Illinois State University Hosts INSuRE Summer Workshop 2025
In a significant achievement for Illinois State University (ISU), two of its esteemed faculty members, Dr. Dmitry Zhdanov—State Farm Endowed Chair in Cybersecurity—and Dr. Sean Sanders, assistant professor of cybersecurity in the School of Information Technology, led the INSuRE Summer Workshop 2025. This event showcased the university on a national podium, emphasizing its commitment to cybersecurity education and research.
A Unique Recognition
Illinois State University was the sole institution selected to host the summer workshop among a competitive field of federally designated Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cybersecurity throughout the United States. This honor signifies the university’s reputation and capabilities in fostering an advanced learning environment in cybersecurity. Fifteen top-tier cybersecurity students from around the country gathered in Normal, IL to work on significant research problems that hold national importance, all under the mentorship of Department of Defense (DoD) researchers.
The Impact of the Workshop
Reflecting on this milestone, Dr. Zhdanov commented, “The workshop demonstrated that our faculty could supervise students working on significant research, guide them on innovative issues, and elevate ISU’s reputation in cybersecurity research and education across the country.” This sentiment encapsulates the transformative nature of the experience, not only for the students involved but also for the institution’s standing in the academic landscape.
Collaborative Research with Federal Insights
The INSuRE (Information Security Research and Education) program is a collaborative effort connecting U.S. government agencies, universities, and students focused on addressing pressing cybersecurity challenges. Typically, INSuRE projects take place during academic semesters and allow students to engage in research from their home institutions. However, this summer program at ISU emphasized in-person collaboration, connecting students directly with faculty for a deeply immersive educational experience.
Dr. Zhdanov and Dr. Sanders played pivotal roles in organizing and mentoring the students. Under their guidance, students tackled cutting-edge topics, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), model context processing (MCP), and cybersecurity threats associated with generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The unique setting fostered innovative problem-solving while allowing participants to engage in vital research activities.
Dr. Sanders highlighted the significance of faculty involvement: “Because the research problems come directly from federal mentors, it is extremely helpful to have faculty who not only understand these problems but can also guide students toward practical, innovative solutions.”
Enrichment Beyond Research
Beyond the intricate research work, the INSuRE workshop incorporated various activities designed to enhance the overall experience. A highlight was the visit to the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), where students interacted with Rosie—a cutting-edge AI-powered robot curated by the Sustainment Management Systems team. Collaborative efforts were made, resulting in the development of research prototypes aimed at improving the safety of AI-enhanced data access systems.
The workshop also placed a strong emphasis on team-building activities, recognizing that collaboration is crucial in cybersecurity. Students engaged in fun and competitive events like bowling, billiards at the Illinois State Bowling and Billiards Center, an escape room challenge, a visit to the Redbird Adventure Center, and even attending a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. These experiences fostered camaraderie and equipped students with essential teamwork skills, preparing them to become future leaders in the cybersecurity field.
Elevating ISU’s National Presence
Illinois State has garnered recognition as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD). Hosting the INSuRE Summer Workshop once again enhanced the university’s profile in cybersecurity education. This achievement demonstrates that, despite not having the formal “research” designation typically associated with larger universities, ISU can significantly contribute to essential research initiatives.
Dr. Zhdanov noted, “Workshops like this help the University do more research and make us more visible in cybersecurity education across the country.” His remarks underline the workshop’s role in showcasing ISU’s faculty as leaders in training the next generation of cybersecurity experts. Furthermore, collaborations with federal mentors established during the workshop promise to nurture future research opportunities.
With a successful summer behind them, both Dr. Zhdanov and Dr. Sanders are enthusiastic about building on this momentum, aiming to create even more opportunities for Illinois State students in the field of cybersecurity in the years to come.