As technology continues to advance, developers across the U.S. need to make sure security is advancing alongside their programs and machines. Seemaparevez Shaik (’23 M.S.) is one such student making sure the future of 3D printers stays secure.

Thanks to work from students like Shaik, the University of North Texas has been recognized once again by the U.S. National Security Agency with the five-year renewal of its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research. The designation, which UNT first earned in 2012, recognizes institutions that include cybersecurity into their doctoral curricula and whose research can strengthen the nation’s cyber defense. This latest renewal runs through 2029. UNT is one of five universities in Texas to have earned the honor and only 28 universities nationally to have the designation approved for more than 15 years in a row. UNT will formally receive the designation award from NSA and Department of Defense senior management at a ceremony in April.

The recognition comes on the heels of a recent grant to UNT cybersecurity experts from the Department of Defense and NSA into for overhauling its hiring process for cybersecurity positions. It’s also the second designation renewal from the NSA that UNT has received in the last year. UNT also is a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, which recognizes the university’s commitment to not only cybersecurity research, but also academic courses, institutional practices and community engagement.

Read more on UNT News to learn Shaik and other two students' work on cybersecurity.