Pitt Cyber is pleased to have provided initial funding for more than thirty research projects at the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt Cyber Accelerator Grants (PCAG) are meant to launch trans/multidisciplinary projects that may later attract additional funding and sponsorship within Pitt and/or from government, philanthropic, and industry partners.
Fall 2023 Recipients
Improving User Privacy Awareness in the Metaverse Using Adversary-based Games
To build trust and promote responsible utilization of Metaverse technologies, as well as to address privacy challenges and concerns raised by users, the project aims to establish a series of adversary-based games that simulate real-life privacy challenges, delve into individuals' privacy attitudes, and foster their comprehension of existing privacy policies.
Na Du, Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems, Balaji Palanisamy, Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Information
The PITT Initiative on Computational Social Science (PittCSS) Seminar: A Crossroads for Research and Collaboration at Pitt
Across the School of Computing and Information—and the University of Pittsburgh—researchers and students use statistics, data science, and computer science to study economics, political science, urban science, library science, and many other areas of social science. The PITT Initiative on Computational Social Science (PittCSS) offers a crossroads for all researchers and students at Pitt, and beyond, to share their research, encounter new ideas, and grow the academic network. PittCSS creates a diverse community of researchers, an opportunity for both students and faculty to share their research, and an opportunity to incubate new multi-disciplinary collaborations that jumpstart research careers.
Morgan Frank, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
Fall 2022 Recipients
Utilizing Edutainment and Motivational Interviewing to Address Dis- and Misinformation in the Healthcare Setting
This project brings together collaborators to develop and implement a seminar for physician assistant students. The seminar will use clips from popular medical television shows to teach students about responding to dis- and misinformation in the healthcare setting using motivational interviewing.
Beth Hoffman, Postdoctoral Associate, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health; Jaime Sidani, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Center for Research on Behavioral Health, Media, and Technology, School of Public Health; Anna Donovan, Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program at UPMC; Antoine Douaihy, Senior Academic Director of Addiction Medicine Services and Co-Director of the UPMC Tobacco Treatment Services; Bridget Calhoun, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Duquesne University; Ariel Shensa, Assistant Professor, Rangos School of Health Sciences, Duquesne University
Investigating Adoption and Reusability of Data and Digital Literacy Materials
This project will examine adoption and reuse of data and digital literacy open educational resources for library professionals.
Elizabeth Monk, Research Specialist, University Center for Social and Urban Research; Jessica Ghiliani, Associate Professor of Communication, Pitt Greensburg; Chelsea Gunn, Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship, School of Computing and Information; Eleanor Mattern, Teaching Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information; Veena Vasudevan, Assistant Professor, Digital Media and Learning, School of Education
Online Violence Against Women in Politics (Online VAW-P)
As women’s participation in politics increases, so does their risk of becoming victims of political violence. The Online Violence Against Women in Politics (Online VAW-P) project will investigate this new and growing threat against women politicians and political candidates by documenting the extent and scope of online violence that women politicians face on Twitter in two countries - Turkey and Brazil- during the six months leading up to national elections.
Mihriban Finkel, Assistant Prof of Int'l Dev, Director of Ford Institute, Co-Director of GIRL, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs; Keila Grinberg, Professor, Department of History, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; Steven Finkel, Daniel H. Wallace Professor of Political Science, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; Lisa Nelson, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Sustaining the Scholarly Information Ecosystems Community at Pitt
This grant will establish an infrastructure to support and extend the established informal network of information and digital studies Pitt faculty, staff, and students. Through a more unified “Information Ecosystems” community network supported by a website and communications channels, existing members of this scholarly ecosystem will be able to share events and research and pedagogical interests with one another.
Nora Mattern, Assistant Teaching Professor; Director of the Sara Fine Institute, School of Computing and Information; Annette Vee, Associate Professor of English and Director of the Composition Program, Department of English, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; Alison Langmead, Clinical Associate Professor and Director, Visual Media Workshop; Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information
Metaverse in Global East Asia: Digital Privacy and Economic Inclusion
This project seeks to explore how social and cultural differences lead to various Metaverse-related challenges on policies of digital privacies and economies, with a special focus on how East Asian governments, corporations, and users respond to these challenges differently than the United States.
