Computer Science PhD Student First to Receive Competitive Award
April 25, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – LSU Computer Science Ph.D. student Ruxin Wang is the recipient of the highly competitive 2024 Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Rising Stars Award, making her the first-ever LSU student to receive the honor. She is also the first female LSU student to publish a first-author security paper at one of the Big 4 Security conferences.
Wang will next attend the 2024 CPS Rising Stars Workshop in May at the University of Virginia. There, she will receive the award, which aims to identify and mentor outstanding Ph.D. and post-doctoral students who are interested in pursuing academic careers in CPS core research areas.
“This award recognizes my research in CPS security and using CPS to improve traffic safety and public health,” Wang said. “In addition to my research, this award also recognizes my efforts in engaging women scholars in STEM research. I greatly appreciate the help and guidance of my Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Chen Wang, who consistently encouraged me to apply for this national award and be brave enough to compete with other top-ranking university peers. I am now more determined to pursue a faculty position after graduation, and I am now more confident that I can make significant contributions to CPS research and education.”
Last May, Wang became the first female LSU student to publish a first-author security paper at a Big 4 Security conference when her paper on developing a low-effort authentication method for VR headset users was published at the 44th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. Existing VR authentications require users to enter a PIN number or draw graphical passwords, which can be observed by others in proximity to the user and create security issues. Wang’s proposed method would be based on the unique skull-reverberated sounds, which can be acquired when the user wears the VR device.
“It is very challenging to publish a first-author paper at a Big 4 Security conference, such as IEEE S&P, which has a low acceptance rate (e.g., 13%),” Wang said. “The review process is double-blind, and reviewers don’t know who you are…[they only have] your submitted paper to make decisions. I worked with my advisor, Dr. Wang, and my colleague, Mr. Long Huang, for over two years on the VR authentication topic, and our submission has been rejected many times. We kept researching on this area, solving challenges, and improving our paper to finally make it to the level of the Big 4 Security conferences.
“To me, it is a high recognition of my research achievements in ‘Cyber-Physical Systems for Security, Safety, and Healthcare’ at LSU and a milestone in my academic career. ‘First’ means there will be a second and a third. I am now working towards publishing the second Big 4 paper.
Like us on Facebook (@lsuengineering) or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram (@lsuengineering).
###
Contact: Joshua Duplechain
Director of Communications
225-578-5706
josh@lsu.edu
Latest College of Engineering News
- Mechanical Engineering Seniors Design Equipment for B-52s at Barksdale AFBMay 10, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - As part of their senior capstone project, six LSU Mechanical Engineering seniors have been working with Barksdale Airforce Base in Bossier City, La., to design an apparatus that will enable airmen to more easily work on or change out the engines on their B-52 bombers. Considering Barksdale AFB houses 26 B-52s, and each B-52 has eight engines, the students' design should definitely come in handy.
- College of Engineering Honors Five at Evening of Engineering Excellence EventMay 8, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - The LSU College of Engineering recently held its first Evening of Engineering Excellence event on April 25, inducting several new members into its Society for Engineering Excellence and Hall of Distinction.
- LSU Mechanical Engineering Instructor Creates ASPIRE Course for EducatorsMay 7, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...a drone. Drones are literally taking off and LSU Mechanical Engineering Senior Instructor Andrew Becnel wants students to keep up. Becnel, who is a graduate of LSU's Mechanical Engineering program and has a master's degree and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, understands the importance of drone technology, especially in Louisiana.
- LSU Research Team Working to Increase Supply of Affordable, Resilient Housing in High-Risk AreasMay 6, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - With hurricane season around the corner, a team of LSU researchers is exploring the feasibility of FORTIFIED® elevated manufactured homes as a solution for lower- and middle-income residents in high-risk areas. The outcomes of the project have the potential to enhance housing supply significantly, particularly in areas prone to natural disasters, offer greater safety to residents, and reduce burden on the National Flood Insurance Program and other disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief endeavors.
- LSU Names Vicki Colvin New Dean of the College of EngineeringMay 6, 2024LSU has named Baton Rouge native Vicki Colvin the dean of the College of Engineering, effective August 1, pending approval by the LSU Board of Supervisors.
- Civil Engineering Student Callender Showcases Work at ACI ConferenceMay 1, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - Andrew Callender, a senior in civil engineering from Baton Rouge, recently presented his research group's work on producing low-carbon concrete using Louisiana-sourced materials at the American Concrete Institute's (ACI) conference in New Orleans.