achieving High End-to-End Availability in VNF Networks
Mentor: Dr. Deng Pan
Kean University
Radio Fingerprinting for IoT Devices using Deep Learning
Mentor: Dr. Xuyu Wang
George Mason University
Federated Learning for COVID-19 Detection
Mentor: Dr. Hadi Amini
University of Memphis
LoRa-based Environment Monitoring System
Mentor: Dr. Mo Sha
Iona University
Achieving Complete Software Implementation of Honeypots on Virtual PLC Systems using OpenPLC
Mentor: Dr. Ruimin Sun
University of Colorado Boulder
Improved Robust Activation Functions in Neural Networks in Adversarial Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of Michigan
Using Occlusion Boundary Uncertainty Masks to Defend Against Adversarial Examples
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
IoT Mobility Challenge
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
IoT Mobility Challenge
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
IoT Mobility Challenge
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
9 Alumni • 7 Universities • 7 Faculty Mentors
REU ASSET 2025 Cohort
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Secsplit llm
Mentor: Moreno Yaba
Tufts University
Secsplit llm
Mentor: Moreno Yaba
Kean University
Quantum Networking: Evaluating Entanglement Swapping Strategies by Simulation
Mentor: Dr. Deng Pan
Florida International University
Implementing SLMs in Edge Devices for Self-Driving Vehicles
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou, Dr. Luis Lago Enamorado and Alex Pissinou
Florida International University
Comparing small language models for real time on device decision support
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou
University of Central Florida
LLM generate synthetic samples on speech samples
Mentor: Dr. Poellabaur and Enshi Zhang
University of Texas at San Antonio
LLM generate synthetic samples on speech samples
Mentor: Dr. Poellabaur and Enshi Zhang
University of Texas
Implementing SLMs in Edge Devices for Self-Driving Vehicles
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou, Dr. Luis Lago Enamorado and Alex Pissinou
George Washington University
Comparing small language models for real time on device decision support
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou
8 Alumni • 6 Universities • 5 Faculty Mentors
Southern Illinois University
Blockchain
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Vanderbilt University
Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Carnegie Mellon University
Information Theory
Mentor: Dr. Farhad Shirani
Florida International University
Research Project
Mentor: Dr. Sun
Florida International University
Research Project
Mentor: Dr. Wang
UC Irvine
Fitbit Classification
Mentor: Dr. Christian Pollabauer
Florida International University
Fitbit Classification
Mentor: Dr. Christian Pollabauer
UNLV
Adversarial Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
5 Alumni • 4 Universities • 2 Faculty Mentors
REU ASSET 2022 Cohort
Old Dominion University
Threat Detection in Mobile IoT-Based Blockchain using Deep Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
Adversarial Machine Learning Survey: A Robust Generalization Perspective
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of Central Arkansas
Adversarial Machine Learning Survey: A Robust Generalization Perspective
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
Performance Enhancement of ASSET Network-based Intrusion Detection Systems
Mentor: Dr. Iyengar
University of California, Berkeley
Amodal Symbol Systems & Adversarial Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
8 Alumni • 7 Universities • 4 Faculty Mentors
Congratulations to Raghad Alabagi for their publication that appeared in 2021 International Conference on Intelligent Human Computer Interaction (IHCI-2021)!
Congratulations to Jason Nucciarone for their publication that appeared in 2021 IEEE BigData International Workshop on Big Data Tools, Methods, and Use Cases for Innovative Scientific Discovery (BTSD-2021)!
REU ASSET 2021 Cohort
University of Maryland
Improving Blockchain Throughput in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Penn State Harrisburg
Deception-Based Strategies for Wireless Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of Arizona
Federated Learning Algorithms for Distributed Decision-Making
Mentor: Dr. Hadi M. Amini
Andrews University
Improving Adversarial Attacks for Regression Problems in IoT
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Pennsylvania State University
A Plugin-Based, Open MPI Framework for Adversarial Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of Massachusetts Boston
Environmental Citizenship
Mentor: Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla
Florida International University
Perceptions of Abuse Among Social Network Users
Mentor: Dr. Bogdan Carbunar
Florida International University
Merkle KD-Tree Blockchain for Highly Mobile IoT Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
6 Alumni • 4 Universities • 3 Faculty Mentors
Congratulations to Meleik Hyman for their publication that appeared in the Patterns 2021 Journal!
