Priya Patel
TLDR:
- Texas Tech University was awarded approximately $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a university-based cybersecurity center focused on the rural electric industry.
- The project is part of a $15 million investment from the DOE to establish six university-based electric power cybersecurity centers across the country.
Texas Tech University has been awarded around $2.5 million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a university-based cybersecurity center concentrating on the rural electric industry. The initiative is a segment of a $15 million investment to create six university-based electric power cybersecurity centers nationwide. Dr. Stephen Bayne, the head of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering in the Whitacre College of Engineering, will lead Texas Tech’s project. The research project aims to concentrate on rural utilities within the Texas power grid and devise a framework that addresses various stages of cyber-physical attacks, including attack detection, prevention, impact analysis, and recovery plans. This endeavor will enable the university to grow the U.S. cyber workforce and enhance the expertise needed to tackle evolving cyber threats faced by the nation’s energy systems. The project was chosen by the DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response and will collaborate with energy sector stakeholders, vendors, and DOE National Laboratories to conduct groundbreaking cybersecurity research and enhance cybersecurity training. Dr. Bayne emphasized the significance of this project for training the next generation of energy professionals in the critical area of cyber-physical security for the electrical power grid. The recognition of Texas Tech’s research leadership and collaborative spirit by the federal government showcases the university’s commitment to innovation and national security.
