Cybersecurity Applications Minor Intended to Help Close Skills Gap

Cybersecurity skills are in high demand. According to Cyber Seek, there are currently more than 10,000 openings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area for cybersecurity workers. Nationwide, there are more than 300,000.

To help close the skills gap, the CSULB College of Engineering this Fall is introducing a Cybersecurity Applications Minor. The 18-unit program is designed to provide students with skills to help in job seeking and career building. The minor is open to any student with at least a 2.0 GPA. Continue reading “Cybersecurity Applications Minor Intended to Help Close Skills Gap”

When It Comes to Cybersecurity: Be Worried

Cyber security logoIt’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and there’s plenty to worry about. Hackers are busy finding ways to exploit mobile, Big Data, the Internet of Things, and the cloud. And as vulnerabilities are patched, cybercriminals are shifting from quick attacks to stealthier long-term information gathering. Some 110 million people–half of American adults—have had their data exposed in the past year, according to Mcafee’s annual threats report. And an increasing number of cybercriminals are affiliated with governments and organized crime.

“Everyone should be worried—the general populace, innovators and engineers, CIOs and CTOs, the governments,” said CSULB computer science professor Mehrdad Aliasgari, an expert on computer security. “The number of attacks and threats that have been exploited have increased in a substantial manner. There’s more and more news of compromises on a daily basis than there used to be.” Continue reading “When It Comes to Cybersecurity: Be Worried”

COE Welcomes New Faculty and Administrators

New Faculty and Administrators

The College of Engineering welcomed seven new faculty and administrators during the Fall 2013/Spring 2014 academic year.


Burkhard Englert headshot
Burkhard Englert

Burkhard Englert
CECS Chair

Dr. Englert has been at CSULB since August 2003, and served as the COE’s graduate program coordinator from 2011-2013. He received his PhD from the University of Connecticut in 2000, and his areas of interest include distributed computing, computer security and transportation system simulation and modeling.


Anastassios G. Chassiakos headshot
Anastassios G. Chassiakos

Anastassios G. Chassiakos
EE Chair

Dr. Chassiakos holds a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California, and been with the College of Engineering since 1992. He served as the director of the California Pre-Doctoral Program for the Office of the CSU Chancellor from 2009-2012, and has extensive experience as a consultant for aerospace manufacturers including Rockwell International and Northrop Corporation.


Nicole Forrest Boggs headshot
Nicole Forrest Boggs

Nicole Forrest Boggs
Director of Development

Ms. Boggs comes to CSULB with over a decade of development experience. Most recently she served as Director of Development at Cal Poly Pomona where she was responsible for frontline fundraising in the College of Education and Integrative Studies, Student Affairs, University Library and Presidential Priorities. Prior to her work at Cal Poly Pomona, she was Director of Annual Giving at the University of La Verne. Nicole holds an MBA with a marketing emphasis and Bachelors in Economics.


Ted Yu headshot
Ted Yu

Ted Yu
Assistant Professor
Chemical Engineering

Dr. Yu holds a PhD in Materials Science from Caltech and has had many years of experience conducting experimental research at Lawrence Berkeley Labs. His area of interest include alternative energy applications of fuel cells, batteries, solar cells, and artificial photosynthesis.


Mehrdad Aliasgari headshot
Mehrdad Aliasgari

Mehrdad Aliasgari
Assistant Professor
Computer Science

Dr. Aliasgari holds a PhD in computer science and engineering from the University of Notre Dame, where he completed a dissertation in “Secure Computation and Outsourcing of Biometric Data.” He also received his masters degree in Computer Science and Engineering Notre Dame, and holds a bachelors in Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology. His research interests include computer security and applied cryptography.


Bob Minaie headshot
Bob Minaie

Bob Minaie
Boeing Endowed Professor of Manufacturing
MAE Department

Dr. Minaie holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. His research areas include manufacturing, materials, and mechanics including the use of advanced composites, thin films, and multifunctional nanostructured materials for aerospace, energy, green manufacturing, structural health monitoring, fuel cell, and transportation applications. His research has been supported at a significant level by NASA, ONR, AFOSR, DOE, NSF, and industry. Close collaboration with industry and providing leadership for university-industry-government teams in conducting interdisciplinary and multi-investigator research have been integral parts of his activities. Prior to joining CSULB, he served on the faculty of Wichita State University.


Mahdi Yoozbashizadeh headshot
Mahdi Yoozbashizadeh

Mahdi Yoozbashizadeh
Assistant Professor
MAE Department

Dr. Mahdi Yoozbashizadeh holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering with a focus in Manufacturing Engineering from USC and has had six years of experience both as a postdoctoral fellow and research assistant conducting experimental research in the Additive Fabrication and Manufacturing Labs at USC. His research interests include powder metallurgy, 3D printing, metallic part fabrication, rapid prototyping, CAD/CAM and design of experiments.