University of Florida
Defenses for Poison Attacks in Adversarial Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Texas Tech University
Defenses for Poison Attacks in Adversarial Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Virginia Commonwealth University
Extension of Local Re-Encoding in Distributed Matrix Multiplication
Mentor: Dr. Jun Li
Florida International University
Defenses for Poison Attacks in Adversarial Machine Learning
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
Sensor Network Inter-Communication via Blockchain
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
COVID-19 Framework (Analysis/Prediction/Visualization)
Mentor: Dr. Hadi M. Amini
13 Alumni • 8 Universities • 5 Faculty Mentors
Congratulations to Edwin Aguilar and Eric Perez for their publication that appeared in IEEE MASS 2019!
REU ASSET 2019 Cohort
Syracuse University
Identifications of Pathways and Functions in Breast Cancer Related Genes
Mentor: Dr. Ananda Mondal
Florida International University
Identifications of Pathways and Functions in Breast Cancer Related Genes
Mentor: Dr. Ananda Mondal
Florida International University
Lightweight Sensorchain
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
Lightweight Sensorchain
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Syracuse University
Secure Network Authentication with Histograms Protocol
Mentor: Dr. Alex Afanasyev
New College of Florida
Secure Network Authentication with Histograms Protocol
Mentor: Dr. Alexander Afanasyev
Texas Tech University
Secure Multi-Party Computation
Mentor: Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla
California State University
Secure Multi-Party Computation
Mentor: Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla
Texas A&M University
Dynamic Greedy Forwarding Routing Protocol
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou and Dr. Kianoosh Boroojeni
Humboldt State University
Dynamic Greedy Forwarding Routing Protocol
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou and Dr. Kianoosh Boroojeni
Florida International University
Analysis of FANET Routing Protocols
Mentor: Dr. Iyengar and Dr. Niki Pissinou
Florida International University
Analysis of FANET Routing Protocols
Mentor: Dr. Iyengar and Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of Florida
Analysis of FANET Routing Protocols
Mentor: Dr. Iyengar and Dr. Niki Pissinou
10 Alumni • 9 Universities • 6 Faculty Mentors
Congratulations to Corey Staier and Rain Kwan for their publication that appeared in IEEE iThings 2019!
REU ASSET 2018 Cohort
Middlebury College
Semicircle Trapping Overlay Protocol (STOP)
Mentor: Dr. Kianoosh Boorojeni
Princeton University
Utilizing Homophily in Online Social Networks for Reconnaissance Attacks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of Mary Washington
Lightweight Blockchain for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Northeastern University
Blockchain for Databases
Mentor: Dr. Jun Li
Claflin University
Bootstrapping Trust in NDN-Based Vehicular Network using SWIFT Trust
Mentor: Dr. Alex Afanasyev
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo
Semicircle Trapping Overlay Protocol (STOP)
Mentor: Dr. Kianoosh Boorojeni
Purdue University
Routing Protocols for Drone Communication
Mentor: Col. Jerry Miller
University of California, Berkeley
Utilizing Homophily in Online Social Networks for Reconnaissance Attacks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
New College of Florida
Lightweight Blockchain for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Reputation Aware Data Cleaning for Mobile Crowdsensing via Correlated Data
Mentor: Dr. S. S. Iyengar
10 Alumni • 7 Universities • 6 Faculty Mentors
Congratulations to Sheila Alemany for her publication that appeared in ICNC 2018!
Congratulations to Sheila Alemany for being an ACM CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Research finalist!
