CCI+A Funded Projects 2025

Project: The project involves the creation of a polarization switch utilizing an array of magnetostrictive nanomagnets placed on a piezoelectric substrate to facilitate secure communication. The switch is notably smaller than the microwave wavelength, making it ideal for embedded applications. The goal of this technology is to improve secure communication by encoding information in the polarization of electromagnetic waves, which offers greater resistance to tampering compared to traditional amplitude or frequency encoding.

Team: Supriyo Bandyopadhyay (Virginia Commonwealth University), Dong Ha (Virginia Tech), Fariborz Lohrabi Por (Virginia Tech)

Project: The project creates a multi-bit watermarking algorithm for large language models (LLMs) that effectively differentiates between AI-generated and human-generated text. This ensures traceability and adherence to AI regulations. The goal is to strengthen the watermarking process's reliability and effectiveness while maintaining high text quality.

Team: Massieh Kordi Boroujeny (George Mason University), Kai Zeng (George Mason University), Ya Jiang (George Mason University)

Project: The Real-Time Advanced Eye Movements Analysis Pipeline (RAEMAP) is a cloud-based solution that provides real-time eye-tracking and cognitive state monitoring. By incorporating mobile edge computing, it enhances data processing efficiency and minimizes delays. This makes RAEMAP well-suited for various applications, including defense, AR/VR training, drone pilot education, and collaboration between humans and autonomous systems.

Team: Sampath Jayarathna (Old Dominion University), Yusuke Yamani (Old Dominion University)

Project: DeepScan is a cybersecurity tool that scans AI models directly on user devices to uncover hidden threats. Unlike traditional server-side scanners, it works locally, providing real-time protection against backdoors, data poisoning, and malicious code in AI models across smartphones, laptops, and IoT devices.

Team: Rui Ning (Old Dominion University), Yao Wang (Old Dominion University), Steven Chen (Old Dominion University)

Project: This project is designed to protect web-based content from data loss caused by insider threats and web scraping. It employs proprietary technologies to secure text, images, and documents while allowing normal viewing, making it difficult to download or copy unauthorized content. This solution enhances existing security measures and focuses on industries that are particularly vulnerable to data theft.

Team: Mingkui Wei (George Mason University)

Project: This project is focused on developing the Zero Trust Command Center (ZTCC), a cybersecurity platform powered by AI that automates the detection and response to threats. By utilizing continuous authentication, micro-segmentation, and adaptive AI, ZTCC aims to improve resilience and lessen the burden on analysts. A pilot program with the U.S. Air Force will be conducted to assess its scalability and operational effectiveness.

Team: Max Albanese (George Mason University), Chris Romeo (OneTier Corp)

Project: FraudOptics stands as a pioneering Commercial Risk Intelligence Platform, offering a global vantage point into the intricate web of connections between businesses, individuals, both on and off-chain, and their corresponding blockchain wallets. Using AI, our insights increase data coverage, enhance the accuracy of labeling, and create a partner marketplace to support compliance, national security, and the prevention of financial crimes.

Team: Foteini Baldimtsi (George Mason University), Ren McEachern (FraudOptics), Robert Appleton (FraudOptics), Mike Borowski (FraudOptics), Neil Alexander (FraudOptics)

Project: DigitalTwin+ is a high-fidelity emulation platform for planning and managing Distributed Energy Systems. It enables real-time analysis and automation, supporting the selection and integration of a portfolio of distributed energy sources with existing electrical grid infrastructure to improve operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance in the energy sector.

Team: Ross Gore (Old Dominion University), Sachin Shetty (Old Dominion University), Eranga Herath (Old Dominion University), Arvind Patel (Taurus nuEnergy)

Project: This project is developing a secure, resilient mesh communication system for critical and emergencies. Using embedded hardware that supports multiple communication protocols, the system aims to replace or augment analog radios with a scalable, American-made solution that ensures reliable, real-time communication in the field.

Team: Brian Mark (George Mason University), Kai Zeng (George Mason University), Greg Domzalski (Critical Shift Corp), Robert Mervine (Critical Shift Corp), Ted Markson (Critical Shift Corp)

Project: The project aims to enhance software security by integrating dynamically generated digital signatures with automated security patching. The solution will address both known and unknown vulnerabilities in source code, improving resilience in open-source and proprietary applications. The project involves collaboration with CodeLock, Inc., and targets commercial and government markets, including enterprise security, financial compliance, and defense.

Team: Kun Sun (George Mason University), Brian Gallagher (CodeLock, Inc.), Chase Letourneau (CodeLock, Inc.)