Experts Guide
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Alfredo Weitzenfeld
Professor of computer science
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Weitzenfeld is director of the USF Biorobotics Laboratory. He studies biologically-inspired robotics, cognitive robotics, multi-robot systems, human-robot interaction, robot learning, robot navigation, spatial cognition, reinforcement learning, spatio-temporal learning and computational neuroscience.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 974-3652
Email: aweitzenfeld@usf.edu
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Anshuman Chhabra
Assistant professor of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Chhabra is a computer scientist with expertise in next-generation AI models across multiple domains: from Natural Language Processing (e.g. LLMs such as ChatGPT) to Computer Vision. He leads the PALM Lab at USF where he and his team develop approaches that can augment the safety of AI models and systems (e.g. security, privacy, and robustness), safeguarding users from potential negative outcomes. He teaches courses on Large Language Models and Fair/Trustworthy AI.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: anshumanc@usf.edu
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Howell is an expert in cybercriminal behavior and motivation, darknet markets and stolen data supply chains, digital forensics and incident response, AI-driven threat intelligence systems, cyber-enabled financial fraud and account takeovers and cybersecurity strategy for critical infrastructure.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: cjhowell@usf.edu
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Fengchun Qiao
Assistant professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Qiao teaches an undergraduate course in algorithms, a foundational subject that introduces students to the design and analysis of efficient computational methods for solving real-world problems. He also studies machine learning and AI. Before USF, Qiao conducted research in the Deep-REAL Lab at the University of Delaware, where he focused on out-of-distribution generalization. He also interned at AWS AI Labs, where he worked on vision-language models.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: fengchun@usf.edu
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Burruss studies policing, homeland security and victimization in cyberspace. His research examines the structure and function of criminal justice agencies and the evolving landscape of cybercrime. He studies the causes and consequences of online offending and victimization, and how law enforcement and cybersecurity professionals respond to digital threats. He is affiliated with Cyber Florida, the state’s center for cybersecurity, and serves as a Faculty Fellow with both the Global and National Security Institute and Rapid7. He is the founding director of CIBR Lab — the Cybercrime Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Laboratory — which trains students in research on cybercrime and cybersecurity.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: gburruss@usf.edu
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Javidi teaches courses in cybersecurity in USF's School of Information Systems, Muma College of Business. She also serves as the academic director of the Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Management undergraduate program. Her research interests include design solutions for secure smart devices, cybersecurity management and analytics and data analytics applications in business.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (941) 359-4257
Email: javidi@usf.edu
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H. Henrick Jeanty
Assistant professor of computer science
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Jeanty's research focuses on object-oriented software design, logic design and teaching about the ethical issues associated with cyber technology. He has worked in industry for companies including United Parcel Service, Nielsen Media Research and IBM.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: hjeanty@mail.usf.edu
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Jay Ligatti
Professor of computer science engineering
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Ligatti is an expert in runtime security mechanisms, authentication, policy composition, injection attacks, enforceability theory, type systems, subtyping and policy-specification languages.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: ligatti@usf.edu
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Jiajun Huang
Assistant professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Huang leads the High Performance & Intelligence Lab (π Lab), which focuses on building high-performance systems for large-scale artificial intelligence and scientific applications. He is developing a new course in high-performance computing, a critical specialty area that powers modern AI and scientific applications. He also teaches undergraduate computer architecture, which helps students understand the fundamentals of computing systems and their real-world hardware and software challenges.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: jiajunhuang@usf.edu
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John Licato
Associate professor of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Licato is a foremost expert on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. His research focuses on AI, NLP, human reasoning, cognitive modeling and legal/regulatory reasoning, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications. He is founder/director of the Advancing Machine and Human Reasoning (AMHR) Lab and owner of the startup company Actualization.AI.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: licato@usf.edu
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Julia Woodward
Assistant professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Woodward studies human-computer and child-computer interaction. Her research has focused on the impact of artificial intelligence and smart technologies such as virtual and augmented reality on the development of younger children and adolescents — and the role of parents and educators.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: juliaevewoodward@usf.edu
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Karni Chagal-Feferkorn
