Biography:  Umit Karabiyik joined the Department of Cyber Security Engineering at George Mason University as an associate professor, where he brings extensive expertise in cyber forensics, cybersecurity, and forensic intelligence. Before joining George Mason in 2025, he was an associate professor in the Department of Computer and Information Technology at Purdue University and the founding director of the Ubiquitous and Mobile Investigative Techniques and Technologies (UMIT²) Lab. Karabiyik’s research focuses on the intersection of digital forensics and emerging technologies, including IoT, mobile devices, AI/LLMs, and cyber-physical systems. His work is distinguished by its practical application to law enforcement, homeland security, and digital evidence triage.

He has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference papers, holds two U.S. patents, and has received multiple best paper and research excellence awards. He has served as Principal Investigator or Co-PI on externally funded research projects totaling more than $7 million, with support from the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Air Force Research Laboratory, and industry partners like Lockheed Martin. He has led federally funded national training initiatives for criminal justice professionals and contributed to the development of tools and frameworks used in real-world forensic investigations. An award-winning educator, Karabiyik has developed and taught over a dozen undergraduate and graduate courses across the U.S. and internationally, with a strong emphasis on experiential, interdisciplinary learning.

He is also a committed mentor, having advised more than 20 graduate students, several of whom have gone on to win prestigious fellowships and pursue academic and government careers. Karabiyik is active in professional service, serving on editorial boards, technical program committees, and leadership roles in national and international cybersecurity and digital forensics conferences. His appointment at George Mason strengthens the university’s leadership in applied cybersecurity research and workforce development.

Title:  “Cyber Forensics at Scale: Investigating Cyber-Physical Environments in the Age of Smart Everything” 

Abstract: The widespread adoption of IoT devices, wearable technologies, smart city infrastructure, and connected industrial systems has created an unprecedented volume and diversity of digital evidence. Investigators today must examine not only mobile phones and computers but also baby monitors, doorbells, cars, smartwatches, and virtual assistants—each with distinct data storage patterns, communication protocols, and forensic challenges.

This keynote addresses the emerging realities and operational demands of conducting cyber forensic investigations in cyber-physical environments. Drawing on years of applied research in mobile and IoT forensics, national training programs, and collaboration with justice agencies, I will outline practical techniques for identifying, collecting, and analyzing digital evidence from interconnected systems. Emphasis will be placed on real-world case studies involving smart homes, fitness trackers, smart vehicles, and social platforms, as well as tools and workflows that scale forensic analysis beyond traditional devices.

While the core of forensic practice remains grounded in validated processes and toolsets, the discipline is being reshaped by the emergence of artificial intelligence—particularly large language models and automated inference systems. These technologies are enhancing capabilities such as contextual log analysis, semantic artifact grouping, and prioritization of investigative leads. I will highlight where such tools are already proving effective in practice, without compromising the forensic soundness required for legal proceedings.

Key technical challenges—such as device identification, encrypted data handling, volatile cloud artifacts, and cross-platform correlation—will be explored, along with strategies for maintaining evidentiary integrity. This session is designed for researchers, engineers, and practitioners seeking insight into the evolving landscape of cyber forensics in smart ecosystems—and how we can prepare for the investigative demands of tomorrow’s connected world.