University of California, Berkeley
Semicircle Trapping Overlay Protocol (STOP)
Mentor: Dr. Kianoosh Boorojeni
Florida International University
Context-Aware Data Cleaning for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks: A Diversified Trust Approach
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Johns Hopkins University
Creating Underlying Terrain Maps for Localization of Underwater Sensor-Enabled Vehicles
Mentor: Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla
University of California, Berkeley
Service Aware Routing in Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Networks
Mentor: Dr. Deng Pan
Carnegie Mellon University
Colluding Reconnaissance Attacks with Incomplete Information
Mentor: Dr. S S Iyengar
University of California, Berkeley
Colluding Reconnaissance Attacks with Incomplete Information
Mentor: Dr. S S Iyengar
Cornell University
Wormhole Detection in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
University of California, Berkeley
Wormhole Detection in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
Cornell University
TCP Hijacking with Active Re-synchronization
Mentor: Dr. Bogdan Carbunar
Miami-Dade College
Using Location Based Services in UAV Networks
Mentor: Col. Jerry Miller
10 Alumni • 9 Universities • 8 Faculty Mentors
Congratulations to Oscar Sandoval for his publication that appeared in INFOCOMM 2017!
Congratulations to Anne-Liz Jeukeng for her publication that appeared in International Conference on Computing and Network Communications (ICNC 2017)!
Congratulations to Brandon Hernandez for his publication that appeared in ICDCS Workshop 2017!
Congratulations to Juan Caldas for his publication that appeared in International Conference on Computing and Network Communications (ICNC 2017)!
Congratulations to Paul Naghshineh for his publication that appeared in Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting (BMES)!
REU ASSET 2016 Cohort
University of Puerto Rico
Integrating Secure Sensor Technologies with Video Design to teach History
Mentor: Dr. King
University of Florida
Privacy Preserving Voronoi Cells for Location Based Services
Mentor: Dr. Wei Zeng
University of Texas at Rio Grande
Preventing Colluding Identity Clone Attacks in Online Social Networks
Mentor: Dr. S S Iyengar
University of Pennsylvania
Beta Trust Based Approach for Data Cleaning in Trajectory Data Streams
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou
Villanova University
Analyzing Popularity in Sensor and Security Research
Mentor: Dr. Finlayson
Shaw University
Secure Exchange of Micro-Bitcoins for Wireless Sensor Network
Mentor: Dr. Carbunar
Nova Southeastern University
Using Trajectory Sensor Data Stream Cleaning to Ensure the Survivability of Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks in Cyberspace
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou
University of Virginia
Traffic Aware Placement of NFV Middleboxes for secure wireless sensor network communication
Mentor: Dr. Pan
The George Washington University
Secure Cloud Computing for Acute Stroke Diagnosis using sensors
Mentor: Dr. Fang
University of California
Algorithmic Problems in Energy Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Networks
Mentor: Dr. Xie
12 Alumni • 9 Universities • 8 Faculty Mentors
REU ASSET 2015 Cohort
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Centralized TLR Algorithm for Intrusion Detection
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou
Columbia University
Automatic Improvisation Classification in Jazz Performances
Mentor: Dr. Finlayson
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Location Privacy Framework Based on Voronoi-Delaunay Duality
Mentor: Dr. Zheng
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Location Privacy Framework Based on Voronoi-Delaunay Duality
Mentor: Dr. Zheng
University of Georgia
Friend Infiltration Warnings in Facebook
Mentor: Dr. Bogdan Carbunar
Salem State University
Reproducible Research Methods for Natural Language Processing Pipelines
Mentor: Dr. Finlayson
Florida International University
Traffic Aware Deployment of NFV Middleware
Mentor: Dr. Pan
Florida International University
Design and Implementation of an SDN Load-Balance Framework
Mentor: Dr. Sun
Florida International University
Secure Robot Networks Through Line of Sight Communication
Mentor: Dr. Bobadilla
Miami Dade College
Telebot
Mentor: Dr. Iyengar
Miami Dade College
Secure Sensing Wireless Networks for M Learning
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou
California State University Long Beach
A Game Theoretic Approach on Resource Allocation With Colluding Nodes in MANETs
Mentor: Dr. Pissinou
10 Alumni • 8 Universities • 7 Faculty Mentors
Congratulations to Vance Turnewitch for his publication that appeared at the Allerton Conference of Communication, Control, and Computing!
