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News and Announcements
Stay updated with the latest announcements, awards, partnerships, media mentions, student achievements, research recognitions, and major milestones from the Center for Cyber Security at NYU Abu Dhabi (CCS-AD).
Featured News
Major recent updates and recognitions from CCS-AD.
May 27, 2026
Professor Muhammad Shafique Receives Amazon Research Award for Agentic AI Security Research
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Co-PI of CCS-AD, received the 2025 Amazon Research Award for his project “AVAAS – Automated Vulnerability Analysis Through Advanced Agentic Systems.”
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Jan 1, 2026
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu Named IEEE Fellow, Class of 2026
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu, Director of the Center for Cyber Security at NYU Abu Dhabi, has been named an IEEE Fellow for his contributions to design-for-trust and hardware security.
Nov 4, 2025
Minghao Shao Awarded Google PhD Fellowship 2025
Minghao Shao, a PhD student affiliated with CCS-AD, received the Google PhD Fellowship in the Privacy, Safety, and Security research domain.
Read moreLatest News
Browse recent announcements, recognitions, media mentions, partnerships, and selected research news.
Professor Muhammad Shafique Receives 2025 Amazon Research Award for Agentic AI Security Research
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Co-PI of CCS-AD, received the 2025 Amazon Research Award for his project “AVAAS – Automated Vulnerability Analysis Through Advanced Agentic Systems.”
View awardCCS-AD Researchers Recognized at Qualcomm University Platform Symposium 2026
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Dr. Rachmad V. W. Putra, and Ali Noor were recognized at Qualcomm’s University Platform Symposium 2026 with the Exceptional Educational Project Demonstration Award for their work on efficient Mobile-AI applications.
CCS-AD Reports Strong AY2025–26 Research Output
CCS-AD reported a highly productive AY2025–26, with research spanning hardware security, privacy-preserving computation, industrial control systems security, machine learning security, biochip security, blockchain security, and construction cybersecurity.
Professor Christina Pöpper Discusses LLM Privacy with WIRED Middle East
Professor Christina Pöpper was interviewed by WIRED Middle East for the article “Chatbots Feel Intimate. Their Data Trails Aren’t,” discussing privacy risks in conversational AI systems.
Read articleProfessor Ozgur Sinanoglu Chairs Government Data Innovation & Governance Summit 2026
Our Director, Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu, served as Chairperson of the Government Data Innovation & Governance Summit 2026 in Abu Dhabi. The summit brought together leaders to advance secure data governance and digital resilience.
Professor Christina Pöpper Receives Swiss Leading House MENA Collaboration Grant
Professor Christina Pöpper received a Swiss Leading House MENA Research Partnership Grant as co-PI for a project studying deception and misinformation heuristics in large language models.
Serendipity Research Confluence Returns to NYU Abu Dhabi
Hosted and sponsored by CCS-AD, the Serendipity Research Confluence returned to NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing together faculty from NYU’s New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai campuses to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration in AI, machine learning, science, and engineering.
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu Named IEEE Fellow, Class of 2026
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu, Director of the Center for Cyber Security at NYU Abu Dhabi, has been named an IEEE Fellow in recognition of his contributions to design-for-trust and hardware security.
h2crowd Cybersecurity Project Showcased at Global AI Show Abu Dhabi
The h2crowd crowdsourcing-based cybersecurity project, developed by the S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group, was showcased at the Global AI Show Abu Dhabi as part of NYUAD’s booth.
NYUAD Signs MoU with UAE Cyber Security Council to Advance Cybersecurity Education and Research
NYU Abu Dhabi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE Cyber Security Council to strengthen cybersecurity research, education, training, and innovation.
Read moreCSAW’25 MENA Celebrates Cybersecurity Talent at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD hosted CSAW’25 MENA at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing together student competitors, researchers, industry leaders, and academic partners to celebrate cybersecurity talent across the region.
View eventBioHACK3D 2025 Builds Cyber-Biosecurity Capacity in the UAE
CCS-AD led the 4th Biochip Security Hackathon under CSAW 2025, focusing on AI-driven authentication and cyber-physical security for 3D-printed biochips.
Minghao Shao Awarded Google PhD Fellowship 2025
Minghao Shao, a PhD student affiliated with CCS-AD, received the Google PhD Fellowship 2025 in the Privacy, Safety, and Security research domain.
Read moreProfessor Muhammad Shafique Selected as IEEE Featured Author
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Co-PI of CCS-AD, was selected as an IEEE Featured Author for research connecting AI, cybersecurity, and quantum technology.
CCS-AD Hosts Generative AI Workshop and Coding Competition
CCS-AD hosted a Generative AI Workshop and Coding Competition at NYU Abu Dhabi, supporting hands-on learning around emerging AI technologies and secure AI development.
View eventProfessor Muhammad Shafique Receives 2025 AI 2000 Honorable Mention in Chip Technology
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Co-PI of CCS-AD, received the 2025 AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Award Honorable Mention in Chip Technology.
Professor Christina Pöpper Comments on GPS Jamming and Spoofing Risks to Aviation
Professor Christina Pöpper contributed expert commentary to German online news coverage on how GPS jamming and spoofing are increasingly affecting aviation.
Read articleVibe Coding Hackathon 2025 Draws 229 Participants at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD organized the Vibe Coding Hackathon 2025 at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing together participants for hands-on coding, experimentation, and AI-driven project development.
View eventCCS-AD Aviation Security Research Receives Best of Session Award at DASC 2025
CCS-AD research on secure aviation surveillance received a Best of Session Award at the 44th Digital Avionics Systems Conference for work on ADS-B ground and space sensors.
CCS-AD Researchers Win QCE Best Paper Award for Privacy-Preserving Financial Fraud Detection
CCS-AD researchers received the Best Paper Award in the QML track at IEEE Quantum Week 2025 for work combining privacy-preserving federated learning with quantum-enhanced learning.
BioTrojans Research Featured by ASME and NYU CCS
Research led by Dr. Navajit Singh Baban was featured by ASME and NYU CCS for identifying BioTrojans, stealthy material-level attacks on flow-based microfluidic biochips.
