Why It Matters

Research matters in cybersecurity because the threat landscape is always evolving. New technologies get adopted faster than they get secured, and someone has to be paying attention to the gaps. Professionals who can identify emerging risks, study them systematically, and communicate findings to others are the ones who help the field stay ahead of attackers rather than behind them.

The Experience

Through the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Coastal Virginia, I conducted undergraduate research focused on security vulnerabilities in AI development tools, specifically a technology called MCP servers. In simple terms, MCP servers are tools that allow AI systems to connect to and interact with external services. My research looked at how these connections could be exploited and explored methods for detecting suspicious behavior before it causes harm. I presented my findings at the COVA CCI research showcase.

What I Took Away

This experience pushed me into territory I had never explored before. AI security is one of the fastest-growing areas in the field, and getting hands-on research experience in it this early in my career felt significant. Presenting at the showcase also challenged me to take complex technical findings and explain them in a way that a mixed audience could understand, which is a skill I will use throughout my career.