The National Science Foundation has awarded nearly $268,000 to the University of South Florida for a collaborative research project designed to expand access to hands-on learning in hardware security, measure student learning gains, and reduce financial or equipment-related barriers related to advanced cybersecurity experiments.
The project, led by Robert Karam, an associate professor in USF’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, will create HaCKSEE, short for Hardware Cluster for Key Security and Education Experiments. Researchers from the University of Kansas, Texas Woman’s University and the USF College of Education are part of the interdisciplinary effort.
The research team will develop a scalable platform that enables students to conduct hardware security experiments ranging from introductory to advanced levels. Using custom-built boards and a suite of cloud-hosted software tools, the HaCKSEE platform will give students at multiple universities hands-on training in side-channel analysis, fault injection and other key techniques. Whether using local or remotely hosted boards, all students will interact with the same cloud-based interface.
“We’re designing a compact FPGA (a configurable integrated circuit) and microcontroller development board – about the size of a stick of gum – that supports state-of-the-art hardware security experiments,” Karam said. “It will offer more capability than existing tools, in a significantly smaller and more affordable package.”
Students and universities can encounter technical and economic hurdles related to teaching hardware security. Large software packages take up storage space and specialized devices are expensive. Additionally, access to physical labs is often limited. HaCKSEE removes these barriers.
“This has the potential to transform hardware security education by removing barriers such as cost, technical limitations and device access, making it more flexible and feasible at scale,” Karam said.
The research includes an integral partnership with USF College of Education researchers. Co-principal investigators Michael Berson and Ilene Berson will examine whether students learn differently with in-person or remote hardware. They will identify meaningful metrics and analyze student feedback to better understand the learning experience. Their findings will shape future instructional strategy.
“This project creates new opportunities to explore how pedagogical strategies can evolve alongside advances in cybersecurity technology,” said Ilene Berson. “By expanding access to hands-on hardware experimentation, we can better understand how students learn through interactive, inquiry-based approaches and design instruction that supports deeper conceptual understanding.”
This collaboration reflects the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to cybersecurity education, added Michael Berson. “By combining technical innovation with research on how students learn, we can better support their ability to think critically, solve problems, and apply knowledge in meaningful ways.”
Sudeep Sarkar, interim dean of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, said this aligns with the college’s interdisciplinary focus and its vision to provide hands-on hardware security education that is flexible, affordable and widely accessible.
“The Bellini College was founded as a central hub for AI, cybersecurity, and computing technology to connect various disciplines and promote collaborative innovation. HaCKSEE embodies that vision. Our partnership with the College of Education ensures that this is not just a technical solution but also a transformative learning platform based on research into how students learn most effectively.”
The project is funded through the NSF Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace Education program. Pilot testing is planned for late 2026; the long-term vision is to scale the platform nationally.