Read moreCCS-AD Research on DALL·E Safety Filters Wins USENIX Distinguished Artifact Award
A CCS-AD research paper on reverse-engineering and jailbreaking safety filters in DALL·E text-to-image pipelines received a Distinguished Artifact Award at USENIX Security 2025.
Professor Michail Maniatakos Moderates Executive Panel on Securing Critical Infrastructure
Professor Michail Maniatakos moderated the executive panel “Cybersecurity Strategies for Securing Critical Infrastructure” in Abu Dhabi, bringing together more than 100 attendees to discuss cyber resilience.
Read moreProfessor Christina Pöpper Featured in World Police Summit Podcast
Professor Christina Pöpper discussed her cybersecurity and privacy research, emerging digital threats, and the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, and public-safety organizations.
Read moreSemih Sonkor Receives Poster Award at NYUAD Graduate and Postdoctoral Research Showcase
Semih Sonkor received a poster award at the 9th Annual Graduate and Postdoctoral Research Showcase at NYU Abu Dhabi for work connected to construction cybersecurity and the h2crowd platform.
CCS-AD Participates in World Police Summit 2025
CCS-AD participated in the World Police Summit 2025 in Dubai and contributed through a workshop on technology, crime, security, and international regulation.
Professor Christina Pöpper Co-Chairs NDSS 2025 Technical Program Committee
Professor Christina Pöpper co-chaired the Technical Program Committee of NDSS 2025, the Network and Distributed System Security Symposium, one of the leading academic conferences in systems security. NDSS 2025 received 1,311 paper submissions, accepted 211 papers, and brought together 687 registered participants.
View symposiumProfessor Michail Maniatakos Receives NDSS 2025 Distinguished Reviewer Award
Professor Michail Maniatakos received the Distinguished Reviewer Award for NDSS 2025, recognizing his contribution to the peer-review process of one of the leading conferences in cybersecurity research.
Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Hanif Receives City of Vienna Dissertation Prize 2024
Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Hanif, a postdoctoral researcher at eBRAIN Lab, NYU Abu Dhabi, received the City of Vienna Dissertation Prize 2024. He continues his research at NYUAD under the supervision of Professor Muhammad Shafique on energy-efficient and robust EdgeAI systems, machine learning security, and cross-layer optimization for ML and generative AI.
Professor Michail Maniatakos Delivers Invited Keynote on Fully Homomorphic Encryption
Professor Michail Maniatakos delivered the keynote “Accelerating Fully Homomorphic Encryption: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities” at the 7th International Workshop on Secure Hardware, Architectures, and Software, held in conjunction with HiPEAC 2025 in Spain.
Professor Michail Maniatakos Leads Development of OTSec-Hub for Operational Technology Security Training
Professor Michail Maniatakos, Co-PI of CCS-AD, led the development of OTSec-Hub, an open community website for training cybersecurity specialists in operational technology and critical infrastructure security.
Visit siteProfessor Michail Maniatakos Organizes Operational Technology Security Challenge with NIST
Professor Michail Maniatakos organized CSAW’s first Operational Technology Security Challenge in partnership with NIST, introducing students to critical infrastructure cybersecurity through hands-on challenges.
View eventNYUAD Partners with Etihad Water and Electricity to Advance AI in Utilities Sector
NYU Abu Dhabi partnered with Etihad Water and Electricity to advance AI-driven research in the utilities sector, supporting innovation in data-driven energy, infrastructure, and cybersecurity applications.
Read articleCCS-AD Receives NIST Funding for Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Training
CCS-AD received funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for a project titled “Development of hands-on labs for cybersecurity training of critical infrastructure employees.” The project supports practical cybersecurity training for critical infrastructure employees.
BioHack3D 2024 Advances Biochip and 3D Printing Cyber-Physical Security
CCS-AD organized BioHack3D 2024, a workshop and hackathon on biochip and 3D printing cyber-physical security at NYU Abu Dhabi as part of CSAW’24. The event brought together NYUAD students, faculty, and international participants from the UAE and India.
CCS-AD Organizes Machine Learning Security Events for Autonomous Systems and Robotics
CCS-AD organized two events focused on machine learning security: the SPIML Tutorial at IROS 2024 on October 14 and the SPViS Workshop at ICIP 2024 on October 28. These events examined security and privacy challenges in ML-based vision processing, autonomous systems, and mobile robotics.
CCS-AD Researchers File Patent Application for Biochip Fingerprint Authentication
CCS-AD researchers filed a patent application for a system, method, and computer-accessible medium facilitating biochip fingerprints for authentication. The invention supports secure biochip authentication and helps address counterfeiting and unauthorized duplication risks in biomedical devices.
Professor Marwa Chafii Ranked among Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists for 2024
Professor Marwa Chafii was ranked among Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists for 2024, recognizing her research impact and scholarly contributions in wireless communications and related fields.
View postProfessor Christina Pöpper Appointed Vice Chair of ACM SIGSAC PROTECT
Professor Christina Pöpper has been serving as Member and Vice Chair of ACM SIGSAC PROTECT, the committee focused on preserving professional conduct and academic ethics across the security and privacy research community.
View committeeCCS-AD Discloses Industrial Control Systems Vulnerability CVE-2024-6876
CCS-AD research in industrial control systems security led to the disclosure of CVE-2024-6876. The work contributed to the Center’s broader efforts in critical infrastructure cybersecurity.
View CVECCS-AD Researchers Uncover Security Flaw in Miniature Medical Labs
CCS-AD researchers published work in Scientific Reports uncovering security vulnerabilities in miniature medical labs and microfluidic biochips. The research highlights risks to lab-on-chip systems and contributes to stronger safeguards for biomedical devices.
Read paperProfessor Christina Pöpper Co-Organizes Workshop on LLM Fairness, Bias, and Factuality
Professor Christina Pöpper co-organized an invite-only workshop on LLM fairness, bias, and factuality at 19WSN in New York with Damon McCoy. The workshop focused on emerging challenges in trustworthy large language models.
