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Digital Forensics Experiential Learning Program with Virginia State Police

Principal Investigator:

Irfan Ahmed, associate professor, computer science, Virginia Commonwealth University

Digital Forensics Experiential Learning Program with Virginia State Police

The project will create an industry-focused experiential learning program in digital forensics by working in direct partnership with theVirginia State Police (VSP) Computer Evidence Recovery Section. 

Principal Investigator Irfan Ahmed has worked closely with Digital Evidence Examiner Bruce Patterson and First Sergeant Robert Keeton at the CERS in Richmond, Virginia, to design the experiential learning CCI4n6 program to be practical for VSP to implement and to give students some workforce development training.

Two complementary digital forensics areas require workforce development:

  • Skillful forensic investigators need hands-on experience in real-world cases using state-of-the-art tools.
  • Proficient software developers must create new tools to enhance and improve forensic capabilities. 

The CCI4n6 program features two tracks: investigator and developer.

  • In the investigator track, students will participate in evidence recovery, digital forensic examination, and expert testimony services provided by the CERS lab to gain a holistic experiential learning experience.
  • In the developer track, students will work with CERS investigators to build forensic tools for ongoing or past investigations.

The program, which will recruit 10 undergraduate and graduate students per year from across Virginia, will be open to students in computer science and electrical and computer engineering programs. 

Participants, who must commit 10 hours a week for one year, will be paid $15 per hour. VSP will maintain timesheets and inform CCI on the students’ progress.

This project, among nine experiential learning projects funded for fiscal year 2022-23, is a part of CCI's strategy to provide students with industry experience and enhance their skill sets to better prepare them to enter the cybersecurity workforce.