Sharmin Aktar

Sharmin Aktar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of New Orleans (UNO), specializing in machine learning, cybersecurity, and network security, alongside an M.Sc. and Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning and AI from UNO, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of New Orleans
• M.Sc. in Computer Science, University of New Orleans
• Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning and AI, University of New Orleans
• B.Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Dr. Aktar's research centers on cybersecurity with emphasis on network intrusion detection, anomaly detection, and domain adaptation. She develops deep learning models to enhance IoT network security and combat DoS attacks, bridging theoretical machine learning with practical cybersecurity solutions through techniques like autoencoders and ensemble methods.

Her 2021-2024 publications reveal a strong focus on applying deep learning to cybersecurity challenges, particularly in IoT anomaly detection, network security ensembles, and DoS attack defense. Recent work extends to digital forensics using machine learning for database memory analysis, consistently leveraging advanced techniques like contractive autoencoders and clustering algorithms to address evolving cyber threats.

Dr. Aktar has received numerous awards and honors:

• Top Ten Award at BUET
• Bangladesh Government Scholarships for outstanding academic achievements
• Inaugural Summer Doctoral Scholarship (2024)
• UNO Cyber Center Travel Grant (2024)
• NeurIPS Outreach Program (2023)
• Fully Funded Ph.D. Scholarship, University of New Orleans
• Women in Cybersecurity Conference Scholarships (2022-2023)
• UNO SGA Travel Grant (2022)
• CRA-WP Grad Cohort for Women (2021)

Dr. Aktar actively mentors students in machine learning, AI, and cybersecurity. Her research is supported by:

• Research Grants: Louisiana Board of Regents Grant (2023)
• Travel Grants: UNO Cyber Center Travel Grant (2024), UNO SGA Travel Grant (2022), Women in Cybersecurity Conference Scholarships (2022-2023)
• Scholarships: Inaugural Summer Doctoral Scholarship (2024), Fully Funded Ph.D. Scholarship, NeurIPS Outreach Program (2023), CRA-WP Grad Cohort for Women (2021)

As an active member of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS), Dr. Aktar contributes to community building and promotes gender diversity in the field through conference participation and outreach initiatives.