View eventShujaat Mirza Defends PhD on Responsible AI
Shujaat Mirza successfully defended his PhD dissertation, “Towards Responsible AI: Safeguarding Privacy, Integrity, and Fairness,” on August 19, 2024. He is now a Research Manager at the ML Alignment & Theory Scholars Program in Berkeley.
CCS-AD Research on URL Tracking Protection Presented at USENIX Security
CCS-AD research on PURL, a method for safe and effective sanitization of link decoration, was presented at USENIX Security 2024. The work addresses privacy leakage through tracking URL parameters and was also covered by The Register.
CCS-AD Releases Hardware Security Research Artifacts to the Community
CCS-AD released multiple first-of-its-kind hardware security research artifacts to the community through the DfX-NYUAD GitHub repository. The artifacts have received community engagement, including hundreds of likes and derivative works.
Visit repositoryCCS-AD Paper Named Runner-Up for Andreas Pfitzmann Best Student Paper Award at PETS 2024
The CCS-AD paper “Media talks Privacy: Unraveling a Decade of Privacy Discourse around the World,” by Shujaat Mirza, Corban Villa, and Professor Christina Pöpper, was selected as runner-up for the Andreas Pfitzmann Best Student Paper Award at PETS 2024.
Professor Michail Maniatakos Recognized for Contributions to IEEE IOLTS
Professor Michail Maniatakos received award recognition for significant contributions to IEEE IOLTS in July 2024, reflecting his continued leadership in hardware security, system reliability, and cybersecurity research communities.
CCS-AD Researchers Introduce Dynamic Adversarial Patch Attacks at CVPR 2024
CCS-AD researchers introduced a dynamic adversarial patch method for evading person detectors at CVPR 2024. The research highlights vulnerabilities in camera-based AI systems and supports the development of more robust detection defenses.
CCS-AD Researchers Explore Quantum Clustering for Cybersecurity at IEEE QCE 2024
CCS-AD researchers proposed a quantum machine learning framework for cybersecurity vulnerability analysis and threat prioritization at IEEE QCE 2024. The work highlights the potential of quantum-enhanced clustering to improve cybersecurity risk assessment.
CCS-AD Researchers File Patent Application for SMS Timing-Based Localization System
CCS-AD researchers filed a U.S. patent application for a “Cellular User Localization System: SMS Side-Channel Timing Analysis Method and Apparatus.” The work addresses security and privacy issues related to cellular localization and timing side channels.
NYU CTF Bench Introduces Scalable Benchmark for LLMs in Offensive Security
CCS-AD researchers contributed to NYU CTF Bench, a scalable open-source benchmark for evaluating large language models in offensive security. The benchmark supports standardized testing, adaptive learning, and automated task planning for cybersecurity.
CCS-AD Research on Ad-Blocking Breakage Published at IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy
CCS-AD research on SINBAD, a saliency-informed method for detecting website breakage caused by ad blocking, was published at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy 2024. The work supports more accurate detection of tracking without compromising website functionality.
CCS-AD Research Highlights Secure Full-Duplex ISAC for Future 6G Systems
CCS-AD research on full-duplex integrated sensing and communications was featured by HackerNoon, highlighting how secure ISAC can support privacy, sensing, and communications in future 6G wireless systems.
Read articleLiang Niu Defends PhD on Security, Privacy, and Machine Learning
Liang Niu successfully defended his PhD dissertation, “A Data-Driven Exploration of Security and Privacy: Insights from Machine Learning and Beyond,” on April 24, 2024. He is now a Machine Learning Software Engineer at Google in California.
CCS-AD Collaboration Highlights Cybercrime Risk in the Middle East Construction Industry
A joint survey by NYUAD, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Accuracy highlighted cybersecurity risks and practices in the Middle East construction sector, drawing attention to cybercrime exposure in construction and infrastructure projects.
Read articleCCS-AD Hosts ACNS 2024 at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD hosted the 22nd International Conference on Applied Cryptography and Network Security at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing more than 200 cybersecurity researchers and participants from around the world to Abu Dhabi.
View conferenceProfessor Muhammad Shafique Receives 2024 AI 2000 Honorable Mention in Chip Technology
Professor Muhammad Shafique received the 2024 AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Award Honorable Mention in Chip Technology, recognizing his outstanding research contributions in the field.
CCS-AD Releases HowKGPT Tool for AI-Generated University Submission Detection
CCS-AD researchers, together with NYUAD colleagues, investigated the impact of ChatGPT and similar AI tools on education, security, and privacy. As part of this work, the team produced and published HowKGPT, a tool for detecting AI-based university submissions.
Visit toolProfessor Muhammad Shafique is revolutionizing technology with brain-inspired AI, making it accessible to all
Professor Muhammad Shafique was featured by NYU Abu Dhabi for his work on brain-inspired AI, advancing intelligent technologies designed to be more accessible and impactful.
Read articleCSAW’23 MENA Marks 10th Anniversary at NYU Abu Dhabi
CSAW’23 marked the 10th anniversary of CSAW MENA at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing together cybersecurity researchers, students, and professionals from across the region. The event included 88 finalists and featured Capture the Flag, Applied Research, Hack My Robot, BioHack3D, and the LLM Attack Challenge.
View eventCCS-AD Biochip Security Research Featured by ASU News
CCS-AD biochip security research was featured by ASU News. The work introduced methods for detecting material anomalies in biochips and a dynamic spectral watermarking technique for authentication.
Read featureCCS-AD Research Advances LLM Privacy, Cellular Network Security, and VPN Security
CCS-AD researchers published first-tier work in 2023 on LLM privacy, cellular network security, and VPN security, including three USENIX Security 2023 papers on privacy leaks in GitHub Copilot, SMS timing-based location inference, and VPN traffic leakage.
CCS-AD Research Discloses GSMA Vulnerability Related to SMS Delivery Reports
CCS-AD research on user localization based on SMS delivery report timing was disclosed through the GSMA vulnerability disclosure process as CVD-2023-072. The work addresses privacy and security risks in cellular network location inference.
