archive
Faculty, Scholarship
Innovation on Display at Loyola’s 17th Annual Faculty Scholarship Celebration
Innovation and discovery were on full display as Loyola University Chicago hosted its 17th annual Celebration of Faculty Scholarship, highlighting the impactful work being produced across the university—including contributions that resonate strongly within the field of computer science. On April 22 at the Lake Shore Campus, the event brought together faculty, administrators, and guests to recognize scholarly and creative work completed in 2025. Faculty showcased research and projects spanning areas such as cybersecurity, data science, software systems, and interdisciplinary digital innovation. The University Libraries organized this showcase to feature over 100 submissions spanning peer-reviewed research, technical publications, digital projects, and creative works—reflecting the growing role of interdisciplinary thinking and technological innovation in advancing academic excellence.
LEARN MORE.png)
Students, Competition
National Cyber League Spring 2026 Season
Loyola University Chicago ranked 37th in the Central region for the Spring 2026 season of the National Cyber League. Almost 30 students participated. In the Individual Game, the top 5 students were Areej (2380 points, ranked 523/7011), OakTree (1960 points), DavidP315 (1735 points), Nicole (1695 points), and MexicanBanjo (1575 points). In the Team Game, the top team The Banjos (consisting of Edwin and Ayra) scored 2450 points and ranked 217/3634. Go Ramblers!
LEARN MORE.png)
Students, Research
Poster and Talk at CAE Symposium
At the annual CAE Symposium held April 28–30 in Pittsburgh, Loyola University Chicago was well represented with both a research talk and a poster presentation. The poster, titled “Important Factors in Obtaining a Job in Cybersecurity in the United States,” was co-authored by Laila Hamda (MS ’26), Aslihan Altindal (MS ’25), and Dr. Eric Chan-Tin, and attracted the attention of hundreds of attendees. In addition, a peer-reviewed paper by Mohammed Abuhamad, Mujtaba Nazari, Loretta Stalans, and Dr. Eric Chan-Tin, titled “Towards Experiential Training Program for AI Security & Privacy Practitioners,” was presented at the symposium.
LEARN MOREStudents, Research
New paper on Social Media Misinformation
A new research paper titled “Judging the Believability of Social Media Misinformation: Source and Message Distinctiveness” has been published in Psychological Reports (2026). This study explores how individuals evaluate the credibility of misinformation on social media, with a focus on how both the source of the information and the distinctiveness of the message influence perceived believability. The project represents a strong interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together researchers and students from multiple fields, including Computer Science, Psychology, Criminal Justice & Criminology, and Political Science. The research team includes six undergraduate students and one graduate student, highlighting a significant commitment to student involvement in high-impact research. This work was supported by funding from the Dr. Scholl Foundation, enabling the team to investigate the growing challenge of misinformation in digital environments.
LEARN MORE
Students, GCASR
Loyola CS Students and Researchers Present at GCASR 2026
Students, faculty, and researchers from Loyola University Chicago’s Department of Computer Science participated in the Greater Chicago Area Systems Research Workshop (GCASR 2026) on May 11 at Northwestern University in Evanston. The workshop brings together institutions across the Midwest to present research in systems, cybersecurity, AI, machine learning, networking, and related fields, with participants from universities including Northwestern, the University of Chicago, UIC, Illinois Tech, DePaul, Argonne National Laboratory, and Loyola. Loyola had a strong presence, with more than 10 students presenting posters and engaging with academic and industry attendees. Dr. TaiNing Wang served as poster co-chair, and Dr. Mohammed Abuhamad was an invited speaker, presenting “Towards Enhancing Trust and Security in Interpretable Deep Learning Systems.”
LEARN MORE
Cybersecurity, CAE Symposium
Annual CAE Symposium
Dr. Eric Chan-Tin, Founding Director of the Loyola Center for Cybersecurity and the Point of Contact (PoC) for the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation, attended the annual CAE Symposium in April 2026. During the event, he received the certificate confirming that Loyola University Chicago has been re-designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through 2030. Loyola was originally designated in 2020, and this re-designation reflects the institution’s continued commitment to maintaining high standards in cybersecurity education. This recognition highlights the strength and national standing of Loyola’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program. The CAE-CD designation affirms that the program meets rigorous federal standards for cybersecurity curriculum and workforce development.
