CEC News
MSIT Students Nafeeul Walee and Damilola Elelegwu Presented Their Research at IEEE SoutheastCon 2024 in Atlanta
Information Technology has played an important role in many sectors and research areas, particularly in project management and cybersecurity. Our MSIT students recently presented their (team’s) research findings at the IEEE SoutheastCon 2024 in Atlanta on March 23.
Nafeeul Alam Walee and his team (with Tasnim Akter Onisha, Azeezat Akinola, and Gijs van Deventer) used machine learning techniques (logistic regression, linear regression, and decision tree regressor) to explore and compare the differences among various project management methods (Agile vs. others), and measured management impacts using prediction probabilities, classifications, confusion matrix, R-squared, and Mean Square Error (MSE). The research findings offer valuable insights into understanding Agile’s impact on IT industries, encouraging further exploration and refinements to make informed decisions on project management strategies and fostering future research to enhance IT project success rates. Their paper will soon be included in IEEE Xplore: Nafeeul Alam Walee, Tasnim Akter Onisha, Azeezat Akinola, Gijs van Deventer, and Lei Chen, “Impact of Agile Methodology in IT Industries: A Comparative Study”, in Proceedings of the IEEE SoutheastCon, Atlanta, March 21-24, 2024.
Damilola Elelegwu (graduated in Dec. 2023) introduced a novel browser extension designed to effectively thwart keylogger malware attacks. His approach analyzes input-related processes, promptly identifying and flagging any malicious activities through a developed browser add-on/extension, which empowers users with the immediate choice to terminate the suspicious process or validate its authenticity. According to Damilola, this is the first of its kind to offer end users such crucial real-time anti-keylogger control through a web browser. He is seeking possible patents and potential business collaborations from this research and development. His paper, co-authored with his thesis committee, will soon be included in IEEE Xplore: Damilola Elelegwu*, Lei Chen, Yiming Ji, and Jongyeop Kim, “A Novel Approach to Detecting and Mitigating Keyloggers”, in Proceedings of the IEEE SoutheastCon, Atlanta, March 21-24, 2024.
PCEC Student Accepted into NASA Pathways Engineering Trainee Program
Sebastian Oviedo is a student in the Paulson College of Engineering & Computing
currently studying Electrical Engineering with a minor in Physics. Oviedo was recently informed
that he has been accepted into the NASA Pathways Internship Program for Engineering.
NASA’s Pathways Internship Program offers internships in a variety of disciplines, and
invests heavily in the growth of students. Students that complete this program earn the
opportunity to be evaluated for full-time employment with NASA upon their graduation.
Masoud Davari, Associate Professor in the department of Electrical & Computer
Engineering, has supervised Oviedo in various contexts, and attributes Oviedo’s success to his
ambition. According to Dr. Davari, Oviedo has been informally attending his upper level courses
since he was an undergraduate research student.
In addition to prioritizing being proactive in his studies, Dr. Davari also noted Oviedo’s
participation in the NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program in Summer 2023. This program allows
students the opportunity to participate in an international research project to assess and improve
the reliability of two-level voltage-source converters employing innovative controls in a possible
globe-spanning supergrid—an essential component of the energy sector to integrate renewables
and battery systems to respond to urgent environmental concerns caused by climate change and
global warming at an alarming rate and international agreements.
The NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program operates from two locations—the Laboratory for
Advanced Power and Energy Systems (LAPES) founded, directed, and led by Dr. Davari in
Engineering and Research Building right here on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro campus and the
Center of Reliable Power Electronics (CORPE) at Aalborg University (AAU) in Aalborg,
Denmark. Post-trip follow-ups are conducted in LAPES at Georgia Southern.
Dr. Davari is the lead Principal Investigator of this NSF-funded project and works alongside
Professor Frede Blaabjerg, Villum Investigator in the Department of AAU Energy at AAU, in
order to provide students with interdisciplinary, multicultural, cutting-edge research experiences.
Oviedo not only participated in the NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program last summer—whose
work will be presented at the IEEE SoutheastCon 2024 conference in March 2024 and published
in its proceedings—but he has also been selected to participate in the program this summer for
his second consecutive year.
To follow more student successes in the PCEC, be sure to connect with us on social
media: https://linktr.ee/gscec.
Six PCEC Students Awarded with Second Phase of Prestigious Environmental ProtectionAgency P3 Grant
A group of six undergraduate student researchers from Georgia Southern’s Departments
of Manufacturing Engineering and Civil Engineering & Construction were awarded the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Grant last year
for their research on developing 3D printed technology to enhance water filtration and prevent
pollution in runoff.
The research was led by Dr. Kamran Kardel, associate professor in the Department of
Manufacturing Engineering, and Dr. Francisco Cubas, associate professor in the Department of
Civil Engineering & Construction.