View disclosureForbes Covers CCS-AD VPN TunnelCrack Research
Forbes covered CCS-AD research on VPN tunnel crack attacks, based on the team’s USENIX Security 2023 paper on leaking VPN client traffic by abusing routing tables.
Read articleProfessor Nasir Memon to Take on New Challenges at NYU Shanghai this fall
Professor Nasir Memon, a CCS-AD PI and long-standing NYU cybersecurity leader, was featured as he prepared to take on new academic and leadership challenges at NYU Shanghai.
Read moreProfessor Michail Maniatakos Receives USENIX Distinguished Reviewer Award
Professor Michail Maniatakos received the Distinguished Reviewer Award from the USENIX Conference in August 2023, recognizing his contribution to the cybersecurity research peer-review community.
Professor Muhammad Shafique Receives ISLPED 2023 Best Paper Award Nomination
Professor Muhammad Shafique received an ISLPED 2023 Best Paper Award nomination for the paper “FPGA-Patch: Mitigating Side Channel Attacks on Multi-Tenant FPGAs using Dynamic Patch Generation.”
CCS-AD Advances Commercialization Through TrustChip and Convolute
CCS-AD advanced two commercialization initiatives: TrustChip, a startup focused on secure chip design through logic locking, and Convolute, a privacy-focused startup using fully homomorphic encryption to enable computation on encrypted data.
Professor Ramesh Karri Named One of Intel’s Outstanding Researchers of the Year
Professor Ramesh Karri, a CCS-AD PI and NYU Tandon faculty member, was named one of Intel’s Outstanding Researchers of the Year.
Read moreNYU and KAIST Begin New Global Partnership
NYU and KAIST began a new global partnership, opening new opportunities for research collaboration across cybersecurity, AI, and related technology areas.
Read moreCCS-AD Research Leads ISPD’23 Contest on Advanced Security Closure of Physical Layouts
CCS-AD researchers helped organize the ISPD’23 Contest on Advanced Security Closure of Physical Layouts, a first-of-its-kind contest focused on securing modern electronics at the physical-layout level.
CCS-AD Organizes First Biochip Workshop and Hackathon at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD organized its first hands-on biochip workshop and hackathon with NYUAD’s Bioengineering program, introducing students to microfluidic biochips, COVID-19 diagnostics applications, and cyber-physical security risks in biochip-based systems.
CSAW’22 MENA Hosted at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD served as the Middle East and North Africa regional host for the 19th annual CSAW Cybersecurity Games & Conference. CSAW’22 MENA featured Capture the Flag, Applied Research, and Hack My Robot competitions.
View eventHack My Robot Competition Launches at CSAW’22 MENA
The S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group, in collaboration with CCS-AD and the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, launched Hack My Robot at CSAW’22 MENA to raise awareness of cybersecurity risks in digital construction environments and robotics.
Lilas Alrahis Wins Second Place in CSAW Applied Research Competition 2022
Lilas Alrahis received second place in the Applied Research Competition held in conjunction with CSAW’22 MENA, recognizing research connected to graph neural network-based attacks on logic locking.
CCS-AD Participates in RAID 2022
CCS-AD participated in the International Symposium on Research in Attacks, Intrusions and Defenses (RAID 2022), highlighting the Center’s research presence in the international cybersecurity community.
CCS-AD Secure Messaging Research Receives Technical Media Coverage
CCS-AD research based on an NDSS’23 paper received technical media coverage for showing how timing attacks on WhatsApp, Signal, and Threema could expose user location information.
CCS-AD Receives TII Funding for Logic Locking for Zero-Trust SOCs
CCS-AD received Technology Innovation Institute funding for “Logic Locking for Zero-Trust SOCs,” supporting hardware security research and trusted chip-design capabilities.
International Joint Conference on Biometrics 2022 Hosted in Abu Dhabi
The International Joint Conference on Biometrics 2022 was hosted in Abu Dhabi. Professor Nasir Memon served as one of the general chairs, and Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu gave the welcoming remarks.
CCS-AD Showcases Cybersecurity Research at ISNR 2022
CCS-AD participated in the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR 2022), showcasing the Center’s cybersecurity research and activities through an exhibition booth in Abu Dhabi.
CCS-AD Resumes Regional Cybersecurity Day Event
CCS-AD resumed its annual Regional Cybersecurity Day event, strengthening regional engagement and community-building around cybersecurity research, education, and outreach.
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu and Team Receive IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computing Best Paper Award
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu and his team received the IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computing Best Paper Award for “Removal Attacks on Logic Locking and Camouflaging Techniques.”
Read moreTinyML Talks: Energy-Efficiency and Security
Professor Muhammad Shafique discusses cross-layer techniques for building energy-efficient and robust machine-learning systems for tinyML, EdgeAI, and resource-constrained embedded applications.
Read moreCCS-AD Research Leads ISPD’22 Contest on Security Closure of Physical Layouts
CCS-AD research supported the ISPD’22 Contest on security closure of physical layouts, focused on hardening IC layouts against post-design threats such as Trojan insertion, probing, and fault injection.
View contestCCS-AD Hardware Security Chip Prototype Successfully Taped Out and Validated
CCS-AD researchers completed a chip design and tape-out milestone with successful bring-up and validation. The prototype included a logic-locking defense and hardware acceleration for homomorphic encryption, enabling computation on encrypted data.
The Hacker News Covers CCS-AD Cellular Telecommunications Security Research
The Hacker News covered CCS-AD research on vulnerabilities in the handover procedure of cellular telecommunications, based on the Center’s ACSAC’21 paper.
Read articleGraph Neural Networks (GNNs)
CCS-AD researchers apply graph neural networks to circuit representations to identify critical vulnerabilities in implementations of design-for-trust solutions for hardware security.
Read moreCybersecurity Implications of Construction 4.0
With support from CCS-AD, the S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group at NYU Abu Dhabi, led by Professor Borja García de Soto, investigates cybersecurity and privacy risks arising from construction automation.
Read moreChange Your Pa55w0rd – Fragattacks
CCS-AD-affiliated research uncovered vulnerabilities affecting WPA3 and other versions of Wi-Fi, leading to collaboration with industry on security updates and mitigations.
