April 2022
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Engineering from India in 2014, after which I came to the USA to pursue my master's at Sam Houston State University. I chose the university because the Department of Computer Science has a reputable Digital Forensics program. I always believed in breaking digital devices, analyzing them, and putting them back together, this program was the right fit. Right after graduating from the master's program, I joined the Ph.D. program in Digital and Cyber Forensic Science.
The Ph.D. program allowed me to become better at conducting research, teaching, and public speaking. Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to work with different faculty members having the same research interest as mine. The lab infrastructure provided by the department was instrumental in conducting qualitative research. Due to this, I have had the chance to publish my work in various scientific conferences and journals.
I always had the support of our Department Chair, Dr. Bing Zhou, whom I cannot thank enough. Dr. Zhou allowed me to have guided autonomy in teaching undergraduate entry-level courses. This helped me have creative control over my subject matter and instilled an active learning environment in my class.
In addition, working under Dr. Narasimha Shashidhar was a great learning and motivating experience. Due to the constant encouragement and excellent advising by Dr. Shashidhar, I secured a tenure-track faculty position at Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. As a result, I will be starting my new role as Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity in the Fall of 2022. The Digital and Cyber Forensics program pushed me to achieve new goals. I enjoyed my Ph.D. life at the Department of Computer Science, and all the learning experiences are rewarding for many years to come.
Ashar Neyaz
Ph.D. Candidate
Digital and Cyber Forensic Science
Sam Houston State University
E: ashar.neyaz@shsu.edu
SHSU Ranked 6th in Best Master’s Degree in Information Assurance
Sam Houston State University has Texas’ leading graduate information assurance program. Its program is a Master’s in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity. This program can be completed in its entirety over the Internet. This program takes students roughly 18 months to complete.
Best Affordable College for Software Engineering
Sam Houston State University has been ranked #39 for the Best Affordable College to earn your Software Engineering Degree.
Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs
MS in Computing and Data Science
The Computing and Data Science curriculum utilizes state-of-the-art software, software development methodologies, project management techniques, data science, and systems. Emphasis is placed on preparing students for an environment where change is the norm. Computing and Data Science may be selected as the major for the Master of Science degree.
Contact Information
Office of Admissions
Graduate Admissions Website
936.294.1971
graduate@shsu.edu
Program Advisor
Dr. Min Kyung An
936.294.4333
an@shsu.edu
Funding Addresses Data Science Workforce Need
SHSU has received $1 million from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to develop new data science credential programs in partnership with Texas State University.
Data Science Research Group
The members of the Data Science research group focus on developing computational methods, tools and software to better analyze big data by overcoming limitations of human cognitive ability. Real world problems can benefit from techniques, theories, and research findings in computational science and machine intelligence. Close cooperation between forensic scientists and computational scientists is important for modern crime investigations.
Data Science Lead Administrator
Dr. Hyuk Cho
Office: AB1 216H
936.294.1535
hxc005@shsu.edu