LEARN MORE
Students, Competition
Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge
Joe Molley, Aliyah Montes de Oca, and Alexa Solorzano participated in the Spring 2026 Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge (VCCC), hosted by NCyTE. The students worked in teams of five to create a business plan, configure virtual machines, develop business processes, secure their network, and present to an audience of cybersecurity professionals. They were were mentored by community college and university cybersecurity instructors. All three students gained invaluable real-world cybersecurity experience. The Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge (VCCC) is a hands-on competition that allows students to apply technical and professional skills in a real-world scenario. Participants collaborate under time constraints, solve cybersecurity challenges, and gain exposure to industry expectations while connecting with professionals in the field.
LEARN MORE.png)
Students, Award
Loyola Students Present Innovative Research at URES 2026
Loyola University Chicago students recently participated in the Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium (URES). On April 18, students presented original research across a wide range of disciplines. The symposium provided an opportunity for students to showcase their work through poster presentations and discussions, highlighting their academic contributions and research experiences. Some of the students presenting were featured through their poster projects, demonstrating innovative work and interdisciplinary collaboration across fields. Loyola students shared work in fields such as cybersecurity, public health, social justice, and environmental science. Participation in URES often serves as a stepping stone for further recognition, with many student researchers going on to receive honors within Loyola in their respective disciplines. Their involvement reflects Loyola’s strong commitment to fostering undergraduate research, academic growth, and community engagement.
LEARN MORE
Students, Award
Maddie Juarez Receives NSF Research Fellowship
The Department of Computer Science proudly congratulates Maddie Juarez, a computer science undergraduate and active member of the BullyBlocker Lab, on receiving the Loyola Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award (2026). This prestigious, university‑wide honor recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional research achievement, initiative, and scholarly impact. The award also includes a monetary honorarium, highlighting Loyola’s commitment to fostering and celebrating undergraduate research excellence. In addition to this achievement, Maddie has also been awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)—one of the most competitive and nationally recognized fellowships for graduate students in STEM fields. This award recognizes her strong research potential and academic excellence, and will support her continued research and graduate studies. Together, these honors underscore Maddie’s outstanding contributions to research.
LEARN MORE
Students, Symposium
Great Presence at the Graduate Students' Symposium
Our department had a strong presence at today’s Graduate Students’ Symposium, showcasing the breadth and quality of graduate research across our community. It was wonderful to see students engaging in thoughtful discussion and sharing their work with peers and faculty. A special congratulations to Manny Sandoval, who was recognized with the Outstanding Research Poster Award. This achievement highlights Manny’s hard work, research excellence, and impactful contribution. We’re proud of all who participated and represented the department so well.
LEARN MORE
Students, Award
Computer Science Students Represent LUC at CAURS 2026
We are proud to share that Computer Science students represented the department at the 2026 Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS) held on Saturday. Chloe Kilroy and Gabriel Silva presented their research and did an outstanding job representing the Computer Science program at this regional undergraduate research conference. Kilroy presented a poster titled “Cyberbullying Networks: Analyzing User Roles and Interactions on Instagram,” which explored patterns of interaction and user roles within online social networks. Both students demonstrated strong research skills and professionalism while engaging with fellow students, faculty, and researchers from across the Chicago area.
LEARN MORE
Students, Event
Tech for Tomorrow Gala
The Loyola University Chicago student chapter of WiCyS, the 7968 club and the Loyola International Government Student Organization (IGSO) hosted a Tech for Tomorrow Gala on March 20. Over 50 students attended to raise funds for IC Stars. The evening brought together students from across disciplines to celebrate the intersection of technology, leadership, and social impact. Attendees enjoyed an engaging program that highlighted the mission of IC Stars and its work to create pathways into technology careers for underrepresented communities. The event fostered meaningful conversations around innovation, inclusion, and the future of the tech workforce, while demonstrating the strong commitment of Loyola student organizations to community engagement and positive change.
