Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Inspiring Innovation
talk: Ian Blumenfeld on Interactive Proof Assistants for Verification, Fri 1/31
The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab presents
Interactive Proof Assistants for Verification
Ian Blumenfeld Principal Research Mathematician Two Six Labs
12:00-1:00 pm Friday, 31 January 2020, ITE 227
Many advances have been made in software and hardware assurance using automated tooling. Constraint-based solving tools like SAT and SMT solvers have proved very useful proving functional correctness in the world of software, while the hardware world relies heavily on the use of industrial-strength model checkers to provide formal verification of important properties like liveness and non-interference. Sometimes, however, push-button tools are simply not enough. In this talk, we will discuss formal mathematical reasoning using interactive proof assistants, particularly Isabelle. While Isabelle is often thought of as a tool for checking the work of mathematicians, it is, in fact, a powerful engine for reasoning about software and hardware security. We will work through an example of the verification of a multi-precision arithmetic software library using Isabelle. This talk is aimed at total beginners in the realm of automated theorem proving, and seeks to provide an overview of the fundamental techniques and ideas.
Ian Blumenfeld is a Principal Research Mathematician at Two Six Labs. He currently is the principal investigator of TwoSix’s efforts on the DARPA SafeDocs program, attempting to help do type-theoretic reasoning about document specification formats. He is a former employee of Apple where he worked on the formal verification team, ensuring the security of the iPhone SEP chip. He has done extensive work verifying cyber-physical systems at Johns Hopkins APL. Mr. Blumenfeld’s interest in formal methods began with his time working as an Applied Research Mathematician in NSA’s Research Directorate. He’s also a pretty good swing dancer.
Host: Alan T. Sherman,
Support for this event was provided in part by the National Science Foundation under SFS grant DGE-1753681.
The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab meets biweekly Fridays. All meetings are open to the public.
JHU/APL CIRCUIT internship program information session, 3pm Fri 1/31
JHU/APL CIRCUIT internship program information session
3:00-4:00 pm Friday, 31 January 2020
ITE 459, UMBC
There will be a special information session on the JHU/APL CIRCUIT internship program from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Friday, 31 January 2020 in room ITE 459.
This session is for undergraduates who want to spend their summer (June through August) getting paid to do mentored research at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. The research areas include AI, data science, cybersecurity, precision medicine, and planetary exploration.
Interns selected for the program will do mission-oriented research on-site at JHU/APL in Laurel MD mentored by STEM professionals. There will also be year-round opportunities for engagement and enrichment. The selection for an internship will be based on a combination of potential, need and commitment.
Email or with questions.
Global Game Jam at UMBC, 5pm Fri 1/31 – 5pm Sun 2/2
The GGJ is the largest game jam event with 850 physical locations in 113 countries. In 2019 it had over 47,000 participants, who made 9,010 games together in 48 hours.
For the 12th(!) year in a row, UMBC is the Baltimore host site for the Global Game Jam! It will run from 5:00 pm Friday, January 31st to 5:00 pm Sunday, February 2nd, just after classes start. Space is limited, so sign up now!
For anyone who hasn’t participated, the global game jam is a 48-hour game development event, similar in spirit to a hackathon, with hundreds of host sites around the world. At 5:00 pm local time, introduce the jam and announce this year’s theme. Previous year’s themes have ranged from a phrase (“as long as we’re together there will always be problems”) to a word (“extinction”) to an image (ouroboros: a snake eating its tail), to a sound (the recording of a heartbeat). Participants brainstorm game ideas around the theme, form into teams, and spend the weekend building games that are designed to be both fun and express the theme.
The UMBC site is not restricted to just students. In previous years, we have had a mix of UMBC students, alumni, students from other schools, game development professionals, and just people with an interest in game development. You can get more information on game jams, the GGJ, and the UMBC site on the UMBC Games, Animation and Interactive Media web page.
The UMBC site is limited to just 40 participants, so sign up early if you want to come. If you are not near UMBC, check the main Global Game Jam site for a participating location near you.
