Team

Clemente Izurieta

Dr. Izurieta is a full Professor in the Computer Science department at Montana State University. Born in Santiago, Chile, his research interests include empirical software engineering, design and architecture of software systems, design patterns, the measurement of software quality and ecological modelling. Dr. Izurieta has approximately 16 years experience working for various R&D labs at Hewlett Packard and Intel Corporation. When not teaching, Clem and his wife (Sharlyn) can be found in the local trails, running, hiking or snow shoeing!

Ann Marie Reinhold

Ann Marie Reinhold is an Assistant Professor in the Gianforte School of Computing and Co-Director of the Software Engineering Lab at Montana State University. She specializes in the development and application of computational methods to understand the mechanisms underpinning pressing environmental, societal, and cybersecurity problems. Dr. Reinhold completed her B.A. in Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating summa cum laude in 2004. She earned her M.S. in Biology from Duke University in 2008 and Ph.D. in Ecology from Montana State University in 2014. Her postdoctoral training and ongoing research employs a pan-disciplinary approach to data science.

Brock J. LaMeres, Ph.D., PE

https://www.montana.edu/blameres/

Dr. LaMeres is a full Professor in the Electrical & Computer Engineering department at Montana State University. A Montana native, his research interests include fault tolerant computing and cybersecurity measures implemented at the hardware/firmware level. For the past 17 years, Dr. LaMeres has been maturing edge computers for critical applications. In 2024 a culmination of his work (RadPC) will travel to the surface of the moon to aid in building the future lunar ecosystem. Prior to MSU, Dr. LaMeres worked for Hewlett Packard for 8 years as a hardware design engineer where he developed test equipment for the computer industry.

Caucasian man with short dark hair wearing a suit, tie and glasses with a gray background.

Bradley Whitaker

Dr. Bradley Whitaker is an assistant professor in the Electrical & Computer Engineering department at MSU. He received his BS in Electrical Engineering from Brigham Young University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on signal processing and machine learning, particularly in areas with constraints on training data, including imbalanced datasets, incomplete datasets, and unlabeled datasets. His research has applications in cybersecurity, healthcare, military surveillance, and remote sensing.

Matthew Revelle

Dr. Matthew Revelle is an assistant professor at Montana State University. He has over 20 years of computer science experience, including 12 years of experience in vulnerability research, reverse engineering, program analysis, and computer network operations (CNO). He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from George Mason University where he focused on machine learning for graph data. Dr. Revelle is interested in the use of program analysis, machine learning, and formal methods for discovering and reasoning over software vulnerabilities and building better computer security tools

Fangtian Zhong

Dr. Fangtian Zhong is an assistant professor at Montana State University. He earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from George Washington University in 2021. After graduation, he worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Pennsylvania State University and University of Notre Dame. His research primarily focuses on software security, program analysis, and machine learning for cybersecurity. He enjoys developing novel and beautiful solutions to software security issues in different architectures, especially native codes without a source. Outside work, he likes exploring outdoor sports and playing CTF or DEFCON.

Man with short brown hair and glasses wearing a blue shirt standing in front of a blurred out background of books on a shelf

Tomas Gedeon

Dr. Gedeon is a full Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Montana State University. Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, his research interests include modeling of complex systems, computational and systems biology, dynamical systems and data science.

Outside of work he is an avid backcountry and nordic skier and in summer likes to backpack, hike and mountain bike.

Derek Reimanis

Dr. Derek Reimanis is a Post Doctoral researcher with the Gianforte School of Computing at Montana State University. After receiving his PhD from the same institution, Derek honed his focus to cybersecurity concerns within software quality assurance. Derek has four years of experience in industry as a quality assurance analyst, and currently is the lead engineer at Authors A.I.. Derek enjoys all mountain-related activities, including backpacking, mountain biking, skiing, and mountaineering.

Ryan Cummings

Ryan is a project engineer in the Software Engineering and Cybersecurity Laboratory. He has a varied professional background including jobs as diverse as opera and trucking. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Montana State University in 2020 and has worked in industry focusing mainly on software quality, deployment, and delivery. He is thrilled to return to MSU in a professional capacity and loves working with researchers and students. In the lab, he focuses on testing and delivering critical software. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys being in the mountains, playing board games, writing music, and studying economics.

Suzie Hockel

Suzie Hockel is the project manager on one of Dr. Izurieta's grants. She is an MSU graduate in Elementary Education with a Technology Enhancement. She assists in managing aspects relating to the organization of projects. Being born and raised in Bozeman provides a depth of understanding of the area. Her experience on campus as well as other venues in town provides a connection to the many resources available. When she is not working, she loves being outdoors primarily gardening, hiking, camping and enjoying nature!

