MSU Professor and Students Win Awards for Innovative Research

Dr. Sherif Rashad, professor and coordinator of MSU's computer science program, won top honors at the 2024 IEEE UEMCON conference at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center in New York.

His research team received two Best Paper Awards, and he earned the Best Presenter Award, showcasing the impact of their work.

Rashad’s research focuses on using artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems. His two award-winning projects, co-authored with MSU students, highlight the University’s commitment to hands-on learning.

The first project, “An Innovative System for Real-Time Translation from American Sign Language (ASL) to Spoken English Using a Large Language Model (LLM),” was co-authored with MSU graduate Larry Emerson Johnson. It won Best Paper in the Machine Learning category. The system uses a motion controller to capture sign language and translate it into English without expensive tracking equipment.

"Millions of people use sign language every day, and we wanted to create something easy to use and adaptable," said Rashad.

The second project, “Continuous Authentication of Smartphones using a Convolutional Neural Network Model,” co-authored with MSU graduate John Reichenbach, won Best Paper in the Security and Privacy category. It introduces a fast, efficient model for securing smartphones.

"We wanted to build something that balances security and ease of use," Rashad explained.

Rashad credited his students for their dedication. "I am very honored by this recognition and proud of my Computer Science students who worked with me on these research projects as Undergraduate Research Fellows (URFs)," he said.

Both papers were published in the IEEE Xplore Digital Library, gaining global recognition. Rashad and his team aim to improve their ASL system by capturing facial expressions and body language. They also plan to refine their smartphone security model. Support from Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) through the IMPACT award is helping them bring these innovations to real-world use.

Rashad’s success at IEEE UEMCON highlights Morehead State University’s growing impact on research and the valuable opportunities available to students. "It’s exciting to see our work recognized on an international stage," he said.

To learn more about his research, contact Rashad at s.rashad@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-9179.

To learn more about the Department of Engineering Sciences programs, call 606-783-2417.