Assistant professor of instruction — Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Chagal-Feferkorn is a legal scholar and an attorney whose work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, law and public policy. She can discuss AI ethics, legal liability and damages related to AI product development, the risks AI poses to children and how to mitigate them, and how scientists, engineers and policymakers can work together to improve AI designs.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: karnif@usf.edu
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Dutta has 22 years of professional and research experience in the field of enterprise IT infrastructure, data analytics and big data systems. He is a professor in the School of Information Systems. His current research interest is big data analytics. Dutta's primary expertise combines operations research and data mining techniques with computer science systems knowledge to efficiently handle big data and manage large IT infrastructure. He has been the mentor of two startups out of USF in the NSF-iCorps program.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 974-6338
Email: duttak@usf.edu
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Kurt Friday
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Friday is an assistant professor of instruction with expertise designing real‑time, efficient and practical solutions for cybersecurity, forensics and AI. Drawing on his collaborations with industry, government and critical‑sector partners, he is developing hands‑on, industry‑focused courses that expose students to technologies they will encounter in their careers and equip them with the skills to excel from day one.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: kurtfriday@usf.edu
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Chen's research focuses on quantum engineering (communications, computing, machine learning, sensing, cryptography and photonics); artificial intelligence and multi-robot systems with applications to smart factory and self-driving; wireless communications and networking, particularly 6G and communication for AI; cryptographic systems, post-quantum cryptography and cybersecurity; and social networks and data analytics.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: kwangcheng@usf.edu
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Lawrence Hall
Distinguished University Professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Hall is an expert in artificial intelligence and teaches courses in data mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. He can discuss AI regulation, AI in image processing and AI and its effects on jobs and the workplace. His research interests include integrating multimodal foundation models into medical image analysis, large language model stability, robust learned models for vision recognition tasks and explainable AI.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 787-8170
Email: lohall@usf.edu
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Hagen's research focuses on how to apply artificial intelligence and big data for social science research and government decision making. Current interests are in the domains of human-centered data science, social media, cybersecurity, public health crisis and undergraduate data science education.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: lonihagen@usf.edu
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Marbin Pazos Revilla
Assistant professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Pazos Revilla is an engineer with expertise in critical infrastructure cybersecurity, who researches consumer, industrial and enterprise cybersecurity. He can discuss those topics in addition to the Internet of Things and advancements in cybersecurity and engineering education, including his involvement with USF's CyberHerd student competitive team and Whitehatters Computer Security Club.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: marbin@usf.edu
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Md Rabbi Alam
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Alam is an assistant professor of instruction in the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. He joined the college in 2025 and teaches courses in cybersecurity, computer systems, and operating systems. He is also developing new offerings in malware analysis and adversarial modeling that emphasize real-world application and hands-on student engagement. Before pursuing his academic credentials, Alam worked as an engineer at Kona Software Labs Ltd, where he created mobile payment apps, worked on point-of-sale terminals, designed and developed authentication protocols, and integrated a payment platform with banking systems.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: mdrabbi@usf.edu
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Mehran Mozaffari Kermani
Associate professor and director of graduate programs
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Kermani's research interests are fault diagnosis and tolerance in cryptography, cryptographic engineering and computer arithmetic.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: mehran2@usf.edu
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Ghani's research focuses on cybersecurity, including ransomware analysis, denial-of-service attack mitigation, Internet of Things security, cyber skills development and workforce training. He can also discuss cyberinfrastructure design, cloud computing and disaster recovery.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: nghani@usf.edu
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Robert Karam
Associate professor of Electrical Engineering
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Karam's research focuses on hardware security, Internet of Things, biomedical implants and reconfigurable computing. He is founder/director of the USF Interface Research Lab and can discuss energy-efficient and secure hardware design, including low-power design for on-chip AI/ML and signal processing with a focus on IoT and healthcare applications.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: rkaram@usf.edu
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Santosh Pandey