Kaveen G. Liyanage

Kaveen G. Liyanage received his BS in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He is currently a graduate student at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. His research focuses on signal processing, sparse representation, and machine learning.

Grant Nelson

Grant Nelson is a Ph.D. student of Computer Science in the Gianforte School of Computing, Montana State University (MSU), Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA, and a senior software engineer at Workiva, Ames, Iowa, 50010, USA. His research interests include technical debt, programming paradigms, and quality assurance. Nelson received his M.S. in computer science from MSU.

Karishma Rahman

Karishma Rahman is an international graduate student from Bangladesh, currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree at the Gianforte School of Computing. After getting her Bachelor’s degree in computer science from BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she decided to endeavor for her graduate studies, which led her to Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. Her research focus is on the automation of software testing. Karishma enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, and painting.

Gerard Fuhnwi

Gerard Shu Fuhnwi: PhD Student

MSc. Computer Science and quantitative methods, (2019)

Austin Peay State University, Clarksville TN

BSc. University of Bamenda, Cameroon (2012)

My research intersects machine learning, statistics and data mining with a focus on applying Anomaly Detection techniques in cybersecurity and financial fraud. I am exploiting Anomaly Detection techniques that require accurate and representative labels for normal and abnormal instances, which is a major challenge in most Anomaly Detection problems.

Ernesto Ortiz

Ernesto Ortiz is a first year Ph.D. student at the Gianforte School of Computing. He is passionate about Computer Science and is enthusiastic about research. He believes that in the next few decades, scientists and engineers will continue to deliver amazing new technologies that will make life better and will take knowledge through astonish leaps and make magnificent discoveries. He is excited to be able to participate in that process. He likes to work. When he is not working, he likes to watch sports, go to the movies, read good books, and eat good food.

Yvette Hastings

Yvette is a Ph.D. student in the Gianforte School of Computing at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. Her Ph.D. research focuses on modeling biogeochemical processes in the soil. Yvette received her M.Sc. at the University of Utah, where she researched soil microbial community responses to precipitation events in experimental green infrastructure bioswales within semi-arid environments. This work also included looking at the evolution of soil microbial communities before and after green infrastructure installation and how their evolution influences water and soil quality over time. During her M.Sc. work at the University of Utah, Yvette found a passion for data science and visualization. Other research interests are in GIS, hydrology, and ecology to find solutions to protect and preserve water resources.

Assoumer Redempta Manzi Muneza

Redempta is a computer science PhD student in the Gianforte School of Computing at Montana State University under Dr. Ann Marie Reinhold. Redempta’s current work focuses on the implementation of data science approaches to improve the analysis of cybersecurity threats in software systems. Her research interests are software security, security risk assessment, and machine learning. Redempta also holds a master’s degree in computer science from Boise State University where she worked on application machine learning and natural language processing to improve technologies for children such as search engines. Out of school, Redempta loves nature, music, and storytelling.

Photo of a man with dark hair, blue eyes and a longer black beard in a room with a decorative print in the background

Tom McElroy

Tom is currently pursuing a PhD. in Computer Science under Dr. Ann Marie Reinhold at Montana State University. He holds a BS in Physics from Florida State University, and a master's degree in computer science from the University of West Florida. He worked as an electronic warfare engineer at Eglin Air Force Base for 5 years between his BS and master's degrees. His current research interest is the application of data science and machine learning techniques to remote sensing.

Emma Sheppard

Emma is a graduate student working towards a PhD in Computer Science under Dr. Ann Marie Reinhold. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Chemistry from Gonzaga University in 2023. After a summer internship with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, she discovered a passion for research in national security applications. She joined the team with research experience in numerical methods for ODEs, CT radiography, and spectral data analysis for geographic sourcing and authentication. Outside of school, Emma loves spending time with her dogs, horseback riding, thrifting, and hopes to learn to ski during her time at MSU.

Eric O'Donoghue

Eric is a second year master's student working under Dr. ClementeIzurieta. He finished his undergrad in computer science at theUniversity of Utah in May 2022. His research focuses on softwaresupply chain quality and security utilizing emerging SBOM (softwarebill of materials) technology. Outside of computer science Eric lovesto spend time outdoors, hiking, backcountry skiing, and camping.

Zach Wadhams

Zach is a graduate student working towards a MS in Cybersecurity under Dr. Clemente Izurieta. He received his undergraduate degree in computer science from Montana State in the winter of 2022. After a summer internship at the Los Alamos National Lab, he was motivated to continue his education. His research in the realm of static analysis has him working with the Army Corps of Engineers’ Construction Engineering Research Laboratory looking for vulnerabilities in their Sustainment Management System (SMS).