UMBC fields two teams in 2019 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship
UMBC fields two teams in 2019 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship
The UMBC Chess program has two four-player teams competing in the 2019 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship this weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. The four day tournament starts this Friday evening at 6:30 and finishes with a final round on Monday morning. The Pan-Am collegiate chess team competition has been held since 1946 and UMBC has won ten times since 1996, tying with the University of Texas Dallas for the most number of wins.
The tentative composition of the two teams in the tournament is:
Team A: GM Tanguy Ringoir; WIM Mai Narva; IM Rohan Ahuja; IM Marek Matyas; and WIM Ewa Harazinska (alternate).
Team B: Maor Leker; Douglas M Malcolm; Danielle Sharp; and Kabindra B Shahi.
The team is coached by Igor Epshteyn. CSEE Professor Alan Sherman is the founder and the director of the UMBC Chess program.
The top four USA schools from this six-round team Swiss championship will advance to the Final Four in April. Initially, UMBC was ranked 8th top school and 16th top team among 63 teams (some schools have multiple strong teams). The Pan-Am Intercollegiate is open to any college or university in North, Central, or South America.
You can follow UMBC’s progress at the Pan-AM website and keep track of the games, pairings, and standings at the 2019 Pan Am web site.
Spring 2020: Computing Courses for Non-Majors
CMSC 201, Computer Science I (section for non-CS/non-CE majors)
Does your major require you to take
CMSC 201? Or are you looking for an entry-level computing course
to supplement your major?
Enroll in a special section of CMSC 201
Computer Science I (Lecture Section 40; Lab Section 41 or 42) that
emphasizes programming topics applicable to many non-CS disciplines.
You will also receive more individual attention in this smaller
CMSC 201 section!
This section fulfills any major’s
requirement for CMSC 201 and is open to all non-CS, non-computer
engineering majors.
No programming experience is
required. The only prerequisite is that students must have
completed MATH 150, 151 or 152 with a C or better; OR have MATH test
placement into MATH 151; OR have completed MATH 155 with a C or
better.
For permission to enroll, email Dr. Ben Johnson at .
CMSC 291, Continued Computing for Non-majors (3 credits, lecture only, Section 01)
Looking for computing skills beyond
CMSC 201?
In CMSC 291, you
will extend your Python programming knowledge, as well as learn
valuable skills such as programming on your Windows/Mac OS/Linux
computer, controlling your source code, web application development,
web scraping (gathering data from existing websites), and database
usage. There will also be plenty of in-class, hands-on time!
The course prerequisite is CMSC 201
Computer Science I (for majors or non-majors).
For permission to enroll, email Dr. Ben
Johnson at .
UMBC seeks Professor of the Practice, Graduate Program Director, Engineering Programs
Professor of the Practice and Graduate Program Director, Engineering Programs
The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications for a 12-month, Full Time, Non-tenure track Professor of the Practice position in the Engineering and Computing Education Program (ECEP).
RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Dean of COEIT, this position serves as the Graduate Program Director of UMBC’s suite of industry-oriented engineering programs leading to a graduate certificate, and Master of Science degree, and Masters of Professional Studies degree. The suite of engineering programs include Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, Technical Management, Integrated Product Development & Manufacturing and Project Management. These programs are offered to professional students through a partnership between the College of Engineering and Information Technology and UMBC’s Division of Professional Studies (DPS). The incumbent will teach up to two courses per semester within the suite of engineering programs. In addition to teaching, the incumbent will: oversee curriculum and instruction; recruit and supervise qualified part-time faculty; collaborate with DPS on program marketing, student recruitment and retention activities; pursue business development opportunities with industry; manage program Advisory Boards; build the programs and connect the programs with other existing and new opportunities, and carry out the administrative duties associated with academic program oversight.
UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research and service. Located between Baltimore and Washington D.C., it offers numerous opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research and service as well as rich cultural resources. UMBC has been listed by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the best universities for undergraduate teaching and as a leading innovator in higher education, and it was named as a Great College to Work For by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) is comprised of four departments: Chemical, Biochemical & Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, and Mechanical Engineering. The faculty and staff of COEIT achieve many noteworthy accomplishments in the pursuit of academic excellence and are highly committed to supporting students in their academic journey.
