Biography

I am Samson Quaye, a PhD student in Information Technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Center for Cybersecurity and Forensics Education (C²SAFE) under Dr. Maurice Dawson. I hold a master’s in applied mathematics (IIT), a double master’s in mathematical engineering (InterMaths Erasmus, Italy & Czech Republic), and a bachelor’s in mathematics (KNUST, Ghana). My research explores Privacy and Security. More recently, I have been working on threat modeling projects and designing new frameworks to audit AI's.

Academic Status

PhD Student - 1st

Research Area/Department

Applied Mathematics; Data Science; Machine Learning/AI; Mathematics

Major/Specialty

Ph.D. Information Technology Specialty: Cybersecurity, AI & Data Science

Degrees Earned or in Progress

Ph.D. in Information Technology (Cybersecurity, AI & Data Science) – In Progress, Illinois Institute of Technology, expected August 2025–Present M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics – Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, August 2023– July 2025 Double M.Sc. in Mathematical Engineering – Erasmus Mundus InterMaths Joint Degree, Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic) & University of L’Aquila (Italy), September 2020–September 2022 B.Sc. in Mathematics – Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, September 2015– June 2019

Academic Preparation

At Illinois Institute of Technology, my relevant coursework for this internship includes: CS 425 – Database Organization (Fall 2024): Covered principles of relational databases, SQL, and data management. MATH 569 – Statistical Learning (Spring 2024): Focused on machine learning techniques including regression, classification, and model validation. MATH 565 – Monte Carlo Methods (Fall 2024): Applied stochastic simulation and probabilistic modeling to real-world computational problems. During my Erasmus Joint MSc in Mathematical Engineering at the University of L’Aquila and Brno University of Technology, I also gained hands-on preparation through courses like: Parallel Computing & Laboratory (2021): Learned high-performance computing with MPI and implemented distributed algorithms. Combinatorics and Cryptography (2021): Explored block cipher design and cryptographic security methods. Optimization II (2021): Advanced techniques in deterministic and stochastic optimization for real-world problem solving.

Research/Publications

Zero-Knowledge Proofs for Responsible AI Auditing (Manuscript Submitted) – This work develops a novel framework that uses Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) to enable verifiable AI audits without exposing sensitive data or proprietary model details. It demonstrates how fairness and regulatory compliance can be cryptographically proven, contributing to trustworthy AI governance. Master’s Thesis in Mathematical Engineering – Properties of the Cauchy Distribution and Its Application (University of L’Aquila & Brno University of Technology, 2022). Full text is available on ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389005463_Thesis_QUAYE_S_Archive_4

Research/Academic Interests

I’m interested in the intersection of security, privacy, and machine learning. My focus is on building robust ML/DL models that can withstand adversarial threats, and on using cryptographic methods to design secure, privacy-preserving systems.

Computational and Data Science Areas

Applied Computer Science; Applied Mathematics; Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems; Computer Science; Informatics, Analytics and Information Science; Other Computer and Information Sciences; Other Engineering and Technologies; Performance Evaluation and Benchmarking; Statistics and Probability; Visualization and Human-Computer Systems

Motivation

I want to participate in the Sustainable Research Pathways program because of the nature of the program, primarily mentoring you to grow in research. I believe this program will give me the chance to grow as a researcher by working closely with mentors and collaborators who share an interest in solving real-world problems with scientific approaches. It would help deepen my understanding in conducting scientific research and collaborating with scholars from different background. I hope to contribute my skills in mathematics and AI while also learning from others whose perspectives and experiences are different from mine. From this experience, I want to gain not only technical growth but also the professional development and connections that can guide me as I move forward in my academic and research career. My goal is to come out of the program with stronger research skills, a clearer sense of direction in the domain area I get the chance to work in.

Lightning Talk Title

Applied Maths, AI, Cybersecurity, and LLMs

Keywords (Maximum 20 words)

Artificial Intelligence; Cybersecurity; Large Language Models; Cryptography; Applied Statistics; Edge Computing; Internet of Things; Malware Detection; Parallel Computing; Applied Mathematics