Song Shi, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Informatics and Networked Systems, School of Computing and Information; Kun Qian, Associate Professor of Modern Chinese Literature and Film, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; Kay Shimizu, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs; Kuo-Ting Huang, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
Towards an Adaptive Voice User Interface of Navigation Apps for People with Disabilities
This project will design an adaptive voice user interface (VUI) for navigation apps that meets People with Disabilities (PwD)’s needs and preferences by exploring a variety of navigation scenarios. Navigation apps with an adaptive VUI can help PwD improve their quality of life and social independence by being able to perform mobility activities easier and more frequently.
Na Du, Assistant Professor, Department of Informatics and Networked Systems, School of Computing and Information; Hassan Karimi, Professor, School of Computing and Information; John Mclnerney, Advocate Stake Holder, Low Vision
A Sampling and Modeling Framework to Counter Online Conspiratorial Propaganda
In recent years, conspiratorial narratives targeting a certain social group or racial demographic have been cited as a motivation for a number of hate- or prejudice-based violent incidents in the US and across the globe. This project aims to trace and counter the influence of conspiratorial propaganda on the public in online space by studying the population-level networks.
Yu-Ru Lin, Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information; Balaji Palanisamy, Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information; Michael Colaresi, Professor, Distinguished Faculty, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; Amin Rahimian, Assistant Professor, Swanson School of Engineering
Spring/Summer 2022 Recipients
Analyzing Information Ecosystems in Western Pennsylvania
This effort intends to develop key data infrastructure and analysis protocols for significant disinformation flows in Western Pennsylvania, including related to vaccinations and election administration for the Pitt Disinformation Lab.
Michael Colaresi, William S. Dietrich II Professor, Political Science, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences; Pitt Cyber Research and Academic Director; Affiliate Scholar, Intelligent Systems Program Jessica Ghilani, Associate Professor of Communication, Pitt Greensburg
Lara Putnam, UCIS Research Professor of History, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Covid Disinformation in Western Pennsylvania and Rio de Janeiro Seminar Development
Development of a seminar for researchers at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and the University of Pittsburgh for the development of a collaboration to estimate the causal effect of disruptive vaccine disinformation on avoidable deaths.
Keila Grinberg, Director of the Center for Latin American Studies and Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh
Scaling Up Cyber Physical Systems Security Education - From Theory to Practice
To develop a testbed that integrates with Pitt’s Cyber Range and allows students to work together to explore how cyber-physical systems can be attacked and defended.
Ahmed Ibrahim, Teaching Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
Daniel Cole, Associate Professor, Swanson School of Engineering; Director of Stephen R. Tritch Nuclear Engineering Program
Hour of Code and CEC/English Community Liaison and Digital Infrastructure
To continue building the infrastructure to bring Hour of Code events to 4-10th graders from under-resourced schools in Homewood.
Gayle Rogers, Andrew W. Mellon Professor, Chair of English, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Jessica FitzPatrick, Lecturer, Director of Digital Narrative and Interactive Design Program, English Department, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Modeling Threats to Sustainability of Social Networks as Critical Infrastructure
To develop a proof-of-concept for analyzing the coevolution of systematic threats under a unifying framework.
Amin Rahimian, Assistant Professor, Swanson School of Engineering
Jacob Otto, PhD student, Political Science, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Extended Reality Tour of a Media Archaeology Lab to Widen Access to Material Resources Representing a History of Technology
To design and implement an extended reality (XR) tour of the Media Archeology Lab (MAL) at University of Colorado-Boulder to enable Pitt learners to virtually access MAL’s rich media holdings.
Jessica FitzPatrick, Lecturer, Director of Digital Narrative and Interactive Design Program, English Department, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
libi Striegl, Lab Manager, Media Archeology Lab, University of Colorado
Annette Vee, Associate Professor of English and Director of the Composition Program, Department of English
Dmitriy Babichenko, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information
Studying Trust in Civic Data Portals and its Potential for Enhancement
To develop a better understanding of how intermediary organizations can enhance the trustworthiness of civic data. The proposed project will also help to identify research questions that can be explored in collaboration with Pitt faculty.