LEARN MORE.png)
Students, CyberEd
CyberEd 2026
CyberEd 2026 has wrapped up! It was an informative workshop on building a cyber-ready workforce with a focus on Cyber AI. Experts discussed innovation to teaching, how to incorporate AI, and how to design the next curriculum for cybersecurity and AI. A central focus of CyberEd 2026 was curriculum design for the future. Presenters and panelists discussed how academic programs can evolve to meet emerging workforce demands by aligning cybersecurity fundamentals with AI-driven tools, techniques, and ethical considerations. Conversations emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary learning, adaptability, and strong collaboration between academia and industry partners.
LEARN MORE
Students, Club, Talk
7968 Hosts CrowdStrike Red Team & IR Talk
The 7968 student club hosted a Red Team event on Friday, March 27, in partnership with CrowdStrike, connecting students with industry professionals working on the front lines of cybersecurity. Red team and incident response specialists shared insight into what it’s like to work in offensive security and incident response, offering a realistic look at the roles and responsibilities involved. The speakers discussed what a typical day looks like for a red teamer or an incident responder, the technical and soft skills needed to succeed, and practical ways for students to begin learning more about cybersecurity. They also highlighted what employers look for in entry‑level candidates and how students can start preparing now for careers in the field.
Students, Talk
Cybersecurity Leader Jigar Shah Visits Campus for Inspiring Talk on Leadership
On Friday, March 27, the Department of Computer Science welcomed Jigar Shah, a globally respected cyber and technology executive, for an engaging and thought‑provoking talk that drew strong interest from both students and faculty. Interestingly, Jigar began the session by intentionally creating a more interpersonal and conversational space, engaging with students one‑on‑one and emphasizing the importance of first exploring the basics of AI 101—not as experts, but as informed thinkers. He stressed that while technical expertise matters, soft skills often bring more to the table, especially when it comes to making split‑second decisions in roles such as incident response and crisis management. Drawing from real‑life experiences, Jigar shared sobering examples of cyberattacks capable of shutting down entire hospitals, delaying life‑saving treatments, and raising difficult questions around responsibility and accountability in a world increasingly dependent on AI-driven systems.
Students, Research
Research Poster at WiCyS 2026
Chloe Kilroy, a CyberRambler scholar, presented her work on "Cyberbullying Networks: Analyzing User Roles and Interactions on Instagram" at the 2026 Women in Cybersecurity conference in March. Go Ramblers!
Students, Competition
Cyberfire @LUC
The Department of Computer Science, in partnership with the 7968 cybersecurity competitions student club and Argonne National Laboratory, organized a local cybersecurity competition called CyberFire. Students were involved in solving multiple CTF (Capture The Flag) challenges and learned how to be a cybersecurity professional. Shout out to Argonne National Lab for hosting the competition!
Students, Conference
WiCyS 2026 Conference
Several students attended the annual Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) conference in March 2026 in the DC area. They walked away from the conference after having been immersed in a mix of professional development, technical learning, community networking, and personal empowerment. Other attendees included Dr. TaiNing Wang and a booth at the career expo from Loyola University Chicago. Join the Loyola student chapter of WiCyS by going to their website to learn more.
Students, Competitions
NCAE CyberGames Competition
The Loyola University Chicago Ramblers participated in the 2026 NCAE CyberGames Competition on February 28. NCAE CyberGames is a national cybersecurity competition designed to help students develop hands‑on defensive security skills in a real‑world, team‑based environment. During the event, teams work together to protect computer systems, maintain essential services, and respond to evolving cyber threats—mirroring the fast‑paced challenges faced by cybersecurity professionals. While our team did not qualify for the finals this year, they performed strongly by keeping their services operational for most of the competition and actively securing them against simulated attacks. Their teamwork and resilience reflect the growing strength of Loyola’s cybersecurity community. Participants: Rashmeet Singh, June Goodloe, Dalton Goodwin, Areej Imran, Isabella Alongi, and Emma Corpus.
