ABOUT ME 

Hi! My name is Damira Pon and I'm a third-year doctoral student pursuing an Ph.D. in Informatics with a primary specializing in Information Assurance and a secondary specialization in Bioinformatics at the University at Albany, SUNY. May 2004 was when I graduated from the Information Science and Policy Masters program with a concentration in Information Systems and Technology. Upon graduation, I was awarded an Outstanding Service award from the school. In the summer of 2002, I graduated from SUNY Albany with a major in Information Science and Policy and a minor in Biological Sciences as a presidential scholar.

My research interests include information assurance (security), bioinformatics, human-computer interaction, systems analysis and web technologies. Past conferences in which I have participated in presentations are: the International Resource Management Association (IRMA) Conference, IEEE Information Assurance Workshop at USMA West Point, NYS Cyber Security Conference, SUNY Technology Conference and the Conference on Instructional Technologies.

I am currently the Research Coordinator at the NYS Center for Information Forensics and Assurance (CIFA) working with   Sanjay Goel. From January 2003 to May 2004, I was the graduate teaching assistant for ISP301: The Information Environment for Tom Mackey. Also, in the Spring 2004 semester, I interned at Albany Nanotech under the mentorship of Mike Carpenter.

Groups that I have actively participated in are: SISP (School of Information Science and Policy) Student Association as president and GSO representative, the student chapter of ASIS&T (American Society for Information Science and Technology) as membership officer, the Association for Computing and Machinery (ACM) student chapter as secretary, Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Newman Association, and Alpha Phi Omega (a co-ed service fraternity).

My non-professional interests include community service, singing, playing the violin, surfing the web, reading, alternative medicine, and cooking. I have a kitten at home to feed and love. I look forward to the upcoming semester and the chance to have many new wonderful experiences.