fast facts

CyLab was founded in 2003 and is one of world’s largest and most prestigious university-based research & education programs for cyber security, dependability & privacy. Here are some quick facts - CyLab is:

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featured faculty

CyLab researcher Luis von Ahn was recognized as on one of Smithsonian Magazine's America’s Top Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences for 2007.

CyLab Researcher Marios Savvides was selected as one of four research members that will form the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Science & Technology Center of Academic Excellence in Advanced Biometric Technology.

CyLab Researchers David Andersen and Adrian Perrig have developed Perspectives, a low cost system to thwart eavesdropping that's receiving global attention in the news.

 

Graduate programs

CyLab is designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance (IA) Education. Our education initiative is directed by Dena Haritos Tsamitis, director of the College of Engineering's Information Networking Institute (INI) and director of Education, Training and Outreach for CyLab. Through the INI, as well as the Heinz College, a number of professional graduate degree programs are offered in information networking, information security and information technology, to create a pool of IA professionals who can address the wide range of technology, policy, and management issues in government, industry, and academia. 

Additionally, several colleges and departments at Carnegie Mellon offer Ph.D. programs which provide many of the faculty and graduate students actively engaged in CyLab research. These include the School of Computer Science and the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, both from the College of Engineering.

Masters Programs

Master of Science in Information Security Technology and Management (MSISTM) provides an in-depth education in topics such as network and distributed system security, secure software engineering, operating system security, and applied cryptography. This focus is complemented with courses in management, information security policy, and other topics essential to the effective management of secure information systems. Learn more...

INI Pittsburgh-Silicon Valley Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) Programs have three offerings: Mobility (MSIT-MOB), Information Security (MSIT-IS) and Software Management (MSIT-SM). These professional graduate degree programs integrate technology, management, and industry experience to prepare students to become intelligent decision-makers in the field of information technology. MSIT students gain the strategic thinking skills and insight that are essential for technology leaders in today's competitive business environment. Learn more...

Master of Science in Information Networking (MSIN) degree core courses provide a solid grounding in technology and introduce students to management, strategy, and policy. Through a flexible curriculum, a student can choose to pursue information networking technology, management or other areas of interest in greater depth. Learn more...

Master of Science in Information Security Policy and Management (MSISPM) provides students with background and insights into general and technical coverage of information security, while equipping them with the analytical methods and management practices necessary to succeed as managers in the field of information security. Learn more...

Master of Science in Information Technology, Information Security (MSIT-IS) - provides students with a core set of knowledge in security technology and management and a variety of technology and management electives to further enhance their knowledge of the security area.

Ph.D. Programs

Ph.D. Programs at the School of Computer Science

The School of Computer Science offers numerous programs for doctoral students, including Human-Computer Interaction, Machine Learning and Software Engineering. The doctoral programs differ from each other by their set of course requirements, though there is some overlap of courses between programs. Common to all its Ph.D. programs is a priority on research, and attention to improve teaching, speaking, and writing skills.

Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)

Students in the ECE Ph.D. Program are provided a research-intensive study of the fundamentals of electrical or computer engineering. Students will create and disseminate knowledge of electrical and computer systems during the course of obtaining the Ph.D. degree. Upon enrollment in the department, students, with the help of a faculty advisor, define an education and research program that is consistent with their backgrounds and is best suited to their own academic goals.

Ph.D. students associated with the CyLab Mobility Research Center at Carnegie Mellon's Silicon Valley campus, typically split their time between Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley.

Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy (EPP)

The Ph.D. program at EPP requires a rigorous program of courses and research accomplishment.  The courses include a series of core classes on fundamental approaches and methods for engineering and public policy; required classes in statistics and economics; electives in engineering, sciences and mathematics; and electives in the social sciences.  Research experience and efforts begin very early in the academic program, leading to a first research paper of journal quality after the third semester and continuing through the development of subsequent papers and the Ph.D. thesis.

CUPS Doctoral Training Program

The CUPS Doctoral Training program offers PhD students at Carnegie Mellon University a fundamentally new, cross-disciplinary training experience that prepares them to produce the key research advances necessary to reconcile ostensible tensions between security, privacy and usability, moving away from an "either-or" view of these goals to a deeper understanding of underlying tradeoffs and eventually towards solutions where security, privacy and usability are configured to reinforce each other. The goal of this program is to serve as a catalyst to shape the field of usable privacy and security by developing and training a new generation of researchers in methodologies, principles, and approaches that can be applied across systems and applications, in contrast to one-off solutions.

The CUPS doctoral training program offers students in PhD programs across the university an opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary research and education. CUPS PhD students come from several CMU PhD programs including the programs in Computation, Organizations and Society, Engineering and Public Policy, Human Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Public Policy and Management. Perspective students should apply directly to these programs (or other CMU doctoral program) and also send a letter of interest to the CUPS director.