Mehdi Mekni

Dr. Mehdi Mekni is a Professor of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at the University of New Haven, serving as Undergraduate Coordinator for Computer Science and Director/Founder of the Laboratory for Applied Software Engineering Research (LASER). He holds a Ph.D. from Laval University and has extensive industry experience in R&D and management roles at companies like Vermeg and Ubisoft. His research focuses on cybersecurity education, game development, mixed reality, and AI-driven software engineering. He leads initiatives like the GenCyber Teacher Academy, supported by NSA/NSF grants, to enhance cybersecurity education in Connecticut’s high schools.

Education:

• Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, University of Tunis (1995–2000)
• MSc in Computer Science, Laval University (2006)
• Ph.D. in Computer Science and Software Engineering, Laval University (2010)
• Postdoctoral Fellow at INRS (2010–2012)

Research Interests:

• Cybersecurity pedagogy and infrastructure
• Game development and AI integration
• Mixed reality applications
• Smart systems (e.g., parking, health monitoring)

His work bridges academic research and industry needs, emphasizing practical solutions like the LASER lab’s software engineering innovations.

Grants & Initiatives:

• NSA/NSF-funded GenCyber Teacher Academy (2023–present)
• Development of cybersecurity curriculum for K-12 education

Dr. Mekni also contributes to advancing cybersecurity tools, such as the GargoyleGuard AI framework and metaverse threat mitigation strategies.

Labs/Teams: Laboratory for Applied Software Engineering Research (LASER), leading interdisciplinary projects in software engineering and cybersecurity.