Fulbright Scholar to Collaborate with University of New Haven Cyber Forensics Researchers

After majoring in law and accounting as an undergraduate, David Lillis discovered his passion for computer science as a graduate student. While earning a master’s degree and a Ph.D. at University College Dublin in Ireland, he was able to combine his two interests by immersing himself in the growing – and ever evolving – field of cyber forensics.

During the course of his studies, Lillis, now an assistant professor in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin, learned about the work of the University of New Haven’s Cyber Forensics Research and Education Group and soon partnered with the group’s co-director, Frank Breitinger.

This fall they will look to further their research as Lillis joins the University community as a Fulbright-TechImpact Scholar.

Hosting a Fulbright scholar as motivated and talented as Dr. Lillis is a great opportunity for the University, our students, and our Cyber Forensics Research and Education Group.

– Frank Breitinger, Ph.D.

Lillis will spend his time here continuing to study ways to extract digital evidence on devices that have been seized as part of police investigations.

"At the moment, this is a very slow, manual process, so any kind of automation has the potential to help law enforcement immensely," he said. "Obviously there has been a huge explosion in the quantity and variety of digital devices we all use, so this kind of research is becoming more and more relevant as time goes on. In the short term, it would be good to write some more research papers together. In the longer term, who knows how far we can go?"

Lillis praised the work of University’s cyber forensic research group.

"They do really good work, and they’re very active," he said. "One thing that strikes me is that their work is very current. They're ahead of the curve in terms of anticipating what sort of direction the field needs to go in – and what direction it will go in. They’ve done a great job in taking a leadership role in the cyber forensics community, and I'm delighted that the Fulbright Commission have given me the opportunity to visit and work with them."