SleepFormer: A Lightweight Rhythm-Aware Framework for Sleep Stage Classification
Komal Ilyas, Nitesh Saxena, Irfan Khan
In IEEE EMBS International Conference on Biomedical and Health Informatics (BHI), 2026
News
SPIES Lab Student Named Future Faculty Fellow (F3)
Congratulations to SPIES Lab Ph.D. student Md Mojibur Rahman Redoy Akanda (Akanda) again on being selected as a recipient of the 2026–2027 Mobil Aggies Future Faculty Fellowship (F3) at Texas A&M University!
Texas A&M has officially announced the 2026–2027 F3 Fellows, with only five doctoral candidates selected across the university. This competitive fellowship recognizes doctoral students who have demonstrated excellence in research, teaching, and mentorship and prepares them for successful careers in academia.
Each of these students has distinguished themselves through outstanding scholarship and a commitment to teaching and mentoring others.
— Dr. Charles Criscione, Associate Dean, Graduate and Professional School, and Director of the F3 Program
Akanda is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science and Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Nitesh Saxena. His research focuses on cybersecurity and privacy, particularly securing emerging technologies and addressing security and privacy risks arising from accessibility barriers for diverse users. He also investigates security and privacy risks associated with emerging technologies, including augmented and virtual reality platforms.
The F3 program provides one year of support along with faculty mentorship, professional development, and structured preparation for the academic job market.
Congratulations to Akanda on this university-wide recognition!
Read the official Texas A&M announcement:
https://inside.provost.tamu.edu/story/five-doctoral-candidates-named-2026-2027-mobil-aggies-future-faculty-fellows/
Learn more about Akanda’s research:
https://redoyakanda.github.io/
#TexasAandM #Cybersecurity #Accessibility #FutureFaculty #SPIESLab #UsableSecurity
2 Papers Accepted to ISC 2026
- Stress Testing Social Media Authentication Ceremonies of End-to-End Encrypted Messaging with Ephemeral Fake Accounts
Mashari Alatawi, Md Shahidur Rahaman and Nitesh Saxena
In 29th Information Security Conference (ISC), September 2026.
- You Can’t Spot a Deepfake—And Neither Can Your Brain Nor Eyes: A Neurophysiological Framework for Deepfake Exploitation of Cognitive Engagement and Implicit Visual Evaluation
Cagri Arisoy, Md Imanul Huq, Amy Hays and Nitesh Saxena
In 29th Information Security Conference (ISC), September 2026.
Dr. Saxena appointed as the Raytheon Professor!
Congratulations to Dr. Saxena for being appointed to the endowed Raytheon Professorship in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. “The holder of an endowed professorship/chair is considered a high honor, as well as recognition of consistently outstanding performance and ability.”
This is a humbling honor that recognizes Dr. Saxena’s long-standing and incessant contributions to the field as a researcher and an educator.
National Security just got a little boost :-). A lot of work ahead to do!
And, yes, Dr. Saxena still looks as young as he is in this picture 🙂
Two SPIES graduates joining industry and academia
This summer, Jimmy Dani and Md Imanul Huq, are two of the SPIES Lab’s PhD students that are graduating. They both have done excellent research over the past several years that has led to impactful results. Now, they will be contributing to the US workforce in meaningful positive ways. After receiving countless offers, Jimmy has decided to join Wayfair as a Machine Learning Scientist. Imanul, on the other hand, has chosen to continue to stay in academia and teach young minds, and he is starting as a teaching faculty in Computer Science at Blinn College. Jimmy will be moving to Boston, MA, while Iman will be staying close by in Brenham, TX (the home to Blue Bell Creameries). Now, whenever I shop for home online, Jimmy will get me discount coupons, and whenever I feel like eating fresh ice cream, I will reach out to Iman 🙂
Congratulations to both and best wishes for bright futures ahead! Your employers are lucky to have you!
Huh…19 fish surfing in the wild waters, 12 still learning to swim in the pool 🙂
Dr. Saxena to Co-Lead a New $2M NSF SFS (Cyber AI) Program
We have been awarded a new ~$2 Million NSF SFS (Scholarship for Service) grant, funded under the new incarnation of the Cyber AI program. Led by our Cybersecurity Center. This will be Dr. Saxena’s 3rd SFS program in the past 10 years (and about $10 Million in funding) that he will be co-leading or leading, including at UAB (lead) and TAMU (2 programs; co-lead). Way to go! Cybersecurity education rocks, with or without AI!
Please send your kids out to us so we can train them to serve in the US government cybersecurity workforce and Make America Secure Again!
Introducing Dr. Huq, SPIES Lab’s 19th PhD Graduate
Congratulations to Md. Imanul Huq for successfully defending his PhD dissertation. Foundational and transformative work at the intersection of user-centered security, HCI and Psychology, which has led to many strong publications (and many are under review) and research impact. Iman has set up a new model for perseverance and diligence in academic research. Stay tuned for where Iman will be next seen making that real world difference. Perhaps in academia or an industry lab?!? Surprise, surprise! 
Introducing Dr. Dani, SPIES Lab’s 18th PhD Graduate
Congratulations to Jimmy Dani for successfully defending his PhD dissertation. Appealing work at the intersection of AI/ML and cybersecurity, which has led to many strong publications (and many are in the oven :-)) and research impact. The go to person in the SPIES lab! Stay tuned for where Jimmy will be next seen making that real world difference. Perhaps the world’s best and the largest software company, or may be the smallest and the most compelling start-up?!? Surprise, surprise! 🙂
SPIES Lab Student Wins the Future Faculty Fellowship
Congratulations to SPIES Lab Ph.D. student Md Mojibur Rahman Redoy Akanda (Akanda) on being selected as a recipient of the 2026–2027 Mobil Aggies Future Faculty Fellowship (F3) at Texas A&M University.
The F3 Fellowship recognizes exceptional doctoral students who demonstrate strong research accomplishments, scholarly potential, and commitment to future academic careers, with the specific aim of preparing them for successful faculty careers through dissertation completion support, faculty mentorship, seminars, professional development workshops, and structured academic job market preparation, including feedback on research statements, teaching statements, CVs, and other faculty application materials.
The selection process is highly competitive and rigorous, involving nomination and review at both the department and college levels before final university-wide selection. Only five doctoral fellowships are awarded across the entire university.
The fellowship includes:
- $30,000 stipend ($2,500/month)
- $5,000 one-time scholarship
- Tuition and required university and college fees
- 12 months of health insurance support
We are proud of Akanda’s accomplishments and excited to see his continued impact in cybersecurity, accessibility, and emerging systems research. Learn more about Akanda’s research: https://redoyakanda.github.io/
#TexasAandM #Cybersecurity #Accessibility #FutureFaculty #SPIESLab #UsableSecurity
SPIES Lab PhD Student Received NSF Fellowship to Make AI More Secure
Komal Ilyas, a first-year computer science and engineering Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University, has been awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation CSGrad4Us fellowship to study how artificial intelligence systems can be hacked and how to stop it.
“As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives and critical systems, understanding its vulnerabilities is essential,” Ilyas said. “I’ll be focusing on identifying how AI can be deceived or attacked so we can build more secure and trustworthy systems.”
The fellowship provides fellows with a $37,000 annual stipend, a $16,000 cost of education allowance, and access to a mentorship program, all for three years. Ilyas, who earned her master’s degree in computer science from Texas A&M, applied during the final year of that program.
She works in the SPIES lab under Dr. Nitesh Saxena and Dr. Irfan Khan. Her current project investigates how unmanned marine vessels could be targeted by cyberattacks and what defenses can protect them.