🎬 Congratulations to Giuseppe Vietre, Maylem Gonzalez, and Cynthia Tope for having their work appear in footage on the Discovery Channel!
Congratulations to Linda Butler for her publication that appeared in the Winter Simulation Conference!
Congratulations to Michael O'Neill and Andrew Wells for the publication in the ACM SIGCOMM workshop on hot topics in software defined networking!
Congratulations to Matthew Edwards for submitting a paper to 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) getting notified that the paper was accepted!
Congratulations to Ian Michael Terry and Anita Wu for their paper being accepted at the International Workshop for REU Research in Networking and Systems!
Congratulations to Isaac Vawter for his paper being accepted and presented at the International Workshop for REU Research in Networking and Systems!
Congratulations to Michael Waddell as his paper was accepted to the 2015 IEEE Aerospace Conference!
REU ASSET 2014 Cohort
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Traffic-Aware Policy Enforcement in Software Defined Networks
Mentor: Dr. Deng Pan
Cornell University
Verifiable Fitness Challenges
Mentor: Dr. Bogdan Carbunar
Florida State University
Verifiable Fitness Challenges
Mentor: Dr. Bogdan Carbunar
Louisiana State University
A Novel Approach of Prosthetic Arm Control using Computer Vision, Biosignals and Motion Capture
Mentor: JongHoon Kim
Florida International University
A Novel Approach of Prosthetic Arm Control using Computer Vision, Biosignals and Motion Capture
Mentor: Dr. Iyengar/ Dr. Kim
Florida International University
Limiting the Deformation of a Spacecraft's Hull through the Application of Piezoelectric Materials
Mentor: Dr. Iyengar/ Dr. Kim
Texas A&M University
Experiments in Adversarial Multi-Robot Patrolling
Mentor: Dr. Leonardo Bobadilla
Cornell University
GreenColo: Incentivizing Tenants for Reducing Carbon Footprint in Colocation Data Centers
Mentor: Dr. Shaolei Ren
Ohio University
GreenColo: Incentivizing Tenants for Reducing Carbon Footprint in Colocation Data Centers
Mentor: Dr. Shaolei Ren
Florida International University
Mobile Learning Object Authoring tool and Management system for mobile Ad-hoc Wireless Networks
Mentor: Dr. Niki Pissinou
2 Alumni • 2 Universities • Foundational Year
REU ASSET 2012 Cohort - Program's Inaugural Year
The REU ASSET program began in 2012 with our founding cohort of dedicated students who helped establish the foundation for what would become a prestigious research program spanning over a decade. These pioneering students set the standard for excellence in advanced sensor technologies research.
Miami Dade College
Network Forensics
Founding Cohort Member
Tufts University
Trajectory Wireless Sensor Networks
Founding Cohort Member
From these humble beginnings with 2 dedicated students, the REU ASSET program has grown to impact over 160+ alumni from 80+ universities, establishing itself as a premier research experience in advanced sensor technologies and cybersecurity.
7 Alumni • 6 Universities • Pre-Launch Development
REU ASSET 2011 Cohort - Pre-Launch Development Year
The 2011 cohort participated in the developmental phase of what would become the REU ASSET program. These pioneering researchers helped shape the program's research focus areas and established the groundwork for the formal program launch in 2012.
