UAlbany PhD Student Receives Federal National Defense Scholarship
By Sophie Coker
ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 21, 2025) — From coding birds for game jams to advancing aviation technology alongside the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, Olivia BenAoumeur is soaring to new heights at the University at Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC).
BenAoumeur, a second year PhD student studying information science with a focus in data analytics and geographic information science and an Honors College graduate, was recently named a recipient of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship.
The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program is a comprehensive initiative awarding students full tuition, mentorship, summer internships, a stipend and guaranteed post-graduate employment with the Department of Defense.
BenAoumeur is the fifth UAlbany student ever to be awarded the selective scholarship and one of two SUNY students to receive it this year.
“Receiving the SMART Scholarship is an incredible honor and a transformative milestone in my journey as a researcher,” BenAoumeur said. “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the incredible work at the Air Force Research Lab, and I am excited to be able to apply my research in information science to real-world challenges.
“This award not only supports my academic goals, but also connects to my passion for creative innovation and meaningful service.”
It was at UAlbany’s ETEC research and development complex, through the Cybersecurity and Cryptography Lab, where BenAoumeur was first introduced to the field.
“I didn’t realize how much I would love research until I found something that I really loved, which was cybersecurity education and gaming. I found that through the lab with Dr. Cornell.”
Kimberly A. Cornell, an assistant professor in the Information Science and Technology Department and the Cybersecurity and Cryptography Lab director, described the space as interdisciplinary. At the lab, students have participated in everything from quantum machine learning to social mobility, from e-crime to video game ethics.
“My approach to keeping up with a changing field is to surround myself with really talented students, which UAlbany has tons of,” Cornell said.
With the help of Cornell, BenAoumeur has concentrated on “gamifying” cybersecurity education as a research assistant at the Cybersecurity and Cryptography Lab.
BenAoumeur recalled one of her favorite games, created for CEHC’s International Women’s Day Game Jam, where teams compete to solve complex computer programming problems. Alongside other participants in the event, she created a game about birds learning how to fly and supporting other birds in their journey. BenAoumeur emphasized the importance of the metaphor — connection and creativity in supporting others to help them fly.
“The next generation that is stepping into the world of technology is the generation of the future,” BenAoumeur said. “If we begin teaching at the beginning of young people’s journey through industry, we are better able to have a cyber-literate workforce.”
At the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, BenAoumeur will continue her flight beyond the game, working with the Air Force Research Lab Sensors Directorate to research data analytics, data visualization, and data prediction related to aviation sensing.
Upon completing her studies, BenAoumeur will return to the Air Force Research Lab as a full-time employee alongside mentor Kara Combs.
"I have reviewed SMART applications for three years and know that the awardees are truly the best of the best,” said Combs, associate computer engineer at the Air Force Research Lab. “I was very excited to become Olivia’s mentor given we have similar career backgrounds and share mutual interests. I’m eager to share my experiences with her, but I know I’ll be learning from her as well.”