Inclusive excellence is a foundational value of our community. UMBC is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and has a strong commitment to increasing faculty diversity. We seek to attract a diverse pool of candidates for this position and therefore members of under-represented groups including women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Experience: Requires a doctorate degree in a relevant field with at least five years of relevant professional experience and documented college-level teaching in the classroom and/or on-line environment. Extensive experience as an engineering professional is desired.
Application Instructions
APPLICATION: For best consideration, submit a cover letter of interest, CV, a statement of purpose including a paragraph on commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the names and telephone numbers of three professional references through the Interfolio website at https://apply.interfolio.com/72004. Document review and selection of candidates will start immediately. Position will remain open until filled.
For any questions about this position, please contact Maria Sanchez at
UMBC computer science degree comes to Shady Grove
The Universities at Shady Grove offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs from nine Maryland public universities on one convenient campus in Montgomery County
UMBC computer science degree comes to Shady Grove
New offering brings highly regarded program to more students
by Megan Hanks UMBC will now offer an undergraduate degree program in computer science at the Universities at Shady Grove, a Montgomery County campus that UMBC shares with eight other Maryland public universities. This is the first of several planned undergraduate programs from UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology that have been approved to be offered at Shady Grove, which also offers UMBC graduate and certificate programs in cybersecurity and data science.
The University System of Maryland and Shady Grove have been working to bring STEM programs like computer science to Montgomery County, which has a strong tech industry. Offering this program at Shady Grove reflects UMBC’s commitment to the state’s economic development and helping students access career opportunities, explains Allison Jones, director of program and partnership development in UMBC’s Division of Professional Studies.
Anupam Joshi, professor and chair of computer science and electrical engineering at UMBC, explains that the UMBC-Shady Grove program will match the current, popular undergraduate computer science program at UMBC’s main campus. This new offering brings UMBC’s highly regarded faculty and curriculum to a larger number of students in an area with high demand for computer science education.
Given the large number of Montgomery College alumni attending programs at Shady Grove, UMBC and Montgomery College have worked together closely to align their computer science curricula. This will enable computer science students to seamlessly transfer from Montgomery College to UMBC-Shady Grove. Jeannette Kartchner, former chair of computer science at Montgomery College, has been instrumental in getting the program off the ground. She is now associate program director for computer science at UMBC-Shady Grove.
With undergraduate computer science courses available at two locations, UMBC is poised to address “a huge, unmet demand for computer science education across Maryland,” in a thoughtful way that efficiently utilizes university resources, says Joshi. “We’re excited to bring this innovative program to USG.”
Open rank tenure track faculty positions in computer science at UMBC (2020)
UMBC CSEE Professor Tinoosh Mohsenin discusses her research on developing low power DSP and machine learning algorithms for personalized health monitoring and assistive devices
Computer Science Professor
Two tenure-track, open rank positions
University of Maryland, Baltimore
County (UMBC) Department of Computer Science and Electrical
Engineering
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) invites applications for two, open rank, tenured/tenure-track positions in Computer Science (CS) to begin in the Fall of 2020. Applicants should have or be completing a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, have demonstrated the ability to pursue a research program, have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence. Candidates will be expected to build and lead a team of student researchers, obtain external research support, and teach both graduate and undergraduate courses.
We welcome candidates in all areas of specialization in Computer Science. Some areas of interest for applicants include but are not limited to: information assurance and cybersecurity; mobile, wearable, and IoT systems; big data with an emphasis on machine learning, brain-inspired methods, and high-performance computing; knowledge and database systems; and graphics and visualization.
We are committed to inclusive excellence and innovation and welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. UMBC is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
The CSEE department is research-oriented and multi-disciplinary with programs in Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), Data Science, and Cybersecurity. Our faculty (37 tenure-track, 16 teaching, and 18 research) enjoy collaboration, working across our specializations as well as with colleagues from other STEM, humanities and the arts departments, and external partners. We have more than 2,000 undergraduate CS and CE majors and more than 560 M.S. and Ph.D. students in our CS, CE, EE, Data Science, and Cybersecurity graduate programs. We have awarded 340 Ph.D. degrees since our establishment in 1986. Our research is supported by a growing and diverse portfolio from government and industrial sponsors with over $6M in yearly research expenditures. We work to help new colleagues be successful by providing competitive startup packages, reduced teaching loads, and active mentoring.
The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) at UMBC crosses the boundaries of engineering, computing, and information disciplines to develop research and educational programs that engage faculty, students, and staff from all of the disciplines. COEIT is deeply committed to the success of all of our faculty. We have formal programs including “launch committees” to encourage regular and structured mentorship for faculty to start successfully, mentoring programs to provide support in the longer term, shared services for grant finance support, grant writing and editing support, monthly gatherings in which faculty share lunch and community, and we encourage all of our faculty to participate in the university’s eminent scholar mentor program to build relationships with leaders in the field beyond UMBC. You can read more about these programs and our Diversity & Inclusion initiatives on our website at https://coeit.umbc.edu.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) community redefines excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. We advance knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds (http://facultydiversity.umbc.edu). According to the 2020 US News and World Best Colleges Report, UMBC placed 9th in the Most Innovative Schools category and 12th in the Best Undergraduate Teaching category. To continue to support this goal, the Faculty Development Center leads the Nation in supporting and guiding faculty in their educational mission with regular workshops and pedagogical demonstrations. The 2018 Chronicle of Higher Education also named UMBC as a Great College to Work For, for the ninth year in a row.
UMBC is a research-intensive university that is leading the world in inclusive excellence in research and teaching. We are redefining how to teach, and we are one of the most innovative universities in the Nation, according to US News. Our research is bold, cross disciplinary, and leverages our location near to the hospitals in Baltimore, NIH, NASA, NSF, and the USGS. Inclusive excellence also means being a strong community partner in Baltimore, and the UMBC Shriver Center and Center for Democracy and Civil life help forge and maintain connections. Social justice is core to our role in Baltimore, Maryland, and beyond.
UMBC’s campus is located on 500 acres just off I-95 between Baltimore and Washington DC, and less than 10 minutes from the BWI airport and Amtrak station. The campus includes the bwtech@UMBC research and technology park, which has special programs for startups focused on cybersecurity, clean energy, life sciences, and training. We are surrounded by one of the greatest concentrations of commercial, cultural, and scientific activity in the nation. Located at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore has all the advantages of modern, urban living, including professional sports, major art galleries, theaters, and a symphony orchestra. The city’s famous Inner Harbor area is an exciting center for entertainment and commerce. The nation’s capital, Washington, DC, is a great tourist attraction with its historical monuments and museums. Just ten minutes from downtown Baltimore and 30 from the D.C. Beltway, UMBC offers easy access to the region’s resources by car or public transportation.
Qualifications
Applicants should have or be completing a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, have demonstrated the ability to pursue a research program, and have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching. Candidates will be expected to build and lead a team of student researchers, obtain external research support, and teach both graduate and undergraduate courses.
We welcome candidates in all areas of specialization. Candidates that have research interests in collaborative areas between CS, CE and Electrical Engineering are encouraged to apply.
Some areas of interest for CS applicants include but are not limited to: information assurance and cybersecurity; mobile, wearable, and IoT systems; big data with an emphasis on machine learning, data science, brain-inspired methods, and high-performance computing; knowledge and database systems; visualization.
Some areas of interest for CE applicants include but are not limited to: hardware focused applicants in Digital, Analog, Mixed-mode VLSI design and test, integrated sensors and processing, SoC, new and emerging design technologies, hardware implementations for neuroscience and health-related wearables, cyber physical systems, hardware security and assurance.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit a cover letter, a statement of research
experience and interests, a statement of teaching experience and
interests, a statement of commitment to diversity and inclusive
excellence, a CV, and three letters of recommendation via interfolio. For full
consideration, please submit application materials by January 15th,
2020. Applications will be accepted until the position is
filled. Please send questions to and see http://csee.umbc.edu/jobs for more information.
