Faculty Directory

Mazurek, Michelle

Mazurek, Michelle

Director, Maryland Cybersecurity Center
Associate Professor
Computer Science
Maryland Cybersecurity Center
UMIACS
Electrical and Computer Engineering
5236 Iribe Center
Website(s):

EDUCATION

  • B.S. from the University of Maryland in 2004
  • Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014

BACKGROUND

Michelle Mazurek is director of the Maryland Cybersecurity Center. She is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science with a joint appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for  Advanced Computer Studies and the Human-Computer Interaction Lab. Mazurek is also an affiliate associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Her research focuses on human-centered computer security. Mazurek is interested in understanding and influencing security and privacy behaviors and preferences by collecting real data from real users. Recently, she has focused on topics including making security easier for professionals such as sysadmins and software developers, understanding how and why end users learn and apply security behaviors, and investigating adoption of end-to-end encrypted messaging.

She leads the Security, Privacy, People lab (SP2) within the Maryland Cybersecurity Center.

Mazurek received her doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

  • Cryptography
  • Cybersecurity
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Systems and Networking

Levin Opens Doors to Undergraduate Research

Associate Professor Dave Levin wants to impart the value and rewards of scientific discovery to others.

Mazurek and Akgul Win Distinguished Paper Award at USENIX

Their award-winning paper delves into the challenges faced by bug bounty hunters.

Recent MC2 Alum Kelsey Fulton Receives John Karat Award

The award recognizes grad students for their research in usable privacy and security, efforts to mentor others, and community service in the field.

MC2 Researchers Present Nine Papers at IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy

The papers cover timely topics that have important real-world implications for improving security and privacy.

Mazurek Receives Test of Time Award at IEEE S&P

The award recognizes papers published at IEEE’s flagship security conference that have made a lasting impact.

MC2 Awards Seed Grants to Graduate Students Researching VPN Advertising and Digital Safety

Three MC2 graduate students have been awarded seed grants to pursue research in security and privacy.

Cukier Receives Mentoring Award for Founding and Leading ACES

The award recognizes his success in developing the cybersecurity honors program.

MC2 Launches Travel Awards Program

It will support MC2 students and postdocs traveling to academic conferences, workshops or other research events focused on cybersecurity or privacy.

MC2 Researchers Present Six Papers at ACM Security Conference

Two of the six papers received honorable mention awards at the annual conference.

Exploring Transparency in Online Advertising

Michelle Mazurek is part of a multi-institutional team looking to better understand how consumers’ personal information is used to generate online targeted ads.

Mazurek Honored with 2022 CyLab Distinguished Alumni Award

The award recognizes CyLab alumni that have had impactful achievements in security and/or privacy.

MC2 Researchers Design First Comprehensive Framework for At-Risk Users

MC2 researchers present the first comprehensive framework that can be used to reason about at-risk users’ needs during the technology creation process.

MC2 Researchers Present Three Papers at IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy

Topics covered by the researchers involve security education, online protection for at-risk users, and "blocklisting."

MC2 Kicks Off Third Year of Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The fellowships offer an opportunity to work closely with MC2 faculty in multiple areas of cybersecurity.

UMD Joins U.S. Cyber Command’s Academic Engagement Network

The initiative's goal is to create a robust and accessible pool of qualified cyber professionals. 

MC2 Researchers Present Six Papers at ACM Conference on Information Security

The papers cover hot topics like key management for cryptocurrencies, fuzzy message detection and more.

As New Director, Mazurek Expands on MC2’s Momentum

She now leads numerous successful programs and partnerships established by the center’s prior directors, and is developing new ideas and initiatives of her own.

Mazurek Part of Award-Winning Team Studying the Digital Safety of Sex Workers

The study examines how sex workers conceptualize and manage their digital safety across multiple devices.

New Postdocs Bring Expertise in Secure Software Development and Usable Security and Privacy to MC2

Ethan Cecchetti and Nathan Malkin will start at the Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2) in September.

MC2 Researchers Present 10 Papers at Upcoming Security Symposiums

They will present research on a diverse array of security-related topics at USENIX and SOUPS. 

