SANGU Students Shine at the 18th Annual Cybersecurity Symposium at NKU

SANGU Students Shine at the 18th Annual Cybersecurity Symposium at Northern Kentucky University (NKU, USA)

We are proud to share that two outstanding students of the SANGU–NKU Dual Degree Master’s Program in Cybersecurity delivered remarkable presentations at one of the most prestigious cybersecurity events in the United States — the 18th Cybersecurity Symposium (Cyber18) hosted by Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in Kentucky.

1. Social Engineering in the Age of AI: Why Humans Are Still the Weakest Link
Presented by: Eka Kakalashvili

Eka’s insightful talk explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping social engineering tactics — from deepfakes and cloned voices to AI-generated phishing attacks. She emphasized that even in an era of advanced defenses, human awareness remains the strongest shield. Her presentation highlighted actionable strategies to strengthen cyber resilience and foster a “zero trust” culture in both technology and human behavior.

2. From Brainwaves to Firewalls: Securing AI-Driven Emotion Recognition
Presented by: Sofio Katamadze

Sofio’s innovative research introduced EEGAIN, a standardized framework for ethical and secure EEG-based emotion recognition. She explored how neuroscience, AI, and cybersecurity intersect — addressing both the immense potential and the ethical challenges of Emotion AI. Her presentation called for strong cybersecurity measures, ethical standards, and interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing AI technologies.

SANGU representatives also joined a panel discussion focused on the importance of doctoral education in cybersecurity, underscoring Georgia’s growing academic contribution to global cyber research and innovation.

At SANGU, we are proud to empower our students and academic community with international platforms to present cutting-edge research, engage in global exchanges, and build professional networks that shape their future careers.