Florida International University
Trajectory Sensor Data Cleaning
Program Development Pioneer
Cooper Union
Embedded Systems
Program Development Pioneer
Barry University
Embedded Systems
Program Development Pioneer
UC Berkeley
Artificial Immune System Applied to Game Theory
Program Development Pioneer
Wofford College
Trajectory Sensor Privacy
Program Development Pioneer
Florida International University
Social Networking and Privacy
Program Development Pioneer
University of Houston
Social Networking and Privacy
Program Development Pioneer
The 2011 cohort established key research areas that would define the REU ASSET program: trajectory sensor data processing, embedded systems, artificial intelligence applications, and privacy-preserving technologies. Their work laid the foundation for the program's future success.
9 Alumni • 8 Universities • Early Research Phase
REU ASSET 2010 Cohort - Early Research Phase
The 2010 cohort represents the early research phase of the program, focusing heavily on military applications, autonomous systems, and foundational sensor technologies. Their work in evolutionary game theory, embedded systems, and military robotics established core research directions that continue to influence the program today.
Computer animation, trajectory sensors, autonomous robots
Hardware-software integration, sensor networks
Evolutionary algorithms, strategic decision making
Miami Dade College
Military Computer Animation
Early Research Pioneer
University of Miami
Trajectory Sensor Networks for Military Applications
Early Research Pioneer
Arizona State University
Evolutionary Game Theory
Early Research Pioneer
Florida International University
Embedded Systems
Early Research Pioneer
CUNY, Binghamton
Embedded Systems
Early Research Pioneer
Arizona State University
Evolutionary Game Theory
Early Research Pioneer
Clemson University
Embedded Systems
Early Research Pioneer
University of Florida
Autonomous Robots for Military Applications
Early Research Pioneer
Hood College
Node Compromise for Wireless Sensor Networks
Early Research Pioneer
The 2010 cohort's focus on military applications, autonomous systems, and embedded technologies established the program's reputation in defense-related research and laid the groundwork for future cybersecurity and sensor network innovations. Their diverse research portfolio spanning 9 students from 8 universities demonstrated the program's early commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
8 Alumni • 6 Universities • Program Genesis
REU ASSET 2009 Cohort - The Very Beginning
The 2009 cohort represents the true genesis of what would become the REU ASSET program. These 8 pioneering students were the first to explore advanced sensor technologies, embedded systems, and wireless networks at FIU. Their foundational work in antenna design, privacy preservation, and data streaming established the core research pillars that would define the program for the next 16+ years.
Ultra wideband, reconfigurable systems
Wireless sensor network protection
Belief-based systems, multimedia
Subthreshold leakage, scaling challenges
CUNY, Buffalo
Reconfigurable PIFA Antenna with Ultra Wideband Tuning
Genesis Pioneer
University of Texas, Dallas
Privacy Preservation Wireless Sensor Networks
Genesis Pioneer
Miami Dade College
Belief Based Data Streaming for Sensor Networks
Genesis Pioneer
Florida International University
Embedded Systems: Design Challenges of Technology Scaling
Genesis Pioneer
Hood College
Mobile to Mobile Multimedia Data Streaming
Genesis Pioneer
Universidad de Metropolitana, Puerto Rico
Sub threshold Leakage Modeling and Reduction Technique
Genesis Pioneer
Florida International University
Embedded Systems: Design Challenges of Technology Scaling
Genesis Pioneer
Universidad de Metropolitana, Puerto Rico
Sub threshold Leakage Modeling and Reduction Technique
Genesis Pioneer
These 8 visionary students established the research foundation that would grow into a program impacting 160+ alumni from 80+ universities. Their pioneering work in antenna design, wireless security, data streaming, and low-power systems created the blueprint for advanced sensor technologies research.
"From 8 students to 160+ alumni • From 6 universities to 80+ institutions • From foundational research to global impact"
Alumni data for this year will be added soon. Check back later for detailed information about our program participants.
Become part of our growing community of researchers and innovators. Apply to the REU ASSET program and start your journey in advanced sensor technologies.