Secure Sensing and Learning (SSL) Research Lab
Our Group
Principal Investigator
Diksha is interested in designing secure and privacy preserving machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing models. Her research spans applications of these models to wearable devices, biometrics, attack-averse authentication, and side channel attack formulation.
PhD Student, CS
Sindhu's Ph.D. research focuses on both offensive and defensive analysis of behavior biometrics on wearable devices. She is interested in analyzing side channels to uncover security vulnerabilities in smart wearables and is developing active authentication system(s) using behavioral biometrics.
PhD Student, CS
Paul is interested in Machine Learning and its applications in Cybersecurity. He is exploring active authentication models for mixed reality systems.
PhD Student, CS
Mohamad's research focuses on optimizing Multimodal Large Language Models (MLLMs) to enhance their reasoning capabilities. His work involves accelerating LLMs through advanced techniques such as pruning, ensuring performance is maintained or improved. He has hands-on experience with foundational models, having previously interned at Numenta Inc., and is currently developing innovative approaches like Mixture of Depth (MoD), Mixture of Experts (MoE) for resamplers, and attention pruning to push the boundaries of MLLM efficiency and scalability.
PhD Student, CS
Soudabeh is actively delving into the realm of utilizing users' brain signals for identity verification and their applications in brain-controlled computer interfaces. In her ongoing endeavors, she is pioneering the development of innovative authentication systems that harness the distinctive neural responses of individuals. Her research seamlessly combines principles from neuroscience with advanced computational techniques, with the ultimate goal of establishing enhanced security and convenience in human-computer interactions.
PhD Student, CS
Michael’s research interest lies in applying machine learning (ML) to enhance cybersecurity, with a particular focus on side-channel attacks. He explores the development of ML models that can detect and mitigate these vulnerabilities, aiming to improve system security in both traditional and emerging environments, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). His work seeks to advance the resilience of cyber-physical systems and immersive technologies against complex and evolving cybersecurity threats.
MS Student, CS
Selma's research focuses on the security and privacy of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) systems. She explores potential side-channel information that could compromise user data or system integrity within these immersive technologies. Her work aims to design more secure authentication mechanisms to ensure safe user interactions in VR/AR environments. Through her research, Selma seeks to contribute to the advancement of secure and trustworthy immersive technologies.
MS Student, AI
Nathaniel's research focuses on image processing, specifically how various contextual information in an image can be used to more accurately identify objects. His research also focuses on methods to determine if any objects within an image are out of place, and thus may be some form of attack.
Undergradaute Researcher
Shruthika is an undergraduate researcher at the Secure Sensing and Learning Research Lab. She is particularly interested in the intersection of biology and technology, exploring how biological signals can be utilized for security and authentication. Her current research focuses on using EEG-measured brain signals to develop authentication mechanisms for VR/AR devices. She is currently an undergraduate student studying biomedical engineering at Purdue University.
Undergradaute Researcher
Zach research focuses on developing and testing methods for user authentication using EEG brainwave biometrics. His work involves working with an array of different algorithms, hardware, and response extraction protocols founded in neuroscience. The ultimate goal of his research is to make brainwave biometric authentication a viable alternative to other biometrics, like fingerprint and facial ID.
Undergradaute Student, CS
Jacob is interested in Virtual Reality systems, applications, and security. He is currently developing an AI-generated authentication system for VR headsets that utilizes N170-response from the user's brain using familar and unfamilar faces as an external stimuli.
Undergradaute Researcher
This position is open for undergraduate research opportunities. If you are interested in joining the Secure Sensing and Learning Research Lab, please reach out to Dr. Diksha Shukla for more information.
SSL Research Lab Alumni
Undergraduate Researcher (Graduated - Spring 2024) → TBA
Undergraduate Researcher (Graduated - Spring 2022) → Now MS Student at Indiana University
Ashlyn Lindsay
REU Student, Summer 2022, Undergraduate Student → Laramie County Community College
Austin Youngren
REU Student, Summer 2022, Undergraduate Student → Front Range Community College
Jacob Karen
REU Student, Summer 2021, Undergraduate Student → William & Mary
Christine Wang
REU Student, Summer 2021, Undergraduate Student → William & Mary
Julia Ding
Athena by WiSTEM Student (Talaria), Summer 2021