CAE Community of Practice Cyber Research

Overview
Faculty and researchers from NSA-designated Centers of Academic Excellence in Research (CAE-R) institutions are invited to submit abstracts for a special track on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity. This track, held in conjunction with the annual NCAE-C Community Symposium, aims to foster collaboration, share cutting-edge research, and discuss innovative educational practices to address the nation's cybersecurity workforce needs.

 

Description

Our 13th annual CAE in Cybersecurity Community Symposium will take place on April 28-30, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Symposium event is designed to provide CAE members and applicants the opportunity to network, receive community updates, and present their projects to the community. We are seeking proposals from CAE in Cybersecurity - Cyber Research (CAE-R) community members for research presentations (30 min), Getting to Know a CAE (30 min), and Getting to Know a PhD (30 min). Below are the guidelines for proposed topics for presentations. Please keep in mind that there are a limited number of sessions available and a limit of three submissions per CAE-R academic institution. The CAE Symposium’s community-generated program will showcase best practices, stories of successful collaborations, lessons learned, future directions, and solutions to community-wide issues within the CAE-R track. Commercial or sales presentations will not be considered. Please read this page carefully before you begin work on your proposal, and be sure to submit by the deadline: January 15, 2026. Review the Author's Guidelines and submit an abstract proposal via the CAE-R Track EasyChair.

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Research Presentation Suggested Topics

The CAE-R Track invites research presentation submissions related to three main categories and topics, including, but not limited to: 

• AI and ML for Cybersecurity

  • Intelligent threat detection and prevention

  • AI-powered vulnerability analysis and incident response

  • Behavioral analytics for insider threat detection

  • Automation of security operations and incident handling

• Cybersecurity for AI and ML

  • Adversarial machine learning (attacks and defenses)

  • Data poisoning and model evasion techniques

  • Ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of AI/ML models and data

  • Ethical considerations and bias in secure AI systems

• AI and ML Education

  • Curriculum design for AI/ML in cybersecurity degree programs

  • Hands-on lab exercises and realistic training environments

  • Best practices for teaching complex AI/ML security concepts

  • Addressing the faculty and skill gap in AI/ML education

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Getting to Know a CAE

We are looking to highlight a single CAE-R school at the CAE Community Symposium. Please submit a single page document that describes the CAE-R program or programs at your institution including a (1) description the faculty and student body of your CAE-E program, (2) notable research outcomes from the last 5 years,  (3) unique research programs, labs, (4) notable research relationships with government or industry, and (5) other interesting items about your CAE-R program.

 

Getting to Know a PhD

We are looking to highlight a single PhD student from a CAE-R school at the CAE Community Symposium. Please submit a single page document that includes the student's (1) name, (2) major, (3) expected graduation date, (4) the title or anticipated title of the dissertation, (5) a summary of the research problem, (6) motivation for solving the problem, (7) approach to solving the problem, and (8) research results.

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1-Page Submission Types

• Research Presentation (Time slots: 30 minutes per session)

• Getting to Know a CAE (Time slots: 30 minutes per session)

• Getting to Know a PhD (Time slots: 30 minutes per session)

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Links

EasyChair Submission System

CAE-R Proceedings Author's Guidelines

2026 CAE-R Proceedings Extended Abstract Template (Word)

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Important Dates / Deadlines (Tentative)

• Submission deadline for extended abstracts: January 15, 2026

• Reviewer volunteer deadline: January 22, 2026

• Reviewers notified of assignments from EasyChair: January 23, 2026

• Reviewer abstract responses due in EasyChair: February 10, 2026

• Reviews and responses to authors open in EasyChair: February 12, 2026

• Submission of the final version of accepted abstracts (in DOCx) and presentation slides (in PDFs): February 26, 2026

• Session chair volunteer deadline: March 8, 2026

• Zoom session for Presenters and Session Chairs: April 17, 2026

• CAE in Cybersecurity Symposium in Pittsburgh, PA: April 28-30, 2026​

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Submission Guidelines

​All submissions should follow the requirements at “CAE-R Proceedings Author's Guidelines” and the 1-page 2026 CAE-R Proceedings Extended Abstract Template (Word) provided only. All accepted submissions will include a 1-Page Extended Abstract that will be published in the CAE-R Track Proceedings. ***By submitting an abstract, you agree to serve on the Program Committee and conduct a peer review of at least three abstracts. Submissions may include student co-authors, but no students are allowed to present, only POC or designated individuals can attend/present if accepted***

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2026 CAE-R Track Program Committee Co-Chairs

Tommy Morris, University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL, tommy.morris@uah.edu (Chair)

Isabelle Brown-Cantrell, University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL, isabelle.brown@uah.edu

M. Einaam Alim, University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL, mohammad.alim@uah.edu