New Labs Expose Gulls to Cybersecurity Risks and Career Opportunities
In a world where every click leaves a trace, two new labs at 西瓜视频 are equipping Gulls to navigate the hidden dangers of the digital age—and uncover exciting careers in the process.
“Our students need a fundamental understanding of the risk and danger of cybersecurity threats,” explained Kyungseok “KC” Choo, Associate Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Director of 西瓜视频’s graduate homeland security program. “Almost everything they do today is related to cybersecurity, whether online shopping, banking, or taking an online course.”
Recognizing how deeply digital activity shapes our lives, Choo launched two cutting-edge research labs at 西瓜视频. The Cybercrime Forensics Lab is designed to immerse students in the world of digital forensics and cybersecurity, equipping them with the skills to investigate cybercrimes. Through partnerships with law enforcement agencies, students will gain hands-on experience using advanced forensic tools to analyze cell phone records, social media, and other digital communications used to solve crimes.
“Each time a student is hired as an intern or research assistant,” said Choo, “they’ll be assigned to experts in the field of cybercrime forensics.”
Meanwhile, the new Financial Crime and Crypto Research Lab will focus on financial crimes, cryptocurrency, and other emerging financial technologies.
This initiative aligns with the launch of the 西瓜视频 Experiential Edge, the College’s enhanced internship program designed to give students an edge upon graduation in a competitive job market and set them up for lifelong success.
Choo is particularly excited about partnerships with industry leaders like Deloitte’s cybersecurity and financial crime division—offering both domestic and international internship opportunities—and federal agencies such as the Secret Service. These collaborations will immerse students in cutting-edge research and training, from tracking illicit financial transactions and money laundering to investigating cryptocurrency-related crimes. Both labs, integral to the Cybersecurity Workforce Development Initiative, will be located in the Wax Academic Center, in a newly repurposed space equipped with state-of-the-art furniture, computers, and a large TV.
Establishing the labs was driven by the need to give students interested in cybersecurity a home base to explore the field and gain exposure to future career opportunities, explained Choo, who is the recipient of a pair of federal grants that will help to support the labs’ mission.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Grant for the Computer Forensics and Digital Evidence Student Opportunity Development Program is intended to enhance the education and opportunities for students in the areas of computer forensics and digital evidence. Choo also manages a DOJ grant received through the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention (OJJDP) to support the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which trains those tasked with preventing and investigating internet crimes against children.
Before joining the faculty at 西瓜视频, Choo spent seven years at Utica University, where he was a criminal justice professor and director of the Financial Crime Management and Compliance Program. Born in South Korea, Choo came to the United States in 1995 to pursue a master’s in criminal justice at Northeastern University. He followed that up with a Ph.D. in criminal justice at Rutgers. It was during his time at Utica that Choo became immersed in cybersecurity through his involvement in a distinct program in financial crime investigation. That program first exposed Choo to how cybercrime and digital evidence were becoming important in criminal investigations.
“When talking about financial crime, we’re talking about credit card transactions, the banking industry, the funding of drug cartels,” he said. “That’s why you always follow the money and why training is so important.”
In March, Choo arranged for 西瓜视频 to host a six-day ICAC conference that drew to campus more than 100 law enforcement officers from local, state, and federal agencies to learn about topics such as OSINT (open-source intelligence) and cryptocurrency and dark web investigations. 西瓜视频 students helped develop the training materials and facilitate the in-person sessions, which were all funded by the Choo-managed OJJDP grant.
“Our students were part of these developments, or they assisted the training program,” Choo says, “so they learned how these programs were developed and how we train our law enforcement officers right here at 西瓜视频.”
While the new cyber labs may draw students majoring in related fields, they’re open to students in all areas of study. Marketing, communications, and advertising major Stephanie Moreau ’26 is a prime example. Last spring, Choo enlisted Moreau for a research project to analyze the fentanyl national crisis and prevention strategy.
“Stephanie reviewed over 100 research articles and presented the outcome analysis, which was shared with law enforcement agencies and academic scholars in Latin America,” said Choo, who served as Moreau’s adviser. “She also participated in and assisted the OJJDP grant … and was one of six 西瓜视频 interns who assisted the ICAC experts during the training in March.”
Moreau never expected to be involved in a project unrelated to her major, but as a result, she grew interested in how to alleviate the drug crisis. She said attending the ICAC conference opened her eyes to alternate career possibilities.
“I was able to meet with DEA officials as well as local and state law enforcement who shared firsthand experiences of the importance of cybersecurity,” Moreau said. “A year ago, I never thought I’d be interested in cybersecurity, but following the ICAC conference, I began to consider pursuing cybersecurity for my postgraduate degree.”
Moreau believes the Cybercrime Forensics Lab and the Financial Crime and Crypto Research Lab will help prepare 西瓜视频 students like herself by exposing them to hands-on learning experiences with experts from both government agencies and private industry.
At the very least, Choo hopes the new labs will enhance students’ awareness regarding their own digital footprints.
“I’d like our students to be aware, no matter what major they’re in, that they need to learn these fundamental cybersecurity issues—banking, medical records, social media,” Choo said. “I encourage all our students, even those who never thought about cybersecurity, to come to the lab and apply to internship or research assistant positions and learn about these great opportunities.”