David Walker, Lead Software Developer, Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center University Center for Social & Urban Research
Jacob Biehl, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
Robert Gradeck, Project Director, Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center, University Center for Social & Urban Research
Improving the Measurement and Moderation of Place-based Social Media in Western PA: Launching the Pittsburgh Disinformation Lab
Michael Colaresi, William S. Dietrich II Professor, Political Science, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences; Pitt Cyber Research and Academic Director; Affiliate Scholar, Intelligent Systems Program
Lara Putnam, UCIS Research Professor of History, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
The Forbes Corridor Colloquia: The Social Influence of Advancing Technology in Pittsburgh and Beyond
Jennifer Keating, Senior Lecturer, Department of English
Nora Mattern, Teaching Assistant Professor, Director, Sara Fine Institute, School of Computing and Information
Influencing Detection through Multimodal Discourse and Vividness Analysis
Adriana Kovashka, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Diane Litman, Professor, Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Rebecca Hwa, Professor, Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Malihe Alikhani, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Yu-Ru Lin, Associate Professor, Informatics and Networked Systems, School of Computing and Information
Tessa Provins, Assistant Professor, Political Science, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Jeffrey Cohn, Professor, Psychology, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
The Pittsburgh Data Jam: Increasing Data Science Education in High Schools
Judy Cameron, Professor, Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Bryan Nelson, Assistant Instructor, Statistics, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Thomas Akiva, Associate Professor, Human Health & Development, School of Education
Framework for Qualitative Research into Social Media and Misinformation
Lara Putnam, UCIS Research Professor of History, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Rosta Farzan, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, School of Computing and Information
Mehr Latif, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Sociology, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Modeling the Effect of Disinformation on COVID-19 Vaccination Discourse in Online Social Networks
Malihe Alikhani, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Dmitriy Babichenko, Clinical Associate Professor, Informatics and Networked Systems, School of Computing and Information
Kar-Hai Chu, Associate Professor, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health
Michael Colaresi, William S. Dietrich II Professor, Political Science, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences; Pitt Cyber Research and Academic Director; Affiliate Scholar, Intelligent Systems Program
Jason Colditz, Research Project Manager, PhD candidate and instructor, Institute for Clinical Research Education, School of Medicine
Beth Hoffman, graduate student researcher, Institute for Clinical Research Education, School of Medicine
Patrick Healy, PhD candidate, School of Computing and Information
Jaime Sidani, Assistant Professor, General Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
2020 Recipients
A Computational Approach to Measuring and Explaining Sophistication and Argumentation in Political Discourse
Malihe Alikhani, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
Max Goplerud, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
Tessa Provins, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
People-Centered Data Analysis
Michael Goodhart, Professor, Department of Political Science
Jackie Smith, Professor, Department of Sociology
Laura Wiens, Executive Director, Pittsburghers for Public Transit
Developing Digitally Mediated Transparency for Police-Community Relations
Sera Linardi, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Yu-Ru Lin, Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information
The Cyber Ethics Education Accelerator
Jennifer Petrie, Postdoctoral Fellow, Katz School of Business
Anthony Rodi, Clinical Associate Professor, Katz School of Business
Cassie Quigley, Associate Professor, School of Education
A Beacon Approach to Providing COVID-19 Contact Tracing Privacy
David Tipper, Professor, School of Computing and Information
Konstantinos Pelechrinis, Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information
Mai Abdelhakim, Assistant Professor, Swanson School of Engineering
Prashant Krishnamurthy, Professor, School of Computing and Information
Alexandros Labridnidis, Professor, School of Computing and Information
Balaji Palanisamy, Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information
Jacob Biehl, Associate Professor School of Computing and Information
Measuring Worldviews: A Map of Stubborn Social Skills
Rongqian Ma, PhD student, School of Computing and Information