According to Dr. Kardel, the team applied for and received the first phase of the grant
almost two years ago. They presented their research at the Annual EPA P3 Conference and
Exhibition in Washington D.C. in June of last year and applied for the competitive second phase
of the grant in order to continue their research. Dr. Kardel recently learned that the team was
selected to receive the second phase of the EPA P3 Grant.
“We suggested a new [biofiltration] system using a 3D printed media that can be used
inside that biofiltration system or module,” Dr. Kardel said. “It can provide very high surface
area for all microorganism attachment and development and will enhance nutrient removal such
as nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Its focus is on wastewater and runoff of both urban and
agricultural watersheds.”
Their research aims to improve the effectiveness of biofiltration devices in order to better
treat stormwater and runoff. Not only does this research contribute to environmental
conservation efforts, Dr. Kardel says it offers students in the Paulson College of Engineering and
Computing the opportunity to better equip themselves for a successful future.
“I guess that really was the main thing about this EPA P3 program, having
undergraduates learn more and do more,” Dr. Kardel said. “Not just passing some courses, but
doing a significant project. Normally in our federal grant proposals we don’t use undergraduate
research assistants, but this project required undergraduate researchers, and had very good
results.”
Though most of the students who participated in this research have since graduated, one
of them, Michael Jones, remains at Georgia Southern as a graduate student. Jones described his
experience working on this project as both rewarding and enjoyable.
“It was really rewarding to be able to design something as complex as the media we were
using, presenting it to our group, and then adjusting the design based on feedback,” Jones said. “I
was able to see this project start as a simple idea and then turn into a real product to be used by
the EPA and industries. I think this project gave me some great experience and helped prepare
me for a career in the industry.”
Elsie Lappin Receives the Georgia Institute of Transportation Engineers ScholarshipAward
Elsie Lappin, a senior in Civil Engineering, stood out as the sole recipient from Georgia
Southern for the Georgia Institute of Transportation Engineers (GAITE) Scholarship Award last
month. According to their website, the Georgia ITE has awarded over $250,000 to students in
Georgia through the GAITE scholarship. Read more about the GAITE scholarship here:
https://gaite.org/Scholarship.
Ms. Lappin recently collaborated on a groundbreaking GDOT project with Dr. Hossein
Taheri, assistant professor in the Department of Manufacturing Engineering, making her a
promising candidate for the scholarship. Amongst a pool of talent from Georgia Tech, Kennesaw
State, and UGA, Ms. Lappin’s work earned her the second-highest award amount of $3,000 at
the GAITE annual luncheon meeting.
Ms. Lappin is currently working with Dr. Taheri on the “Investigation of Ultrasonic
Nondestructive Testing for High Accuracy Defect Sizing and Localization in Civil Steel
Structures,” and will present this research in the 2024 PCEC Student Research Symposium on
April 19, 2024.
Three Students Successfully Represented GS Engineering & Computing at the State Capitol
Posters at the Georgia State Capitol event on Tuesday, February 20th.
Madison Procyk and Winnie Mwangi, two BSME students at Georgia Southern, were
selected to present their research at the Posters at the Georgia State Capitol event last Tuesday.
Yuzheng Mei, BSECE student at Georgia Southern, was also chosen to present his research at
the event.
Procyk and Mwangi’s research was led by Dr. Sevki Cesmeci, assistant professor in the
Department of Mechanical Engineering, and focused on developing an automated insulin
delivery system (AID) for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) patients. Their research was sponsored by the
Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, a global organization with the goal of curing T1D. Last
year, Dr. Cesmeci received a $200,000 Innovative Grant Award from the foundation to fund the
project.
In addition to presenting at the Capitol event, Procyk, Mwangi, and Dr. Cesmeci were
featured on the University’s Eagle Eye View podcast last year to discuss their research. “I’ve
always loved the applied side of engineering and this research is actually very much applied
research,” Dr. Cesmeci said on the podcast. “I’m more interested in applying that knowledge,
model, or algorithm to innovate products and technologies for the betterment of society,
environment, and economy.”
Mwangi also spoke about her passion for the applied uses of mechanical engineering on
Eagle Eye View. “I really do love mechanical engineering also because of applied science and
the hands-on working part,” she said. “You know, building and making society better. That’s the
whole point of mechanical engineering for me.”
“A lot of people don’t think about the medical side of things when they think of
mechanical engineering,” Procyk said on the podcast. “Mechanical [engineering] is so broad that
these skill sets can translate later to our jobs.”
Another department in the College of Engineering & Computing was also represented at
the Capitol last week. Mei is a student in the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, and was mentored by Dr. Rami Haddad, professor and interim department chair.