Read moreCCS-AD Contributes to NATO Workshop on MENA Cybersecurity Challenges
Professor Christina Pöpper and Professor Michail Maniatakos acted as invited subject-matter experts at the NATO Strategic Direction South Workshop and presented “MENA Challenges and Capabilities in Cyberspace” at Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Italy.
CCS-AD Co-Organizes HeLLO: CTF’21 for Hardware Logic Locking and Obfuscation
CCS-AD co-organized HeLLO: CTF’21 with the University of Florida and Texas A&M. The competition focused on hardware logic locking and obfuscation as a red-team/blue-team security challenge.
View challengeCSAW’21 MENA Hosted by NYU Abu Dhabi
NYU Abu Dhabi served as the MENA regional host for the 18th annual CSAW Cybersecurity Games & Conference. The event featured 128 finalist teams from five global regions, with 1,420 qualification teams globally.
View eventCCS-AD Researchers Recognized at CSAW’21 Competitions
CCS-AD researchers and students received multiple CSAW’21 recognitions, including third place in the Applied Research Competition, third place in the Logic Locking Conquest Challenge, and finalist recognition in the CSAW’21 Applied Research Competition MENA.
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu Inducted to Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists and Receives NYUAD Distinguished Faculty Research Award
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu was inducted to the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists and received NYU Abu Dhabi’s inaugural Distinguished Faculty Research Award.
Professor Christina Pöpper Receives Google ASPIRE Award for 5G User Equipment Security Testing
Professor Christina Pöpper received a Google ASPIRE 2021 Award for “Multi-Modal Security Testing Platform for 5G User Equipment.”
CCS-AD Hardware Security Book Published by Springer
CCS-AD-affiliated researchers contributed to the publication of The Next Era in Hardware Security, a Springer book on hardware security in the context of emerging technologies that may shape the future of chip manufacturing and secure electronic systems.
Why Seeing Must Be Believing – AI, Computational Imaging and the Battle Against Deepfakes
CCS-AD-related research and expertise were featured in IEEE Transmitter in an article on AI, computational imaging, and the growing challenge of detecting and responding to deepfakes.
Read articleCCS-AD PhD Alumni Join Synopsys and Intel
Two NYU Global PhD students affiliated with CCS-AD moved into major industry roles: Nimisha Limaye joined Synopsys as a senior chip designer, and Esha Sarkar joined Intel Corp as a senior engineer.
NYU Tandon Highlights CCS-AD Research on Fully Homomorphic Encryption Acceleration
NYU Tandon highlighted CCS-AD-related research on fully homomorphic encryption acceleration, describing a microchip that can process data without decrypting it.
Read articleCyber Security Research in the Arab Region: A Blooming Ecosystem with Global Ambitions
Communications of the ACM published an article highlighting the growth of cybersecurity research in the Arab region and its increasing global ambitions.
Read articleProfessor Nasir Memon Joins International Group of Experts Calling Out Serious Flaws in Indian Voting Machines
Professor Nasir Memon joined an international group of experts raising concerns about serious security flaws in Indian voting machines and calling for stronger election technology auditing.
Read articleProfessor Christina Pöpper Serves as General Chair of ACM WiSec 2021
Professor Christina Pöpper served as General Chair of ACM WiSec 2021, reflecting CCS-AD’s leadership and visibility in the international wireless security research community.
View conferenceCCS-AD Wi-Fi Security Research Identifies Design and Implementation Vulnerabilities
CCS-AD-affiliated Wi-Fi security research identified design flaws and widespread implementation vulnerabilities, supported testing tools and documentation, and contributed to security patches.
View researchDr. Hoda Alkhzaimi Appointed to Technology Innovation Institute Board of Advisors
Dr. Hoda Alkhzaimi, CCS-AD’s co-director for strategic partnerships, was appointed to Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute Board of Advisors at the Secure Systems Research Centre.
Read moreCCS-AD Research Shows Traffic Networks Are Vulnerable to Disinformation Attacks
CCS-AD-related research showed how disinformation can manipulate driver behavior and create city-scale congestion, highlighting how behavioral manipulation can affect critical infrastructure.
Read paperCCS-AD Faculty Join Webinar on AI and Fake News
Dr. Hoda Alkhzaimi, Professor Nasir Memon, and Professor Christina Pöpper joined the virtual webinar “Is AI the Key to Fighting Fake News?”, co-sponsored by NYU Abu Dhabi Institute, the John Brademas Center, and NYU Tandon.
CCS-AD Paper Selected for Top Picks in Hardware and Embedded Security at ICCAD
A paper by Professor Ramesh Karri and Professor Michail Maniatakos was selected for the Top Picks in Hardware and Embedded Security session at the International Conference on Computer-Aided Design.
Watch sessionTrustChip Recognized as Most Commercializable Technology at NYU VC PitchFest
CCS-AD’s TrustChip commercialization initiative advanced through startAD and NYU entrepreneurship programs, winning support through the startAD Summer Incubator and being voted “The most commercializable technology” at NYU VC PitchFest.
Visit TrustChipCSAW’20 MENA Hosted Virtually by NYU Abu Dhabi
NYU Abu Dhabi, through CCS-AD, hosted CSAW’20 MENA virtually. The event marked the sixth anniversary of CSAW MENA and included Capture the Flag, Applied Research, Embedded Security, and RED competitions.
View eventCCS-AD Book on Post-Quantum Digital Signature Hardware Architectures Published by Springer
CCS-AD-related researchers published Hardware Architectures for Post-Quantum Digital Signature Schemes, a Springer book on secure hardware architectures for post-quantum cryptography.
View bookNYUAD Researchers Exploit HTTP/2 and WPA3 Protocols to Stage Highly Efficient “Timeless Timing” Attacks
CCS-AD-related research on timeless timing attacks was covered by The Daily Swig, highlighting how HTTP/2 and WPA3 protocols could be exploited to stage efficient timing attacks.
