Networking and Security

The Networking and Security Research Center (NSRC) provides a research and education community at Penn State for professors, students, and collaborators from industry interested in networking and security. It also provides a unique avenue for interaction with industry; the members of the NSRC actively consult with industry and participate as partners on funded projects. Member companies enjoy benefits of sponsoring research and having access to the latest results and technical reports from the NSRC.

The center was founded and is directed by Professor La Porta. Each year the NSRC hosts an industry day that attracts over twenty companies and representatives from the top government funding offices. 

The expertise of the members includes mobile networking, protocol design, performance analysis and simulation, wireless communication, networked applications, and large networking software systems. The NSRC also boasts experts on Internet security, policy, secure operating systems, and access controls. Additionally, members of the NSRC actively collaborate on projects on secure wireless ad hoc and sensor networks, high performance wireless networks, and secure telecommunication systems. 

The Mobile Computing and Networking Lab (MCN) - Lead Faculty: Professor Cao 

The MCN lab conducts research in many areas of wireless networks and mobile computing, with an emphasis on designing and evaluating mobile systems, protocols, and applications. Our mission is to prepare the next generation of researchers, developers, and educators in these areas by working on cutting-edge technologies and investigating high-impact research projects. 

The Systems and Internet Infrastructure Security Lab (SIIS) - Directors: Professors McDaniel and Jaeger 

The SIIS lab strives to promote student and scientific advancement through the investigation of emerging technologies upon which computer, network, and information security is based.