Students
Loyola Competes in the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
Loyola University Chicago competed in the Illinois qualifier of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) on Saturday February 14. The team had to secure the system against a live red team while keeping services up and running and responding to various business injects. Students participating were Daniel Gaevskiy (team captain), Lillie Burr, Lucia Garr, Abulfazl Dashtee, Chloe Kilroy, Alexis Fenderson, Nika Primus, and Lynette Lim, and were coached by Dr. Eric Chan-Tin. The CCDC is one of the most respected cybersecurity competitions in the nation, giving students the chance to test real-world defense skills under live-fire conditions. Competitions like this help prepare students for careers in cybersecurity, incident response, and system administration by exposing them to pressure, teamwork, and rapidly evolving threats. Loyola’s participation highlights the growing strength of our cybersecurity program and the dedication of our students.
Faculty
Dr. Eric Chan-Tin Talks on the Future of Web Privacy
Dr. Eric Chan-Tin gave a talk at City University of Seattle on February 12 titled “The State of Web Privacy in 2026 – Is Your Web Browsing Really Private?” The university highlighted his leadership as a Professor of Computer Science, Founding Director of the Loyola Center for Cybersecurity, and PI for Loyola’s Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. In his talk, Dr. Chan-Tin explained how website fingerprinting attacks can reveal which sites users visit—even when using HTTPS, VPNs, or anonymity tools—and discussed potential countermeasures and their practicality as privacy threats continue to evolve. His expertise continues to support Loyola University Chicago’s mission to lead in cybersecurity education, research, and community engagement. By shedding light on hidden risks in everyday technology, he helps prepare students, professionals, and the public to navigate a fast‑changing privacy landscape.
Students, Competition
PascalCTF 2026
Loyola University Chicago proudly participated in the 2026 PascalCTF, an international Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition. Loyola ranked 144th out of 855 teams, earning 4,578 out of 7,403 possible points. PascalCTF brings together students and professionals from around the world to solve cybersecurity challenges that test skills in cryptography, reverse engineering, web security, and digital forensics. This year’s competition also featured thematic references to Blaise Pascal — the mathematician, physicist, inventor, and philosopher known for his foundational contributions to science and technology, and often credited as a pioneer of modern public transportation concepts. Loyola’s performance reflects the growing strength of its cybersecurity community and students’ commitment to hands-on learning and technical excellence.
Students, Scholarship
CyberRamblers CyberCorps Scholars Announced for 2026 Cohort
Loyola University Chicago is proud to announce the selection of the 2026 cohort of CyberRamblers CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) scholars. This prestigious, federally funded program supports students pursuing cybersecurity careers in public service and helps strengthen the nation’s cyber workforce. The 2026 CyberRamblers CyberCorps scholars are (pictured left to right): Dalton Goodwin, Aliyah Montes de Oca, and Joe Montroy. These students were selected based on their academic excellence, commitment to cybersecurity, and dedication to serving the public good. As part of the CyberCorps SFS program, scholars receive financial support, professional development opportunities, and pathways into critical government and public-sector cybersecurity roles after graduation. We congratulate Dalton, Joe, and Aliyah on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing the impact they will make in the cybersecurity field.
LEARN MORE.png)
Students, Scholarship
Loyola Welcomes a New Motorola Solutions Foundation Scholar
Loyola University Chicago is proud to recognize Dorsa Valipourkarimi as a recipient of the Motorola Solutions Foundation Scholarship, made possible through a generous grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation. Dorsa’s selection reflects both her academic dedication and her commitment to pursuing a career in cybersecurity. Her participation in this program highlights Loyola’s ongoing commitment to preparing students to become the next generation of leaders in technology and security. We are grateful to the Motorola Solutions Foundation for its continued investment in student success and for helping expand access to experiential learning opportunities in cybersecurity.