Monika Akbar

Monika Akbar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she has served since 2017. Previously, she was a Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the CyberShare Center of Excellence at UTEP. She holds a Master's from Montana State University and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Computer Science, Virginia Tech
  • M.S. in Computer Science, Montana State University

Her research focuses on AI/ML-driven solutions for cybersecurity, public health analytics, and educational technology. Key areas include threat modeling in industrial control systems (ICS), malware detection, disease outbreak prediction using mobility data, and culturally responsive computational thinking education.

Her recent work emphasizes integrating heterogeneous data sources for risk assessment, with applications in cybersecurity (e.g., CyManII collaborations) and public health informatics. Over 50 publications span conferences like IEEE Big Data, CIKM, and journals like IEEE Security & Privacy.

Notable collaborations include the Sol y Agua project, a game-based STEM education initiative, and partnerships with the National Science Foundation (NSF) for CS education studies in El Paso schools.

Her lab develops tools like AWEB for cybersecurity threat analysis and mobile platforms (e.g., Dysgu) to enhance out-of-class learning engagement.