People’s page

Group Director

Dr. Maria Valero
Assistant Professor of Information Technology

Dr. Maria Valero is an assistant professor in the College of Computing and Software Engineering, Department of Information Technology at Kennesaw State University (KSU). Her research interests include IoT for smart healthcare, distributed computing, signal processing, wireless sensor networks, and cyber-physical systems.

KSU Collaborators

Katherine Ingram
Associate Professor of Exercise Science

Dr. Ingram has expertise in diabetes, obesity, metabolic health assessment, and physical activity monitoring. She earned a PhD in Exercise Physiology and completed postdoctoral research training in the Diabetes Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Ingram has received NIH-funding and numerous internal awards for her research on metabolic health and blood glucose homeostasis. Within our team, she contributes her scientific knowledge of blood glucose dynamics and physiological monitoring to the development of our prototypes.

Valentina Nino
Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering

Dr. Valentina Nino is an assistant professor in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Kennesaw State University (KSU). Her research interests include human factors, ergonomics, cognitive science, optimization, simulation, process improvement, and decision-making models.

Dr. Liang Zhao
Assistant Professor of Information Technology

Dr. Liang Zhao is an assistant professor in the College of Computing and Software Engineering, Department of Information Technology at Kennesaw State University (KSU). His current research interests are in the area of cyber security and data analytics for distributed systems.



Students

El Arbi Belfarsi
Ph.D. Student

I'm El Arbi, a student at KSU pursuing a PhD in Computer Science and a GRA working at the IoTaS Lab under the supervision of Dr. Valero.  With a strong educational background, practical experience, and a drive to stay at the forefront of advancements, I am excited to contribute to the field of computer science and related disciplines. I am excited to start this new journey as a PhD Student at Kennesaw State University!

Bre McDonald
Graduate Research Assistant

Second-year graduate student delving into the intricate realm of exercise science | Passionate researcher with a profound appreciation for unlocking the secrets of the human body | Growing alongside the Ingram Research team since Summer 2021 | Enthusiastic about acquiring a diverse skill set in research, eager to refine my scientific prowess | On a mission to illuminate new pathways to wellness and contribute to the betterment of lives through my work | Let's explore the frontiers of science together!

Afnan Crystal
Graduate Research Assistant

Afnan is pursuing her Master's in Computer Science. She is currently working with Machine Learning process for automatic food identification and with mobile applications

Sabura Khanam
Graduate Research Assistant

 

Sabura Khanam is pursuing her master's degree in information technology (IT) at Kennesaw State University. Her work on the color sensor in the GlucoCheck project highlights her technical expertise and her ability to collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team, including experts in both IT and medical fields. 

Tahsin Kazi
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science. I have experience in machine-learning, web-development, and biomedical engineering; hoping to apply my skills to critical problems through research and industry.
Ethan Oakley
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ethan Oakley is an undergrad student at Kennesaw State University. He is pursuing his Bachelor's in Information Technology with a focus in Cyber Operations Security. He is working under Dr. Valero to assist in the further development of GlucoCheck's accuracy using lasers.

Anh Duong
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Anh Duong is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science at Kennesaw State University. She is working with on connecting voice assistant to GlucoCheck.

Divya Mamtora
Graduate Research Assistant

Divya is currently pursuing an MS in Healthcare Management and Informatics at KSU. With a background in dentistry, she graduated in 2016 from India and has over 5 years of professional experience. For the past year, Divya has been working as a Graduate Research Assistant on a project for RadaRx, utilizing her expertise in the healthcare field to contribute to the organization's goals.

Maranie Brown
Graduate Research Assistant

Maranie is a graduate student at Kennesaw State University, pursuing a master's in healthcare management and informatics. With a background in marketing and financial technology, she graduated from the University of Georgia (completed undergraduate and graduate studies) and has nearly 15 years of experience driving growth at the intersection of business and technology. She is working under Dr. Valero to assist in the development of high school curriculum focused on cybersecurity in healthcare.

Akansha Kesharwani
Thesis Student

Akansha is currently pursuing her Master's in Information Technology at Kennesaw State University. With 4 years of hands-on experience in information security, she excels in penetration testing, vulnerability reporting, and creating comprehensive reports. Her goal is to apply her practical expertise and theoretical knowledge to address real-world cybersecurity challenges and make a positive impact in the field.

Former Students

  1. Victoire Metuge (MS Information Technology 2023) – Current: Sr. Financial System Analyst, Tidal Wave Auto Spa
  2. Dickson Diku (MS Software Engineering 2023) – Current: Software Engineer Consultant, Pyxisware Synergy LLC
  3. Kiran Ponakaladinne (MS Information Technology 2023) – Current: Data Engineer, Pilot Company
  4. Oluwaseyi Falaiye (MS Software Engineering 2023) – Current: Software Engineer, Gas South
  5. Lisero Mugula (MS Health Management and Informatics 2023)
  6. Sumaiya Farzana Mishu (MS Applied Statistics and Analytics 2023) – Current: MS Student at University of Arkansas
  7. Kassif Traore (MS Computer Science 2022) – Current: Data Scientist, DataSeers
  8. Connor Berger (BS Electrical Engineering 2022) – Current: Microgrid Project Engineer , Schneider Electric
  9. Jiyoun Randolph (MS Information Technology 2022) – Current: Radiology Worklist Wpecialist, Radiology Partners
  10. Priyanka Pola (MS Information Technology 2022) – Current: Senior Data Analyst, Ryder System Inc.
  11. Shahriar Sobhan (MS Cybersecurity 2022) – Current: Senior CyberSecurity Engineer, Delta Airlines
  12. Shashank Trivedi (MS Information Technology2021) – Current: Director Residential Technology, The RMR Group
  13. Md. Saiful Islam (MS Information Technology 2021) – Current: Technology Lead – Android Developer, Infosys
  14. Karen Dsouza (MS Information Systems 2021) – Current: PhD Student at Purdue University