Professor R. Sekar from the Department of Computer Science, has been named a SUNY Empire Innovation Professor for his work in cybersecurity, drawing on principles and techniques from programming languages and compilers, operating systems, algorithms, networks, and artificial intelligence.
“Sekar is one of the nation’s foremost cybersecurity researchers. His work on address-space layout randomization is implemented today as a primary defense mechanism in all modern operating systems,” said Samir Das, chair of the Department of Computer Science. “His leadership efforts in cybersecurity research and education have brought Stony Brook to prominence in this very important field.”
A part of the department since 1999, Sekar’s research focuses on software and systems security, building real systems for solving practical problems on software vulnerability mitigation, malware defense, and intrusion detection. A software vulnerability mitigation technique he co-invented is now widely deployed on all major desktop and mobile operating systems. Professor Sekar has won several "Best Paper" awards at top cybersecurity conferences, the SUNY Scholarship and Research award, and SUNY Chancellor's award for Scholarship and Creative Activities. He has served on the security program committees and on the editorial boards of major journals in his field. Sekar's research is supported by prestigious grants that have brought more than $19 million to Stony Brook University. Sekar has advised many PhD graduates who now hold faculty positions at top-100 institutions around the world. His work in establishing the cybersecurity curriculum at Stony Brook resulted in the National Security Agency designating Stony Brook as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education in 2000.
“Professor Sekar’s transformative work is critical to addressing the issues we face in today’s era of exponential technological growth,” said Fotis Sotiropoulos, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “I congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition from SUNY and thank him for his important work in cybersecurity, exemplary of the research underway in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook.”
The Empire Innovation Program (SUNY EIP) is a state-funded competitive grant program dedicated to recruiting and retaining world-class faculty at the State University of New York. EIP researchers are leaders in their field, involved in groundbreaking research with a vision of growth for SUNY and their respective fields. Faculty bring experiential research opportunities to life through dynamic partnerships with fellow faculty, researchers and students.