Justin Firestone

Justin Firestone serves as an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with his academic home in the School of Computing. He concurrently teaches Cyberlaw at the University's College of Law and maintains active legal licensure in Nebraska and Illinois.

His exceptional educational journey spans multiple disciplines at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science (2020)
• M.S. in Computer Science (2016)
• B.S. in Computer Science (2013)
• J.D. in Law (2005)
• M.A. in Classics (1998)
• B.A. in Latin and Economics (1996)

Firestone's research pioneers the convergence of computer science, synthetic biology, and regulatory frameworks, specifically investigating how software engineering principles can address safety, security, and compliance challenges in biological engineering. His work establishes foundational methodologies for building assurance cases in synthetic biology applications while critically examining the regulatory landscape through the lens of soft law development.

Analysis of his 2014-2024 publications reveals a consistent interdisciplinary trajectory where software engineering rigor meets biological innovation. Dominant themes include assurance engineering for biological systems (36% of publications), regulatory frameworks for emerging biotechnologies (27%), and educational tools for computing pedagogy (18%), with recurring focus on safety-critical applications and cross-domain knowledge transfer.

His scholarly contributions have been recognized through:

• Regents Scholarship for undergraduate excellence
• GRF-STEM fellowship from the National Institute of Justice supporting doctoral research

As a lifelong Lincoln resident, Firestone maintains active engagement with the local community through ingredient-driven culinary pursuits and electronic music composition using KORG Gadget, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to both professional and personal endeavors.