Assistant Professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Pandey teaches computer architecture, a core subject that explores how hardware and software interact to execute computing tasks efficiently and reliably. Before joining USF, he held research positions at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and, most recently, Google, where he contributed to projects focused on accelerating microarchitecture simulation with machine learning.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: spandey1@usf.edu
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Shaun Canavan
Associate Professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Canavan studies the intersection of psychology, math, and computer science. He is an expert in computer vision, affective computing and human-computing interaction. He research explores these areas as well as biometrics and image processing and pattern recognition.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 974-3137
Email: scanavan@usf.edu
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Shichen Zhang
Assistant Professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Zhang develops courses that reflect emerging areas in the field, including an integrated sensing and communication course that explores how existing wireless infrastructure can be repurposed for sensing applications. Before USF, he collaborated on projects spanning millimeter-wave networking to contactless RF-based health monitoring.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: szhang1@usf.edu
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Srinivas Katkoori
Professor of Computer Science Engineering
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Katkoori's research focuses on embedded system design, smart transportation, smart health, hardware security and Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) chip design Automation.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: katkoori@usf.edu
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Sriram Chellappan
Associate Professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Chellappan is an expert who can speak to issues related to AI and public health. He teaches courses related to Autmata theory and information security and privacy. He leads a research lab examines how to overcome critical emerging problems when societies and
computing technologies interact, while simultaneously enabling new applications.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 974-1379
Email: sriramc@usf.edu
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Gary studies cyber threats to elections, cyber threat actors and reasonings and cyber threats to public and private sectors. His focus is on cyber threat actors, who are responsible for cybercrimes including ransomware and cyber espionage. He was a highly-decorated career U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: sgary@usf.edu
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Walczak's primary research interests are in applied artificial intelligence systems (including artificial neural networks, expert and knowledge-based systems, cognitive modeling, machine learning and intelligent software agents), healthcare information systems, knowledge management and organizational learning and electronic commerce specializing in online auctions and virtual presence.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: swalczak@usf.edu
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Sarkar is the launch dean for the newly established Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. He is an expert in computer vision, predictive learning, biometrics, and AI. He has varied research interests, ranging from AI involving images and videos to biometrics and gait recognition to collaborative efforts mixing computer science with psychology, linguistics, medicine, and more. He has worked on projects to build computer vision/AI algorithms to anticipate and proactively assist with daily living activities, such as using a robotic arm on a wheelchair.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 974-2308
Email: sarkar@usf.edu
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Hyslip is a former U.S. Secret Service special agent who can discuss cybersecurity, cybercrime, financial cybercrime, digital espionage, computer hacking, cyberfraud, digital forensics, malware and DDoS attacks.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: thyslip@usf.edu
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Triparna de Vreede is an assistant professor of information systems. Her research expertise covers how AI can be harnessed to benefit society, human responses to AI and its impact on workplace behavior and AI consciousness and ethics in human-AI collaboration
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: tdvreede@usf.edu
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Liu is an NSF CAREER Award recipient who studies computer and network security with an emphasis on designing and implementing defense approaches that protect mobile, network and computer technologies from being undermined by adversaries. Her research interests also include security applications for cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things and machine learning.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 974-1079
Email: yliu21@mail.usf.edu
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Yicheng Tu
Professor of Computer Science Engineering
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Tu's research interest is in scientific data management, energy-efficient computer systems, high performance computing and data stream management systems. He is conducting research on accelerating key algorithms in various computational biology areas with modern parallel hardware systems. He is the recipient of a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: ytu@cse.usf.edu
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Sun the director of USF Center for Innovation, Technology and Aging who is an expert in robotics, AI, deep learning, biomarkers, healthcare applications, and technology for aging. He teaches courses in these areas.
Area(s) of Expertise
Phone Number: (813) 974-7508
Email: yusun@cse.usf.edu
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Zhao Han
Assistant professor
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Han studies human-robot interaction, robotics, artificial intelligence and augmented reality. He designs, develops and evaluates novel robotic systems and experiences with a focus on improving their interaction and collaboration with humans.
Area(s) of Expertise
Email: zhaohan@usf.edu