Read articleNYUAD Researchers Reveal the “Dragonfly Handshake” Is Not a Secure Grip
NYUAD researchers showed that the Dragonfly handshake used in modern wireless authentication protocols had important security weaknesses, contributing to broader understanding of WPA3 and EAP-pwd risks.
Read moreNYUAD and Tandon Researchers Find Flagging Misinformation Could Slow the Spread of Fake News
Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Tandon found that red-flagging misinformation could help slow the spread of fake news on social media by reducing people’s intention to share non-true headlines.
Read moreCCS-AD Imp4GT Research Receives International Technical Media Coverage
CCS-AD research on IMP4GT impersonation attacks in 4G LTE and early 5G cellular networks received technical media coverage, including coverage from SecurityWeek and Hackster.io.
Professor Ramesh Karri Named IEEE Fellow
Professor Ramesh Karri, a CCS-AD Co-PI, was named an IEEE Fellow, recognizing his contributions to hardware security and electronic design automation.
Read moreCCS-AD Organizes First Workshop on Cybersecurity Implications of Construction 4.0
CCS-AD organized and hosted the first Workshop on Cybersecurity Implications of Construction 4.0 at NYU Abu Dhabi, supporting the Center’s expansion into construction cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.
View workshopCCS-AD Research Featured in NYUAD “This Digital Life”
NYU Abu Dhabi featured CCS-AD research in “This Digital Life,” highlighting cybersecurity risks, secure-system design, and the need to strengthen complex digital systems.
Read featureProfessor Christina Pöpper Receives ADEK Award for Cross-Layer Approaches for 5G Security
Professor Christina Pöpper received an Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge Award for Research Excellence for the project “Cross-layer Approaches for 5G Security.”
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu Featured as a Cybersecurity Trailblazer
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu was featured as a cybersecurity trailblazer for his contributions to hardware security, trustworthy chip design, and secure electronics research.
Read featureCCS-AD Hosts ICCD 2019 at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD hosted the 37th IEEE International Conference on Computer Design at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing together global and local participants for tutorials, keynotes, technical papers, and discussions on computer design and hardware security.
View conferenceCCS-AD Co-Organizes Fact-Checkers Workshop on User-Generated Content
Professor Nasir Memon and postdoctoral researcher Nicholas Micallef co-organized a workshop on fact-checking information in the world of user-generated content and how technology can support better verification practices.
CSAW’19 MENA Hosted at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD hosted CSAW’19 MENA at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing together student competitors from across the region for cybersecurity challenges, including Capture the Flag and High School Forensics.
View eventNYU Team Receives Grants to Advance Cybersecurity in 3D Printing
NYU researchers received grant support for cybersecurity in additive manufacturing, including work on teaching cybersecurity in 3D printing and turning CAD files into audio files for security analysis.
CCS-AD Research on Encrypted Data Processing Receives Media Coverage
CCS-AD research on a microprocessor for partially homomorphic encrypted execution received media coverage for showing how data can be processed while remaining encrypted.
CCS-AD Secure Chip Research Receives International Media Coverage
CCS-AD secure-chip and logic-locking research received international media coverage, highlighting work on trustworthy chip design, hardware security, and protection against theft, replication, and tampering.
CCS-AD Papers Receive NDSS Distinguished Paper Honorable Mentions
CCS-AD-related papers received Distinguished Paper Award Honorable Mentions at NDSS 2019, recognizing high-impact work on Tor geographical avoidance and automated reverse engineering of industrial control system binaries.
View NDSS 2019CCS-AD Advances Hardware Security and Embedded Systems Patent Portfolio
CCS-AD advanced a portfolio of patent applications spanning logic encryption, secure integrated-circuit camouflaging, embedded-device behavior detection, launch-off-shift testing, and malware detection in additive manufactured parts.
CCS-AD Researchers Receive Multiple Awards and Honors
CCS-AD researchers received multiple honors, including a TTTC E. J. McCluskey Doctoral Thesis Award semifinal, a CODASPY best poster award, NDSS distinguished-paper finalist recognition, a VLSI-SoC best paper award, and an Arab-American Frontiers Symposium Fellowship.
CCS-AD DeepMasterPrints Research Receives International Media Coverage
CCS-AD-related DeepMasterPrints research received international media coverage for showing how AI-generated master fingerprints could challenge biometric authentication systems.
CCS-AD Featured in Cybersecurity Workforce and Talent-Gap Coverage
CCS-AD and NYU cybersecurity education efforts were highlighted in coverage on the cyber workforce, cybersecurity talent gaps, and training the next generation of security professionals.
CCS-AD Hosts Hardware and Systems Security Workshops with Industry Partners
CCS-AD hosted hardware and systems security workshops with industry and academic partners, including DarkMatter, Khalifa University, and Booz Allen Hamilton, to discuss joint projects and future cybersecurity collaborations.
CCS-AD Power-Grid Cyberattack Simulation Research Featured by The Wall Street Journal
CCS-AD-related power-grid cybersecurity research was featured in The Wall Street Journal coverage of federal researchers simulating a power-grid cyberattack and identifying gaps in response planning.
Read articleCSAW’18 MENA Held in Tunisia
CSAW’18 expanded its regional presence with the MENA edition held in Tunisia, continuing the student-focused cybersecurity competition series and drawing media coverage of the global event.
CCS-AD Research Featured in “Seeking a New Element in Artificial Intelligence: Trust”
CCS-AD-related research was featured in coverage on artificial intelligence, trust, and the need for stronger methods to assess the authenticity and reliability of visual information.
Read articleCCS-AD Biochip Security Workshop and Conference Featured by NYU Tandon
CCS-AD-related biochip security efforts were highlighted through the ARO Workshop on Secure and Trustworthy Biochips and NYU Tandon coverage of the first conference on biochip security.
CCS-AD Research on Authenticating 3D-Printed Parts Receives International Media Coverage
CCS-AD-related research on embedding tracking codes and QR-code “clouds” in 3D-printed parts received broad media coverage for its potential to protect additive manufacturing against counterfeiting.