Lingfei Wu, Assistant Professor, Departments of Information and Networked Systems, Information Culture and Data Stewardship, School of Computing and Information
Lara Putnam, Professor and Chair, Department of History, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Investigation of Analogs between Social, Organizational, and Technical Domains for Information Security
Prashant Krishnamurthy, Professor and Chair, Department of Informatics and Networked Systems, School of Computing and Information
Mai Abdelhakim, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Virtual Reality Gaming for Military Mission Planning
Lt. Col. Diana Bishop, Chair, Department of Aerospace Studies, Detachment 730 Commander, US Air Force ROTC
Evaluation of Educational Interventions in Reducing Compromises from Phishing Attacks
Muhammad “Zia” Hydari, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Katz School of Business
Narayan Ramasubbu, Associate Professor of Business Administration, Katz School of Business
Changran Fan, PhD Student, Katz School of Business
Sensing Infrastructure
Adam J. Lee, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Amy Babay, Assistant Professor, Departments of Informatics and Networked Systems, Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Jacob Biehl, Associate Professor, Departments of Information Culture and Data Stewardship, Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Adriana Kovashka, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Olga Kuchinskaya, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Stephen Lee, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
Eleanor “Nora” Mattern, Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship, School of Computing and Information
2019 Recipients
Social Weather Service: A Cyber-enabled Forecasting of Social Unrest and Conflicts
Vladimir Zadoronzny, Professor, School of Computing and Information
Panos Chrysanthis, Professor of Computer Science, School of Computing and Information
Michael Colaresi, William S. Dietrich II Chair of Political Science, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Patrick Manning, Andrew Mellon Professor of World History, Emeritus, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Annotating Cases for Learning to Summarize
Kevin Ashley, Professor, School of Law
Jaromir Savelka, PhD candidate, Intelligent Systems Program
Towards Resilient Smart Critical Infrastructure
David Tipper, Professor, School of Computing and Information
Alexis Kwasinski, Associate Professor, Swanson School of Engineering
Fighting Cyberbullying: A Transformative and Educational Game for Promoting Empathic Understanding
Rosta Farzan, Associate Professor
Dmitriy Babichenko, Professor of Practice
Zak Risha, School of Computing and Information
Annotating Machine Learning Data for Interpreting Cyber-Crime Statutes
Kevin Ashley, Professor of Law and Intelligent Systems, School of Law
Jaromir Savelka, PhD candidate, School of Computing and Information
Cyber Leadership Series in Washington, DC
Elena Baylis, Professor of Law
Julia Santucci, Senior Lecturer in Intelligence Studies and Director, Hesselbein Forum Leadership Program in International Affairs, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Mathematical Concepts Visualization through Virtual Reality
Lt. Col. Diana Bishop, Chair, Department of Aerospace Studies, Detachment 730 Commander, US Air Force ROTC
A Program to Innovate Solutions to Digital Disinformation across Democracies
Michael Colaresi, William S. Dietrich II Chair, Department of Political Science
Jon Woon, Professor, Departments of Political Science and Economics
Developing a Digital Platform to Enhance Civic Learning across the Disciplines
Ronald Idoko, Adjunct Faculty, Public Service Program, College of General Studies
Expansion of the Journal Ledger: The World’s First Scholarly Blockchain Journal
Christopher Wilmer, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
2018 Recipients
Technical Support for Course on Applied Legal Data Analytics and AI
Kevin Ashley, Professor of Law and Intelligent Systems
Matthias Grabmair, Systems Scientist, Language Technologies Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
The US Intelligence Community and Cybersecurity
Julia Santucci, Senior Lecturer in Intelligence Studies, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
A Workshop for Securing the Industrial Internet
Daniel Cole, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Swanson School of Engineering
Alex K. Jones, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Director of the NSF SHREC Center, Swanson School of Engineering
A Study on False Data Injection Cyber-Attacks in Smart Grid Systems
Bo Zeng, Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Zhi-Hong Mao, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Securing Cybermanufacturing Systems Applied to Cloud-Based Additive Manufacturing
Mostafa Bedewy, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Mai Abdelhakim, Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
Distinguished Cybersecurity Seminar Series
James Joshi, Professor, School of Computing and Information
Balaji Palanisamy, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information