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2026

News
Monday, June 15, 2026

Assistant Teaching Professor Hanan Hibshi is Giving Students the Confidence to Work with AI in her Special Topics Course

Assistant Teaching Professor Hanan Hibshi is training the next generation of experts for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era. In her special topics course, Secure and Responsible AI, which debuted this past spring, students gained first-hand experience designing systems that utilize AI responsibly.
Tuesday, June 02, 2026

INI Alum Vikramraj Sitpal Advances Database Systems at Oracle

This year Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) held the 31st Parallel Data Lab (PDL) Workshop and Retreat. The workshop focuses on connect professionals and students around the topic of storage systems and databases. In attendance was Information Networking (INI) alum Vikramraj Sitpal. Sitpal is a 2021 graduate of the INI flagship program, M.S. in Information Networking (MSIN). The MSIN program gives students the knowledge and skills to design and implement networked, software and distributed systems and services. For Sitpal, the combination helped him succeed in his current role as senior manager at DB Kernal at oracle. While at CMU, Sitpal shared his experience at the INI and how it impacted his career journey. 
Thursday, May 21, 2026

INI Assistant Teaching Professor Mohamed Farag selected as a Google Higher Ed Faculty AI Fellow

Mohamed Farag, assistant teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Information Networking Institute (INI) and lead of the Applied Generative AI (AGAI) group, has been selected as an inaugural Google Higher Ed Faculty AI Fellow, joining a global cohort of academic leaders focused on advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence in higher education.
Monday, May 18, 2026

The 2026 INI Diploma Ceremony Celebrates the Possibility of the Future and the 36th Class

On Sunday, May 10, the Information Networking Institute (INI) held its annual Diploma Ceremony during Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Commencement weekend. This year, 197 students joined a bustling and innovative network of over 3,000 alumni spanning the globe. 127 were in attendance at Rodef Shalom to be recognized for their momentous accomplishment by their peers, family and INI faculty and staff.
Friday, May 15, 2026

Carnegie Mellon Extends Historic Run with its Fifth Straight MITRE eCTF Title

For the fifth consecutive year, Carnegie Mellon UniversityOpens in new window students have claimed first place in the MITRE Embedded Capture the Flag (eCTF) cybersecurity competitionOpens in new window, further cementing the university’s status as the top program in one of the nation’s most demanding collegiate security contests.
Friday, May 08, 2026

INI Director Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis Gives Keynote at CAE in Cybersecurity Community Symposium

Last month, the Information Networking Institute (INI) was the regional host for the annual Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE) Community Symposium. The INI partnered with the National Cryptologic University National CAE Program Management Office to host the symposium in downtown Pittsburgh from April 28 to 30.
Thursday, May 07, 2026

INI Master's Thesis and Research-Based Projects Explore Topics from Blockchain Security Education to Artificial Intelligence Hallucination Assessment

The Information Networking Institute (INI) offers students the flexibility to explore unique topics through a master’s thesis, development-based project or area of concentration. These options are available to students who have selected the advanced studies option, which gives them a fourth semester to deepen their engagement in a specific area. For students interested in developing their research skills, the advanced studies option is a great choice that often results in publishable work.
Thursday, April 30, 2026

INI Alumni Susana Lau and Yen-Ming Chen Are Recognized for Their Impact During CMU’s Carnival Weekend

Each year, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) alumni from across programs and departments are celebrated for their impact on the community. Recently, two Information Networking Institute (INI) alumni received awards for their contributions and leadership during CMU’s Carnival Weekend.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026

2026 INI Diploma Ceremony Keynote Speaker is AWS Principal Aditi Pendharkar

On May 10, the Information Networking Institute (INI) will welcome Aditi Pendharkar as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Diploma Ceremony. Pendharkar is an alum of the M.S. in Information Networking (MSIN) program who has built a career as a senior leader in major organizations in both New York and London. During Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Commencement Weekend, she will help to welcome the latest INI graduating class into the INI alumni community at Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh.
Tuesday, April 07, 2026

RSAC Security Scholars Share Their Work on Blockchain Security Education and Trusted Excursion Environments

For 35 years, The RSA Conference is one of the most significant events for the global cybersecurity community. It has been an opportunity for two Information Networking Institute (INI) students to experience the broader cybersecurity community, connect with practitioners and widen their networks.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Information Networking Institute to Serve as Regional Host for 2026 Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Community Symposium in Pittsburgh

The Information Networking Institute (INI) is partnering with the National Cryptologic University National Centers for Academic Excellence (CAE) Program Management Office for the upcoming 2026 CAE Community Symposium. This event brings together over seven hundred cybersecurity experts from across CAE partner schools to share insights through presentations, workshops and discussions. This year’s symposium is held at the Wyndham Grand in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 28 to 30.
Monday, March 23, 2026

Students Connect with the Cybersecurity Community at WiCyS

Information Network Institute (INI) students, staff and alumni attended this year’s Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) conference in Washington, D.C. As a long-time sponsor and participant, the INI continues to sponsor students to attend and engage the broader research and practitioner community.
In His Special Topics Course, Professor of the Practice Dr. Quinn Jacobson Explores Innovation Through Competition
Thursday, March 12, 2026

In His Special Topics Course, Professor of the Practice Dr. Quinn Jacobson Explores Innovation Through Competition

A new Special Topics course at Information Networking Institute (INI): Insights into Technology Innovation Through Competition, taught by Professor of the Practice, Dr. Quinn Jacobson, is being taught for a second year.
INI Innovators Speakers Series: Rahul Kumar Showcases Automated Reasoning at AWS
Monday, March 02, 2026

INI Innovators Speakers Series: Rahul Kumar Showcases Automated Reasoning at AWS

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Senior Applied Science Manager Rahul Kumar, headlined the first INI Innovators Speakers Series event this February. Traveling from Seattle, he spoke to a packed room of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) students about how AWS has been investing in automated reasoning technology.
“Interviews Aren’t Exams”: INI Alum Amy Rambhia Reframes the Hiring Process for Students
Wednesday, February 25, 2026

“Interviews Aren’t Exams”: INI Alum Amy Rambhia Reframes the Hiring Process for Students

Amy Rambhia is a graduate of the M.S. in Information Security and Technical Management (MSISTM), now the M.S. in Information Security (MSIS) program, with a long history of impactful roles in major companies. Currently, Rambhia is a product manager at a leading tech company, which has brought her back to Pittsburgh. One of the first things she wanted to do upon returning to the city of her graduate studies was visit the INI.
Information Networking Institute Launches Future of Secure AI Executive Education Program this Spring
Thursday, January 15, 2026

Information Networking Institute Launches Future of Secure AI Executive Education Program this Spring

This March, the Information Networking Institute (INI) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) launches an executive certificate program for aspiring and senior leaders navigating the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). The Future of Secure AI program integrates the INI’s excellence in information security education with the university’s leadership in AI engineering, bringing in CMU professors and industry experts to lead hands-on sessions for participants.
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