CCS-AD Research Featured in Naked Security on Deliberately Adding Security Bugs
CCS-AD-related research was featured by Naked Security in a discussion of whether deliberately adding controlled security bugs could make software systems more resilient to attackers.
Read articleCCS-AD-Related Facial Recognition Research Featured by GCN
CCS-AD-related biometric security work was featured in coverage on why confidence and trust matter in facial recognition systems.
Read articleNYU and CCS-AD Showcase Cybersecurity Research at Design Automation Conference
NYU and NYUAD Center for Cybersecurity set up a booth at the 55th Design Automation Conference to showcase work in hardware security, machine learning security, chips, medical devices, cloud security, supply chains, smart cities, the electrical grid, and 3D printing.
View eventCCS-AD Co-Organizes 5th UAE Cyber Security Symposium
CCS-AD helped organize the 5th UAE Cyber Security Symposium, with Dr. Hoda Alkhzaimi serving as a co-chair for an event focused on cybersecurity challenges facing the UAE’s ICT sector.
View symposiumCCS-AD Featured in Cybersecurity Quarterly on Collaboration in Cybersecurity
CCS-AD was featured in Cybersecurity Quarterly in coverage discussing cybersecurity collaboration and the importance of coordinated action against cybercrime.
Read issueProfessor Nasir Memon Featured for Founding Work in Cybersecurity
Professor Nasir Memon was featured for his founding role in NYU’s cybersecurity ecosystem and his work building academic programs and research capacity in cybersecurity.
Read featureNYUAD Robotics Hub Coverage Highlights Cyber-Physical Systems Ambitions
NYU Abu Dhabi’s broader robotics ambitions were featured in coverage of plans to make Abu Dhabi a global robotics hub, aligning with CCS-AD’s interest in secure cyber-physical systems.
Read articleEfficient Detection for Malicious and Random Errors in Additive Encrypted Computation
CCS-AD-related research on efficient detection of malicious and random errors in additive encrypted computation contributed to the Center’s work on secure and reliable computation over protected data.
View sourceCCS-AD Participates in Think Science 2018
CCS-AD participated in Think Science 2018, supporting UAE youth engagement and science outreach through cybersecurity-related activities and expertise.
Cyber Fellows Master’s Program Highlighted in City & State New York
The Cyber Fellows Master’s Program was highlighted in coverage on how cybersecurity experts and educational programs can help address internal vulnerabilities and workforce needs.
Read articleProfessor Christina Pöpper Receives ADEK Award for Aviation Communication Security Research
Professor Christina Pöpper received an ADEK Award for Research Excellence for “A Trust and Observation System for Communication Security in Aviation,” supporting CCS-AD’s work on secure aviation and wireless communication systems.
CCS-AD Co-Organizes Crypto Wars Event at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD hosted a public cyber talk on “Crypto Wars: From Caesar to Quantum Powers and Smart Cities,” connecting cryptography, emerging technologies, and secure smart-city systems.
View eventCCS-AD Research Featured in Coverage on Cybersecurity Risks in 3D Printing
CCS-AD-related research on cybersecurity risks in 3D printing and additive manufacturing received media coverage for showing how compromised designs and manufacturing processes can create real-world threats.
CSAW’17 MENA Highlighted in Global Cybersecurity Competition Coverage
CSAW’17 MENA and related global cybersecurity competition activities were highlighted in coverage of the world’s largest student cybersecurity event and its focus on emerging issues including fake news.
CCS-AD Research on Logic Locking and Hardware Security Published at ACM CCS
CCS-AD-related research on provably secure logic locking appeared at ACM CCS, strengthening the Center’s contributions to design-for-trust and hardware security.
CCS-AD Researchers Receive DARPA ECLIPSE Seed Funding for Cross-Layered IP Protection
CCS-AD researchers and the Design for Excellence Lab received DARPA seed funding for ECLIPSE, an Efficient Cross-Layered IP Protection SchemE focused on strengthening hardware security.
Read moreCCS-AD Research Featured in Daily Mail on Shoulder-Surfing Resistant Passcodes
CCS-AD-related authentication research was featured in coverage of an optical-illusion keypad designed to protect passcodes from shoulder-surfing attacks.
Read articleCCS-AD Secure Chip Research Receives Media Coverage
CCS-AD secure-chip research received media coverage for breakthrough computer chip security technology designed to resist attacks and strengthen trust in electronic systems.
CCS-AD Researchers Present BlackHat Power-Grid Vulnerability Research
CCS-AD researchers presented work at BlackHat on protecting the power grid from low-budget attacks, with related coverage on GE software vulnerabilities and industrial control system security.
CCS-AD Research on Smart Cities and Traffic Security Featured by NYUAD
NYUAD featured CCS-AD-related research on how smart cities can address traffic troubles, connecting cybersecurity, transportation systems, and cyber-physical infrastructure.
Read featureDr. Hoda Alkhzaimi Featured for UAE Cybersecurity Leadership
Dr. Hoda Alkhzaimi was featured for her cybersecurity leadership and her role in advancing cyber resilience and research capacity at NYU Abu Dhabi.
Read featureCCS-AD Partial Fingerprint Research Receives International Media Coverage
CCS-AD-related research on partial fingerprint similarities and biometric security received media coverage for showing how fingerprint systems on smartphones can be vulnerable to attack.
CCS-AD Hosts ACM ASIACCS 2017 at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD hosted ACM ASIACCS 2017 at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing together researchers for a major conference on computer and communications security with local and international partners.
CCS-AD Hosts Facial Recognition for Enhanced Security Applications Event
CCS-AD hosted an event on facial recognition for enhanced security applications, highlighting biometric technologies and their role in secure identity systems.
View eventCCS-AD Organizes IEEE SPS Winter School on Security and Privacy in Biometrics
CCS-AD organized the IEEE SPS Winter School on Security and Privacy Issues in Biometrics, bringing together researchers to study biometric security, privacy, and anti-spoofing techniques.
View schoolCCS-AD Organizes IEEE WIFS 2016 at NYU Abu Dhabi
CCS-AD organized the IEEE International Workshop on Information Forensics and Security at NYU Abu Dhabi, convening researchers for sessions on forensics, biometrics, multimedia security, privacy, hardware security, and network traffic analysis.