Garrett Perkins

Garrett graduated from Montana State with a BS in Computer Engineering and a BA in Modern Languages and Literature. After working for a Cyber Security firm local to Bozeman he decided to pursue an MS in Cyber Security under Dr. Clemente Izurieta and Dr. Brock LaMeres. His interests include penetration testing, malware analysis, and digital forensics. Aside from school, Garrett enjoys spending time outside. In the winter he can be found climbing ice in Hyalite Canyon and skiing at Bridger Bowl, and in the summer he passes his time climbing rock and mountaineering.

Brittany Boles

Brittany is a first-year cyber security master's student working under Dr. Ann Marie Reinhold. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Montana State University in May 2021. She will be researching in the Software Engineering Lab starting in Fall 2023. Besides academic pursuits, Brittany enjoys rock climbing, painting, backpacking, fly fishing, and dancing.

Dark haired woman smiling with a wilderness background

Madie Munro

Madie is a first year MS in Computer Science student working under Dr. Ann Marie Reinhold. She received her BS in Computer Science at Montana State University in Spring 2023, and she also pursued a Minor in Statistics. She is passionate about using data science as a tool to solve human-based problems in Cybersecurity and beyond. Other interests include machine learning, regression analysis, mixed effects modeling, and software engineering. Her current thesis project is focused on using natural language processing and large language models to create effective and personalized risk communication messages warning about insider threats. When Madie is not working in the Cybersecurity Lab, you can find her participating in MSU's French Horn Ensemble. She also likes to camp, hike and snowshoe, play video games, and enjoy Star Wars content.

Young woman with black straight hair and blue eyes, smiling and wearing a white and red striped shirt in front of a turquoise background

Christine Johnson

Christine is a current graduate student at MSU pursuing an MS in Cybersecurity under Dr. Clemente Izurieta. She received her undergraduate degree in Computer Science with minors in Computer Engineering and China Studies in spring of 2021 from MSU. Her research focuses on cybersecurity within the realm of process control systems. Beyond work, she's passionate about self-improvement, whether it be learning something new or improving on a current knowledge or ability.

Young woman with dark shoulder length hair wearing a rose colored blouse, standing in front of green trees

Jasmine Vang

Jasmine, a first-generation student of Hmong heritage, is now pursuing her master's in Computer Science after earning her Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Sociology from Chico State in 2021. Her passion lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, security, and the practical application of logic. Beyond her academic pursuits, Jasmine has diverse interests. When she's not diving into the world of computer science, you can find her whipping up delectable culinary creations, engaging in intense board game battles, or skillfully weaving designs through her knitting needles.

Young male with short golden brown hair and a blue long sleeve shirt. Grasses, trees and birdhouse behind.

Dillon Shaffer

Dillon is currently pursuing an Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Montana State. He began working in the Software Engineering Lab in the fall of 2022. He does general software development for various companies as part of the lab. Outside of the lab, Dillon takes interest in Compilers and Programming Languages, Server Development, and Software-Library Infrastructure. He also enjoys spending time with friends, swimming, gaming, and reading.

Young male with slightly longer light brown hair, blue short sleeve shirt and gray slacks, with two golden retriever dogs in front of large gray rocks and grass

Brian Schumitz

Brian is a current undergraduate student at Montana State University studying Computer Science. After completing an internship at Idaho National Labs during the summer of 2023, his interest has shifted to cybersecurity. His cybersecurity interests include network traffic analysis, malware detection/analysis, and securing cyber-physical systems. Outside of the lab, you can hear Brian performing with the Spirit of the West Marching Band as a snare drum player on the drumline. He also likes rock climbing, hiking, pickleball, golf, gaming, and spending time with friends.

Dark haired young woman sitting on a window sill

Megan Steinmasel

Megan is an undergrad at Montana State University, majoring in Computer Science. Her passions include web development and cybersecurity. She's drawn to the challenge of safeguarding information and systems. Outside of the lab, you'll likely find her exploring the great outdoors, and hiking local trails with her dog. She also has a creative side and enjoys expressing herself through painting and drawing. Additionally, she values physical fitness and dedicates time to weightlifting!

Young male with short brown hair wearing a black shirt with a black background

Michael Kadoshnikov

Michael Kadoshnikov is an undergraduate computer science student at MSU working under Dr. Matt Revelle. He plans to pursue a Ph.D in CS next year. His interests are anything related to cybersecurity and embedded systems. He does code graph development in the lab. Outside the lab, you'll likely find him hiking, fishing, playing with electronics and rocketry.

young man with dark hair and brown eyes wearing a blue swearter posing in front of a concrete wall

Aidan Keefe

Aidan is pursuing his Bachelor's in computer science from Montana State University. He began working in the SECL lab in 2023. He is planning to head to Ogden, Utah to intern at Hill AFB over the 2024 summer. His interests are in cybersecurity, embedded systems, and data science. Outside of the lab, Aidan can be found skiing in the Bridgers, ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon, or kayaking the Gallatin River.