This past June, 10 York College (YC) students participated in a cutting-edge summer research program at Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) in New Jersey. The initiative was made possible through the National Science Foundation (NSF) CISE (Computer and Information Science and Engineering) Research Program.
Launched in January 2025, the York–Stevens collaboration is led by Dr. Thitima Srivatanakul (PI) of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and Dr. Abu Kamruzzaman (Co-PI) of the Business and Economics Department. The program connects York College students with SIT mentors under the leadership of Dr. Shucheng Yu, providing hands-on research experience, faculty guidance, and pathways to advanced study or careers in high-demand technology fields.
During the summer program, students worked closely with six York faculty members and three SIT faculty members in the domains of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) and cybersecurity. A central project focused on AI offloading using Raspberry Pi devices, where students explored:
Running lightweight AI models directly on the PiOffloading more complex tasks to an edge serverProtecting sensitive data during transmission through simple encryption techniques
Through this work, participants gained valuable skills in Python programming, hardware integration, and secure communication protocols. The program also included lectures, hands-on labs hosted at both institutions, and follow-up sessions to support continued learning.
Several students are now pursuing independent research projects under York faculty mentorship and preparing publications based on insights gained through the YC–SIT CISE partnership.
Faculty Reflections
Dr. Thitima Srivatanakul, Principal Investigator
“I’d like to thank the SIT faculty for their collaboration and support, which were instrumental in making this program a success. I’m also deeply grateful to our York College mentors, Dr. Abu Kamruzzaman, Dr. Danyang Zhang, Dr. Adedeji Olugboja, Eric Tyrer, and Prof. Alvaro Restrepo, for working alongside the Stevens team to provide personalized guidance and ensure every participant received the support they needed.”
Dr. Abu Kamruzzaman, Co-PI
“The CISE program represents a valuable research and learning opportunity that extends well beyond the traditional classroom environment, fostering collaboration between faculty and students at YC and SIT. The CISE team is grateful to York IT for provisioning equipment to meet SIT’s research needs. Special thanks to Eric Tyrer for his extraordinary contribution in introducing the Raspberry Pi setup to our students and conducting special sessions. We look forward to witnessing future AIoT innovations emerging from the York College community.”
Student Experiences
Kyame Israel, senior CS student
“CISE gave me a clear topic, the confidence, and the boost to conduct my own research to help me get into graduate school. The program also gave me insight into what I could be working on in the future as I grow in tech. One of my main interests is Artificial Intelligence and machine Learning, so this helps prepare me for what’s to come.”
Aryan Pershad, junior CS student and S-STEM Scholar
“I liked having access to the Raspberry Pis. I was able to explore the Pi and create side projects. I also really appreciated the access to mentors I can email with any questions — even those unrelated to the program. This access to professionals is very important.”
Jannatul Naim, senior CS student
“It was fun to apply what we learned to real projects and see how AI and hardware can work together. I also enjoyed learning from mentors and collaborating with other students.”
The collaboration, which continues into fall 2025 with York’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and Business and Economics Department has continued into the fall semester, giving students the chance to expand their projects, present findings, and potentially earn academic credit.
Interested in Joining Next Year?
The CISE Summer Research Program will run again in Summer 2026.
Students majoring in Computer Science (CS) and Information Systems Management (ISM) are encouraged to apply. No prior research experience is required — just curiosity and a commitment to learning.
Learn more and get involved by visiting the CISE Research Program webpage.
According to Dr. Srivatanakul, the program is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF Award No. 2431546).
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the U.S. government.
Dec 2, 2025 4:12 PM