Matthew Wright

Brief Bio

Matthew Wright, PhD, is a Kevin O'Sullivan Endowed Professor and the Chair of Cybersecurity at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Dr. Wright earned his PhD in Computer Science at UMass Amherst in 2005 and previously worked as a faculty member in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington from 2005-2016. He is the winner of a NSF CAREER Award.

Contact Info

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: (585) 475-5432

ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8489-6347 

Address:    B. Thomas Golisano College of Computer and Information Sciences

                  100 Lomb Memorial Dr.

                  Rochester, NY 14623

Research 

I conduct research at the intersection of cybersecurity, machine learning, and human factors. Most recently, this includes our work in deepfake detection, malware classification, and traffic analysis. I have previously worked on adversarial machine learning, anonymity systems like Tor, detection and warnings for misinformation online, password-based user authentication, peer-to-peer networks, and wireless sensor and ad hoc networks (now we might call this Internet of Things).

Teaching

In Spring 2025, I will be teaching a large section of Authentication and Security Models in the SHED (a fancy new building at RIT with fancy large-section, active-learning classrooms).

In Spring 2024, I co-taught (with Nate Mathews and Chris Schwartz) Generative AI in Cybersecurity, a project-based class that led students to explore how these technologies will be shaping the field in practice. Our materials are available!

I previously taught a research seminar on Deep Learning Security (CSEC 720). Over the years, I have taught a course on ML for cybersecurity (Cyber Analytics and ML, CSEC 520/620), a lab-based overview course on Computer and Network Security (Information Security 1 at UT Arlington), a course on Cryptography and Network Security (Information Security 2 at UT Arlington), a course on how to build secure software systems (Secure Programming at UT Arlington), and research seminars on Internet Security, Pervasive Security, and Anonymity & Tor.

Advising

I am lucky to have taught and advised many great students over the years. For brevity, I will just list the PhD students below.

    Current PhD students:

    Graduated PhD students (7 of 9 are professors):