UMBC Cyber Dawgs are named CyberForce national champions
The Cyber Dawgs at the CyberForce competition. From left, Charles Nicholas, Anna Staats, Drew Barrett, Grant Spencer, Cyrus Bonyadi, and Seamus Burke. Photo courtesy of Argonne National Lab.
UMBC Cyber Dawgs are named CyberForce national champions
UMBC’s Cyber Defense Team, known as the Cyber Dawgs, has emerged the national champion team in the U.S. Department of Energy’s fifth annual CyberForce Competition. The Cyber Dawgs earned first place overall out of more than 100 teams from universities across the country.
Ten national laboratories hosted competing teams this year, November 15 – 16. UMBC competed at the Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois, while other teams traveled to sites like the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington state and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Competing teams hailed from a broad range of institutions, including Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
The competition tasks students with defending critical energy infrastructure during simulated cyberattacks. The scenarios are designed to be realistic, focused on water and power systems and including real-world constraints, such as insufficient budget for system upkeep and limited information on system needs. During the competition, “red teams,” including industry professionals, attack the system, while the students work to ensure that the infrastructure is available to their customers, or “green teams,” who test system usability.
The teams receive points based on how successfully they address attacks, while still allowing users to access the infrastructure they need. The teams are also awarded points for innovative defense tactics and ideas. This year’s competition saw several leading teams with neck-and-neck scores until the final round, when UMBC’s Cyber Dawgs pulled ahead for the victory.
The competition offers students a unique opportunity to develop their cybersecurity skills in relation to critical infrastructure, and have hands-on experience in a realistic cyberattack situation.
“The CyberForce competition is the most unique of our annual events, allowing us to experiment with network configurations to defend an industrial control system against adversaries while playing the roles of an IT organization,” explains RJ Joyce ’18, M.S. ’20, computer science, a member of the winning team. “The hard work, dedication, and creativity that each member brought to the team lifted us from a regional win last year to a national win this year.”
In addition to Joyce, last weekend’s winning team included Anna Staats ’20, computer science; Drew Barrett ’20, computer science; Grant Spencer ’20, computer science; Cyrus Bonyadi, Ph.D. ’23, computer science; and Seamus Burke ’20, computer science.
“The team’s second national championship in three years shows the enthusiasm, grit, and tenacity of our students in demonstrating their technical cyber expertise in a competitive arena,” says Rick Forno, senior lecturer of computer science and assistant director of UMBC’s Center for Cybersecurity.
Forno advises the Cyber Dawgs with Charles Nicholas, professor of computer science and electrical engineering. “It’s an awesome thing not just for the team and university,” he says, “but for each competitor individually, as they prepare to enter the cybersecurity workforce after graduation.”
UMBC Cyberdawgs win first place in the 2019 DOE CyberForce Competition
UMBC’s CyberDawgs win first place in the 2019 DOE Cyberforce Competition
Cyberdawgs place first out of 105 teams in DOE’s 5th CyberForce Competition
Congratulations to the UMBC CyberDawgs team for their first place finish in a field of 105 collegiate teams in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fifth Annual CyberForce Competition. The distributed event was held at ten of the DOE’s National Laboratories and challenged 105 teams to defend a simulated energy infrastructure from cyber-attacks.
The took place on November 15 and 16 with the goal of bolstering the U.S. cybersecurity workforce by extending skill-building opportunities for students, offering memorable hands-on experiences and highlighting the crucial role this field plays in preserving national energy security. The Cyberdawgs participated at the Argonne National Laboratory site in Illinois.
During the competition, teams competed to defend their simulated infrastructure from attacks by adversarial “red teams” composed of industry professionals, all while maintaining service for their “green team” customers, played by volunteers. The scenarios included simulated industrial control system components, real-world anomalies and constraints, and interaction with users of the systems.
Teams were scored on their success in protecting the infrastructure against attacks while ensuring the usability of the system, with additional points awarded for innovative ideas and defenses.
The team that competed in this year’s competition was chosen from members of the CyberDawgs student group, composed of students from a variety of majors who share a common interest in computer and network security. No prior experience is required to join and any UMBC students who want to learn more about cybersecurity and learn new skills in the field are encouraged to subscribe to its mailing list and attend meetings.
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