Their research focused on a solution to improve the readability of blurry license plate images
taken on hit-and-run cameras.
“Our students were able to interact with many senators, representatives, GS SGA
delegates, fellow undergraduate research students, and many others during this event,” Dr.
Haddad said. “We represented GS and the College very well.”
Cybersecurityguide.org Names GS’s BIT Online #1 Most Affordable and #4 Overall Best for 2024
Becoming part of Cybersecurityguide.org‘s affordability rankings is no easy feat. More than 100 schools were examined against our proprietary guidelines of academic rigor, Centers for Academic Excellence, and overall program cost. Navigating the selection of the right online IT degree program involves a blend of key elements. For a vast number of students, affordability often leads the decision-making process.
With this in mind, the Cybersecurity Guide research team has meticulously put together a dynamic list, now spotlighting the best online IT degree programs, with a special emphasis on overall affordability in terms of tuition costs. However, low costs shouldn’t mean a compromise on premier career readiness. Therefore, our 2024 rankings for the most affordable online IT degree programs also require that each featured institution is recognized as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, ensuring a blend of value and quality in your educational journey.
This year, 25 online IT bachelor’s programs in secured their place on the Cybersecurity Guide most affordable list. Each program is designed with an online-first approach, ensuring a comprehensive and flexible educational experience. Many include practical learning and research opportunities, guiding students toward their ideal career paths.
2024 rankings for the most affordable IT degree online programs
Georgia Southern University’s Information Technology department unfolds a comprehensive suite of programs for an ever-evolving tech landscape. Pursue a Bachelor’s in IT with specializations such as Cyber Security or Network and Data Center, or elevate your expertise with a Master’s degree. At Georgia Southern University, we focus on hands-on experience in state-of-the-art facilities bolstered by strong industry connections, ensuring students acquire practical, job-ready skills. With options ranging from traditional on-campus courses to a fully online Bachelor’s program, the department offers a well-rounded IT education that meets various learning preferences.
The best online IT degree programs for 2024
GS Engineering & Computing Represented Well by King and Queen
Valesia Davis, BSME ’23, Wins Louis Stokes Alliance Award
Valesia Davis, BSME ’23, earned the Louis Stokes Alliance Award, receiving a stipend of living and educational expenses while continuing her education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T). The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program focuses on granting minority STEM graduate students an opportunity to continue their education, with the goal of diversifying STEM fields by implementing evidence-based strategies .
Davis is partaking in the LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Activity program through the NSF so that she might gain more research experience before working in the engineering industry. Having completed a summer internship with Lam Research, a semiconductor research firm in California, she hopes to meet more people and network with engineers in other areas of engineering.
While volleying her options after completing her mechanical engineering degree, Davis unexpectedly found the grant that would cover her tuition in addition to the stipend. “It might have been difficult to achieve without funding help,” she added. “I have more time to decide exactly what I’m going to do.” With a master’s degree, Davis will be able to receive a higher position in the industry than if she were to enter the field immediately after graduating with a bachelor’s degree.
“I’m really interested in mechanical system design, material processing, and heat transfer,” she said. Even with industry experience and a variety of courses, along with the other recipients, Davis’s advantage with this program will give her a better well-rounded experience before committing to a job.
The Bridge to Doctorate Activity program at NC A&T is rewarded for one year and benefits a dozen students with an overall grant of $1,075,000. To encourage these students to pursue a PhD, this grant requires prospective students to study applied sciences and technology; computational data science and engineering; computer science; electrical, industrial and systems, mechanical, or nano engineering.
Five PCEC Students Win Awards in October
October 8-11, 2023, ASME ICE Forward 2023
The American Society of Mechanical Engineering‘s (ASME) ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) Forward conference brings together internal combustion engine researchers from industry, academia, and government agencies to discuss technical advancements in engines for all applications – including automotive, on- and off-road, rail, marine, and stationary power. The undergraduate student research competition is an annual invitational event for undergraduate researchers who have studied in the field of internal combustion engines, emissions systems, fuels and sprays, and/or carbon management. Up to two winning submissions were selected to deliver their presentations to a group of leading experts in the ICE field at the ICE Forward Conference held in Pittsburgh, PA.
Nicholas K. Dillon, BSME student in the Honors Program at Georgia Southern, was one of the winners this year for his work on “Investigation of Low-reactivity X-98 Ethanol in Reactivity Control Compression Ignition with High Reactivity Jet-A for Performance and Emissions Improvement.” [X98 ethanol is a racing fuel, Jet-A is a commonly used commercial aviation fuel.] Dillon works in the Renewable Energy and Engines Lab under the supervision of Dr. Valentin Soloiu, Allen E. Paulson Distinguished Chair of Renewable Energy and professor of Mechanical Engineering.
October 30, 2023, GS International Awards Ceremony
The Office of International Student Admissions and Programs, in collaboration with the International Education Week Committee, hosted the International Awards Ceremony to honor exception international students, organizations, and supporters at Georgia Southern on October 30, 2023. The award categories included International Student Academic Distinction/Excellence, International Student Advocate Award, International Student Organization of the Year, International Student Community Service Award, and Outstanding International Student Award.
Suhaima Jamal, MSIT student, received the International Student Community Service Award for her deep commitment to volunteer and community service initiatives. Jamal actively participates in SERVE912, Southern Leaders, and the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement both on- and off-campus. Jamal maintains a 4.00 GPA and has written multiple research publications in her field. Jamal states that “receiving this award serves as a significant source of motivation for me, propelling me to further my dedication to community service, volunteering activities, and leadership in the future. I have always held the belief that genuine leadership and engagement in community service have the power to drive positive change within society. It allows us to actively participate in addressing social issues, foster connections, and promote the values of compassion, empathy, and unity.”
Taiwo Komolafe, a sophomore BSIT student, received an International Student Academic Distinction Award. Komolafe writes “I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation to Georgia Southern University, the Office of International Student Admissions and Programs, my professors and friends who nominated me for this academic award. I’m proud of this accomplishment, and I hope to take a moment to bask in the glory of this well-deserved recognition. This award is a reminder that excellence is attainable through diligence and an unyielding spirit. As I continue my educational journey, I have no doubt that I’ll reach even greater heights by God’s grace.”
Mohammad Towhidul Islam Rimon, a student in the MSME program, also received an International Student Academic Distinction Award. Rimon works as a research assistant under the supervision of Dr. Sevki Cesmeci, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, and as an affiliate in Georgia Tech’s Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology, focusing on microfabrication in their advanced Bio Cleanroom. “This award belongs to all my supporters and well-wishers, including my supervisor, lab mates, and classmates, who have supported me throughout this entire journey. Receiving this award makes me feel that their support and mentorship have been duly recognized, and it encourages me to work even harder to fulfill their expectations,” said Rimon.
October 29 – November 2, 2023, ASME IMECE 2023
ASME’s International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) is its largest R&D conference focused primarily on mechanical engineering while encompassing perspectives from many engineering disciplines. Each year, about 2,400 papers, presentations, and posters are presented at IMECE in 17 core tracks. Attendees include leading researchers from academia, government, and industry R&D labs. This year’s conference was held in New Orleans, LA.
Victor Buitimea, a senior BSME student, earned second place at IMECE 2023’s Undergraduate Research and Design Expo Student Poster Competition with his poster “A Novel Artificial Pancreas System.” Buitimea works under the supervision of Dr. Sevki Cesmeci, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, on research sponsored by an Innovation grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Summer 2023 Success Story About the NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program Led by Dr. Masoud Davari Between the U.S. and Denmark
Are you curious about the amazing student success achieved by the NSF U.S.-Denmark Program—NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program in Summer 2023? The program has made a huge impact on the supergrid’s reliability and has taken a significant step towards enhancing the integration of renewables in the global supergrid. If you are a U.S. student looking to be a part of this revolutionary program, we have great news for you! We are now calling for student participants to join the NSF-IRES-INNOVATOR Program for Summer 2024—don’t miss this incredible opportunity to participate in a program that’s shaping the future of integrating renewables into our future modern grids.
In May 2023, Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Masoud Davari technically and culturally prepared six (6) U.S. student participants from a diverse group with different backgrounds in power engineering, control engineering, renewable energy engineering, computer science, and mechanical engineering for two (2) weeks at the leading site in the U.S.—i.e., the Laboratory for Advanced Power and Energy Systems (LAPES) directed by PI Davari in the newly established Engineering and Research Building at Georgia Southern University.
Afterward, they conducted cohort-based research projects at the international site in Aalborg, Denmark, for eight (8) weeks from the beginning of June 2023 to the end of July 2023. They completed their international research in the Center of Reliable Power Electronics (CORPE)—i.e., the international site directed by Professor Frede Blaabjerg in the AAU Energy Department at Aalborg University (AAU) in Aalborg, Denmark. They have completed post-trip follow-ups in LAPES at Georgia Southern University from late July 2023 to early August 2023.
Students’ Success in Summer 2023—Click on the link to visit the technical and cultural experiences of the U.S. student participants.
More Information on How to Get Involved and Recruited—If interested in getting involved in these existing NSF-funded international projects, click on the link to see the project themes, eligibility, stipend, “application form,” and submission process.
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing • P.O. Box 7995 • Statesboro, Georgia 30460 • 912-478-7412 • engrcomp@georgiasouthern.edu
