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Three young men in matching green shirts are intently engaged in coding on laptops at a tech event, with a collaborative atmosphere reflected in their focused expressions and the surrounding workspace.

From robotics competitions to Microsoft internship, USF student builds path in cybersecurity

USF student Fagan Afandiyev turned an early passion for robotics competitions into a path toward a career in cybersecurity. After gaining experience through student competitions and industry consulting, he will spend the summer as a penetration testing intern at Microsoft, where he will help identify system vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.

April 6, 2026Cyberherd, Cybersecurity

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Two USF Students Named 2026 Goldwater Scholars

University of South Florida third-year students Caleb Fernandes and Diya Upadhyaya have been awarded the nation’s highest honor for undergraduate STEM research, the Goldwater Scholarship. Continuing its remarkable research growth, USF has now produced at least one Goldwater Scholar every year since 2018.

April 3, 2026Artificial Intelligence, Research

Three men sit at a conference table in a formal setting, engaging in discussion while various university logos and flags are visible in the background. Two of the men are equipped with laptops and there are water bottles on the table.

How should Florida universities use AI? Provosts and experts have thoughts

Leaders across Florida’s university system are debating how artificial intelligence should shape higher education. At the University of South Florida, Provost Prasant Mohapatra highlighted the university’s commitment through the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, which integrates AI education, research and workforce development to prepare students for rapidly evolving technology-driven careers.

April 2, 2026Artificial Intelligence, Research

A group of young professionals engages in conversation and networking at a modern workspace, with one man smiling and shaking hands while others sit and interact at tables outfitted with laptops and tech accessories. Large screens in the background display digital content related to the event.

New study finds work-based learning key to closing the cybersecurity skills gap

New research from the University of South Florida highlights growing momentum among colleges to integrate work-based learning into cybersecurity programs. The study finds hands-on experiences, industry partnerships and internships help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workforce needs. Efforts at USF’s Bellini College demonstrate how experiential learning prepares students for rapidly evolving cybersecurity careers in today’s digital economy worldwide.

March 25, 2026Cybersecurity

Jiajun Huang, center, is an assistant professor in USF’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, who brought together experts to explore emerging technologies that enable researchers to process, store and analyze massive scientific datasets more efficiently at the FZ-ZF Joint Workshop at USF.

USF hosts FZ–ZF Joint Workshop bringing together leading HPC researchers

The University of South Florida hosted the two-day FZ–ZF Joint Workshop, bringing together leading researchers from universities and national laboratories to discuss advances in high-performance computing and scientific data compression. The event highlighted emerging technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration and USF’s growing investments in research computing to support data-intensive discovery across science, engineering and artificial intelligence.

March 24, 2026Computing

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CyberBay 2026 Summit highlights USF’s role in building the future cybersecurity workforce

University of South Florida President Moez Limayem joined nearly 60 students from the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing at CyberBay 2026 Summit to highlight the growing demand for cybersecurity talent and showcase the college’s role in developing the workforce. Faculty and students presented research, competed in cybersecurity challenges and engaged with industry partners. Bellini College Associate Professor John Licato also won the conference’s $70,000 Innovation Challenge for his AI contract analysis platform.

March 13, 2026Artificial Intelligence, Cyberherd, Cybersecurity

A man speaks at a podium beside a large check for $100,000 made out to Cyber Florida, with eight people standing in a line behind him.

ConnectSecure invests in USF’s cybersecurity apprenticeship program

A $100,000 gift from Tampa-based ConnectSecure will expand the Security Operations Center Apprenticeship Program at Cyber Florida at USF, adding five new student positions. Announced during CyberBay 2026, the donation will provide more University of South Florida students with paid, hands-on cybersecurity experience protecting university and public sector networks.

March 13, 2026Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity

Four young men in black t-shirts and light blue caps stand together in a classroom setting, each holding a small clear bag while smiling at the camera, with a presentation screen visible in the background. They appear to be participating in an event, showcasing camaraderie and enthusiasm.

USF students capture top prize at Georgia Tech hackathon

USF’s Google Developer Group won the top prize at Georgia Tech’s Hacklytics 2026 after submitting their project with just seconds to spare. The team created Alleaf, an anxiety-reducing wearable and companion app that uses bilateral stimulation and AI features to support mental health, competing against more than 1,200 students from over 200 universities.

March 12, 2026Computing

A person wearing a black shirt is sitting outdoors holding an open laptop with blurred people and trees in the background.

Bellini College computer science senior turns early coding hobby into DoorDash career

Tesga Teshome was teaching himself to code and experimenting with Bitcoin before finishing high school in Ethiopia. Now a senior in USF’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, his curiosity has led to internships with Amazon and a full-time software engineering job at DoorDash after graduation. His journey shows how an early hobby can become a career path.

March 11, 2026Computing, Cybersecurity

Four men stand in front of a green background with text reading CyberBay 2026 Protecting Our Digital Borders.

USF Bellini College faculty to present research and workforce initiatives at CyberBay 2026

Faculty and students from the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing will showcase research, workforce initiatives and industry partnerships at CyberBay 2026 in Tampa. Three sessions will highlight efforts to prepare AI-ready cybersecurity professionals, strengthen industry collaboration and advance research using artificial intelligence to detect emerging threats such as botnets faster.

March 10, 2026Cybersecurity

A diverse group of people is seated around a long conference table in a modern office, with one individual standing at the head, speaking and gesturing while others attentively listen and engage in discussion. The setting features large windows and a sleek, professional design, enhancing the collaborative atmosphere.

USF students graduate from ReliaQuest Labs cybersecurity training program

Sixty University of South Florida students from the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing were recognized after completing the ReliaQuest Labs program, a hands-on cybersecurity training experience. During the four-week program, students worked through real-world security scenarios, collaborated with industry professionals and gained practical experience using tools and processes commonly found in modern security operations centers.

March 6, 2026Cybersecurity

A man with glasses gestures animatedly while speaking to a woman with curly hair, both seated at a wooden desk in a modern office setting, with a computer and decorative plants visible in the background.

USF experts say fake Iran images show ‘war of public opinion,’ use of AI as a weapon

As AI-generated images and videos spread online during global conflicts, misinformation can move quickly. In this news story, USF Bellini College assistant professor Anshuman Chhabra explains how researchers are improving tools to detect AI-generated media, describing the ongoing “cat and mouse” battle between those creating fake content and experts working to identify it.

March 6, 2026Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity

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About Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing News

Established in 2024, the Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing is the first of its kind in Florida and one of the pioneers in the nation to bring together the disciplines of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing into a dedicated college. We aim to position Florida as a global leader and economic engine in AI, cybersecurity and computing education and research. We foster interdisciplinary innovation and ethical technology development through strong industry and government partnerships.

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