Undergraduate Research Experience
in Machine-Learning based Cybersecurity
Supported by NSF
San Jose State University
NSF Award #2244597
Are you an undergraduate student interested in machine learning and cybersecurity? Please apply for our summer camp supported by NSF (National Science Foundation).
This project aims to develop a cybersecurity workforce at the SJSU REU site by training various machine learning and deep learning in different cybersecurity fields, such as networks and software. Our team will also provide an exemplary model for the student group as a leader in cybersecurity.
Take the opportunity to enhance your resume by working on state-of-the-art research in the cybersecurity field.
You will learn the tools and practices used by experts in network security, intrusion detection, malware detection, and more.
Examples of research projects are:
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Malicious Network Traffic Analysis by using Recurrent Neural Network
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ML-based Real-time Intrusion Detection and Response System in SDN
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Autocorrelation and entropic analysis of malicious networking traffic
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Machine Learning Framework for unknown malware detection
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Online social networks bots’ Detection with Benford’s Law and Machine Learning
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LLM-based security solutions
You can search for our NSF REU program with the award # 2244597 at the NSF ETAP site.
Notification will be announced around the end of March or April.
Also, there are other summer research camps at SVCSI.
Please check the event section on the SVCSI website.
Requirements:
You need to work 40 hours per week.
A culminating poster presentation will be required, summarizing the experiments and results of your research.
We encourage you to write a research paper under our mentorship.
Benefits:
Our team will provide a close mentorship for your strong research experience.
You will be granted a stipend of $7,000 for 10 weeks.
You will receive $1,000 to cover food expenses.
You can request a dorm at SJSU, valued at around $2,500.
You can build up a cybersecurity professional network continuously.
Eligibility Requirements
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To apply, you must be a United States citizen, national, or permanent resident. International students are not eligible for this program.
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Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program.
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No prior research experience is required.
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Prefer to have at least a 3.0 or above GPA.
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Python programming skills with reliability are required.
The 10-week NSF REU summer research camp at San José State University was conducted from May 26, 2026 to August 1, 2026, providing undergraduate students with hands-on experience in machine learning–based cybersecurity.
The program began with a two-week machine learning training and research seminar period (late May–early June 2026), where students learned fundamental topics such as neural networks, optimization, and deep learning methods.
Following this, students engaged in full-time research activities throughout June and July 2026 (9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday). During this period, they worked in teams on projects such as malware generation, intrusion detection, and graph neural networks, conducting literature reviews, implementing models, and performing experimental evaluations under daily faculty mentorship.
As part of professional development, students participated in the IEEE Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Conference (June 23–25, 2026) as volunteers, gaining exposure to industry trends and networking opportunities. Throughout the camp (June–July 2026), additional activities included research seminars, guidance on graduate and industry career pathways, training in research paper writing, and poster preparation.
The program concluded with a final poster session at the end of the camp (late July / by August 1, 2026), where students presented their research findings, delivered formal presentations, and engaged in Q&A with faculty, peers, and guests.
Overall, the camp successfully enhanced students’ technical expertise, research skills, and professional readiness for careers or advanced study in cybersecurity.
NSF REU Summer Camp 2025
NSF REU Summer Camp 2024
The summer research camp for women undergraduate students wrapped up with a final poster day on August 16, 2024. Eight female undergraduates, supported by NSF, showcased their research projects at the new Interdisciplinary Science Building (ISB) at SJSU, inspiring their peers with their hard work and achievements. During the camp, students had the exciting opportunity to visit Google’s headquarters, where they met with an engineer to discuss the interview process.
The program concluded with a lively celebration during poster day, where students proudly presented their research to friends, family, and guests. Reflecting on their experiences, the students expressed excitement about both their personal and academic growth throughout the summer. Energized by the guidance of faculty and motivated by their accomplishments, they left the camp more determined than ever to pursue careers in cybersecurity.
The NSF REU program supported the camp under the leadership of Dr. Younghee Park (PI) and Dr. Fabio (co-PI). Special thanks to our graduate assistants, Duy Tran and Cody Ourique, and to Dr. Bernardo Flores, who advised Eval Wilson. Below is the list of 2024 participants and their project topics. Thank you to everyone for your support and hard work!
NSF REU Summer Camp 2023
We had 5 female students who worked in the summer research amp at San Jose State University from June 5, 2023, to August 11, 2023. During the camp, we had intensive ML technique training and shared our previous research outcomes with our campers. They worked on their research topic based on their interests. Some students were working as a team to research the same topic. Some students finished Coursera Python and ML courses to prepare for their research. We read through many research papers together in our weekly group meetings. Every day, each student discussed their challenges with our faculties and our student assistants (Duy and Kelsey Nguyen) who have researched cybersecurity with Dr.Park and Dr. Troia for more than 1.5 years before this camp. On August 4, we had a poster presentation session to show off their research with a guest speaker, Bryce Westlake at SJSU. We appreciate your participation and our student assistants to finish our camp successfully.
Advisors: Younghee Park & Fabio Di Troia
REU 2023 Participants: Felicity Shih (University of California at Santa Cruz), Meagan Vu (Santa Clara University), Ananya Pagadala (Santa Clara University), Sohini Bagchi (San Jose State University), Shivani Belambe (San Jose State University)
REU Student Assistants: Duy Tran (Computer Science, SJSU) & Kelsey Nguyen (Software Engineering, SJSU).