Month: October 2023

Amid increasing demand, CT colleges in arms race to add cybersecurity programs, faculty

Posted on October 31, 2023October 31, 2023 by Guilbeault, Jessica

Man presenting

With thousands of cybersecurity job openings around the state — and entry-level positions that can command a six-figure starting salary — training the next generation of security engineers is a key challenge for Connecticut.

Colleges around the state say the fast-changing curriculum, difficulty of retaining expert faculty, importance of linking closely to industry, and looming challenge of AI make cybersecurity one of the most dynamic fields in education right now.

Another challenge is the ever-widening circle of people who need to be trained in combating cyberattacks.

Benjamin Fuller

“It’s not going to be good enough for there to be 10% or 15% of computer scientists who fix everybody else’s problems,” said Benjamin Fuller, an associate professor in the computer science department at the University of Connecticut.

Four From UConn Named Fellows By AAAS

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Guilbeault, Jessica

The official University of Connecticut seal, in painted gold on an oak panel.

The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society.

Four University of Connecticut faculty members have been elected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to its newest class of fellows. The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.

The four are:

* Bahram Javidi, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in the School of Engineering

* James Magnuson, a professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

* Wolfgang Peti, a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at UConn School of Medicine

* Anthony Vella, a professor and chair of the Department of Immunology at UConn School of Medicine and the Senior Associate Dean for Research Planning and Coordination

CT officials: Cybersecurity a threat, but also a source of jobs

Posted on October 25, 2023October 25, 2023 by Guilbeault, Jessica

Kazem Kazerounian, dean of the UConn School of Engineering, discussed combating cyberattacks during a forum Monday with Gov. Ned Lamont.

HARTFORD — The age of increasing cyberattacks threatens businesses, state infrastructure, government and Connecticut's utilities.

But the current vulnerabilities have also created opportunities to share information and train people to fill an estimated 600,000 future cyber-security jobs across the country, state experts said Monday during a forum at the University of Connecticut School of Business.

"If I was a bad actor, I would think I'd go after the low-hanging fruit" presented by smaller towns in the state, said Gov. Ned Lamont. "I would assume that they would be a little less sophisticated when it comes to cyber protections. I would worry that that's a back door into the Department of Revenue Services or your financial entity, or your utility. I assume this is a really good way to check on those doors that are left ajar and to make sure they're locked. That makes an awful lot of sense to me. Get on-board with these skills. You're going to have to learn these skills. It's an incredibly important skill set to have. There's a guaranteed job."