View workshopCCS-AD Supports UAE Cybersecurity Outreach and Industry Engagement
CCS-AD supported UAE cybersecurity outreach and industry engagement through activities connected to open-source hardware security and cryptography tools, FinTech security discussions, and banking-sector information-sharing initiatives.
Dr. Hoda Alkhzaimi Appointed as First Female Emirati Director at NYU Abu Dhabi Center for Cyber Security
Dr. Hoda Alkhzaimi was appointed as the first female Emirati director at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Center for Cyber Security, strengthening the Center’s leadership and local engagement.
Read moreCCS-AD Research on Smart Cities Security Featured in The National
CCS-AD research and expertise were featured in coverage on keeping the UAE safe from cyber attack, emphasizing local cybersecurity capacity and smart-city resilience.
Read articleCCS-AD Hosts UAE Third Annual Cyber Security Day
CCS-AD hosted the UAE Third Annual Cyber Security Day, convening regional stakeholders to discuss cybercrime, cyberwarfare, cryptographic hardware, secure 3D printing, and cybersecurity research challenges.
Read moreNYUAD Researchers Build Secure System for Encrypted Cloud Computing
NYUAD researchers built a secure system for encrypted cloud computing, contributing to privacy-preserving computation and secure processing of sensitive data.
Read moreCCS-AD Research Featured in “Not Just a Technology Problem”
NYUAD featured CCS-AD-related cybersecurity research in “Not Just a Technology Problem,” highlighting how security challenges involve both technical systems and human behavior.
Read featureCCS-AD Team Represents the MENA Region at Atlantic Council Spring 9/12 Challenge
A CCS-AD team represented the MENA region at the Atlantic Council Spring 9/12 Challenge, highlighting student engagement with cybersecurity policy, strategy, and crisis-response exercises.
Research Videos
Watch CCS-AD researchers explain, demonstrate, and discuss their work.
July 20, 2025
Professor Christina Pöpper Featured in World Police Summit Podcast
Professor Christina Pöpper discusses how secure-system design, privacy protection, and emerging digital threats relate to the challenges faced by law-enforcement and security professionals. She also highlights the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, and public-safety organizations.
Watch videoFeb 10, 2022
TinyML Talks: Energy-Efficiency and Security
Talk by Professor Muhammad Shafique
Professor Muhammad Shafique presents cross-layer techniques for building energy-efficient, robust machine-learning systems for tinyML and EdgeAI applications, including autonomous vehicles, robotics, healthcare wearables, and the Industrial Internet of Things.
Watch videoNov 14, 2021
Graph Neural Networks (GNNs)
CCS-AD researchers represent circuits as graphs and use graph neural networks to learn their properties, helping identify critical vulnerabilities in design-for-trust solutions intended to protect hardware.
Watch videoNov 14, 2021
Cybersecurity Implications of Construction 4.0
Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi’s S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group, led by Professor Borja García de Soto with support from CCS-AD, examine the privacy and security risks created by the construction industry’s growing use of digitalization, automation, and remotely controlled systems.
Watch videoNov 14, 2021
Change Your Pa55w0rd – Fragattacks
CCS-AD-affiliated research uncovered design flaws in WPA3 and FragAttacks vulnerabilities affecting Wi-Fi devices. The researchers collaborated with industry on security updates and recommend regularly updating connected devices.
Watch videoProfessor Ozgur Sinanoglu Named IEEE Fellow, Class of 2026
Jan 1, 2026
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu, Director of the Center for Cyber Security at NYU Abu Dhabi, has been named an IEEE Fellow, Class of 2026. This prestigious recognition honors his pioneering contributions to design-for-trust and hardware security, marking a major milestone in his distinguished career.
CCS-AD Reports Strong AY2025–26 Research Output
Mar 31, 2026
The Center for Cyber Security at NYU Abu Dhabi reported a highly productive AY2025–26, with research spanning hardware security, privacy-preserving computation, industrial control systems security, machine learning security, biochip security, blockchain security, and construction cybersecurity.
During the reporting period, CCS-AD produced 1 book, 1 book chapter, 20 journal papers, 78 conference papers, 1 issued patent, and 2 US patent filings.
CCS-AD Researchers Recognized at Qualcomm University Platform Symposium 2026
May 13, 2026
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Dr. Rachmad V. W. Putra, and Ali Noor were recognized at Qualcomm’s University Platform Symposium 2026 with the Exceptional Educational Project Demonstration Award for the work titled “Enabling Efficient Mobile-AI Application with Neural Network Optimization and Flexible Compute Engine Selection.”
Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu Chairs Government Data Innovation & Governance Summit 2026
Feb 10, 2026
Our Director, Professor Ozgur Sinanoglu, served as Chairperson of the Government Data Innovation & Governance Summit 2026 in Abu Dhabi.
The summit brought together leaders to advance secure data governance and digital resilience. His leadership reflects the Center for Cyber Security at New York University Abu Dhabi’s commitment to strengthening trusted digital infrastructure through research and collaboration.
CCS-AD Participates in World Police Summit 2025
May 13–15, 2025
CCS-AD participated in the World Police Summit 2025 in Dubai, contributing to discussions on technology, crime, security, and international regulation. The Center also showcased cybersecurity research and initiatives addressing regional and global security challenges.
Professor Muhammad Shafique Selected as IEEE Featured Author
Oct 21, 2025
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Co-PI of CCS-AD, was selected as an IEEE Featured Author for research connecting AI, cybersecurity, and quantum technology.
Professor Muhammad Shafique Receives 2025 AI 2000 Honorable Mention in Chip Technology
Sep 23, 2025
Professor Muhammad Shafique, Co-PI of CCS-AD, received the 2025 AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Award Honorable Mention in Chip Technology.
Professor Muhammad Shafique Receives 2024 AI 2000 Honorable Mention in Chip Technology
Mar 5, 2024
Professor Muhammad Shafique received the 2024 AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Award Honorable Mention in Chip Technology, recognizing his outstanding research contributions in the field.