Maryland Cybersecurity Center Kicks Off Second Year of Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The fellowship offers an opportunity to work closely with faculty and graduate students in the center.

Mazurek Named Co-Director of Maryland Cybersecurity Center

She will help lead the center for the next five months, after which she will take over as the center’s director.

MC2 Doctoral Student Takes on the Steep Challenge of Developing Secure Software

Kelsey Fulton, an avid rock climber, puts discipline and determination into her research.

MC2 Graduate Student Daniel Votipka Receives John Karat Award

The award recognizes Votipka's excellence in research and his dedication to mentorship and community service.

MC2 Researchers Have 13 Papers Accepted to Upcoming Cybersecurity Events

The papers highlight the center’s cutting-edge research in programming languages, encrypted databases, and more.

Graduating Students and Postdocs Affiliated with MC2 Accept Positions in Academia and Industry

Being hired by top universities and companies is a testament to their creativity, hard work and ambition.

Mazurek Joins National Effort to Build a Secure Smart Home

The NSF project seeks to increase the security and privacy of high-tech products used in smart homes.

Five UMIACS Faculty Receive Academic Promotions

They have each been promoted from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure.

Mazurek Wins NSF Award to Improve Secure Software Development

The funding supports Mazurek’s efforts to improve the development of secure software. 

Redmiles Accepts Tenure-Track Faculty Position at Princeton University

She will assume the position in Fall 2020 following a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at Microsoft Research.

MC2 Faculty, Students Have Five Papers Accepted to ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security

MC2 researchers are presenting work covering a wide array of security-related topics

Mazurek, Hicks Receive NSF Grant to Study Factors Leading to Insecure Software

Project to focus on the human and organizational factors that contribute toward insecure software development

MC2 Researchers Have Six Papers Accepted to USENIX Security Symposium

MC2 researchers are presenting on a wide array of security-related topics at the August 15-17, 2018 event

MC2 Graduate Student Daniel Votipka Awarded Google-Student Veterans of America Scholarship

Votipka is one of eight students nationwide to receive the scholarship

Mazurek Discusses Privacy and Design at Center for Democracy & Technology Event

Mazurek featured as a panelist at event focused on human- and privacy-centric design

Mazurek Part of Team Receiving Top Honors in NSA Cybersecurity Paper Competition

Mazurek's team wins the 5th Annual Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper Competition

MC2 Faculty, Students Have Four Papers Accepted to the IEEE Symposium on Security & Privacy

Researchers will present on cybersecurity, usability, advanced cryptography, network security and more

Mazurek, Hicks Receive Google Faculty Research Award

Researchers will develop tools/strategies that encourage software developers to write more secure code

Mazurek and Redmiles Create Video to Educate Users on Cybersecurity Best Practices

Video seeks to educate users about software updating in a relatable way

Redmiles, Graduate Student Advised by Mazurek, Receives Facebook Fellowship

Redmiles is one of 13 doctoral students chosen for 2017 fellowship

UMD Cybersecurity Symposium to Focus on Campus Research, Education Initiatives

5th Annual event to be held Dec. 5 at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center

MC2 Faculty, Students Present Nine Papers at ACM CCS 2016

UMD presented the most papers at the annual conference

Mazurek Quoted in Washington Post Article About Password Security

Story discusses new way to make passwords strong and easier to remember

Paper Co-Authored by Mazurek to be Presented at Black Hat USA 2016

Research project examines users’ attitudes toward end-to-end encryption

Mazurek Receives NIST Grant for Secure Mobile App Development

Grant will fund research to help mobile developers improve security of apps

Mazurek, Foster Receive Google Research Award

Mazurek and Foster will work to improve the privacy of apps

Mazurek Discusses Password Problems with IMI TechTalk

Mazurek Interviewed on Radio Show about Common Password Problems

MC2 Researchers Benefit from Amazon Award

MC2 Researchers Benefit from Amazon Award

Mazurek, Golbeck Receive ADVANCE Seed Grant

Mazurek, Golbeck Receive ADVANCE Seed Grant

Mazurek joins MC2

Michelle Mazurek, an assistant professor of computer science at UMD, is the newest member of the Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2) and also holds an appointment in the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL).