Network for Exploring the Intersection of Humans & Cybercrime

NEXUS fosters student-driven innovative and interdisciplinary social science research on cybercrime, creates networking opportunities with cybersecurity professionals and industry leaders, connects students with internship and future employment opportunities, and develops professional conference presentation experience.

NEXUS is an innovative, interdisciplinary research initiative developed in partnership between the Department of Sociology at the University of North Texas (a top tier R1-research university and the largest university in DFW) and CISO XC, a renowned professional cybersecurity organization formed by seasoned Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. The mission is to foster unique social science research focusing on the human and social element of cybercrime and cybersecurity in an everchanging and progressively volatile and globalized cyberspace. NEXUS accomplishes this by prioritizing cybersecurity and cybercrime discourse and research, providing students with professional conference experience to disseminate and discuss research findings and connect with professionals providing internship experience and employment opportunities in the field.

This academic research unit, along with CISO XC, supports and fosters inventive student-driven research illuminating trends in social behavior through active partnership with industry leaders, sponsors, and advisors in cybersecurity. Cutting-edge student-led research conducted through the Department of Sociology’s Cybercrime and Social Behavior program is presented at the CISO XC annual professional and academic cybersecurity conference at UNT each spring semester.

The CISO XC conference, in partnership with the Department of Sociology, NEXUS, and the Sociology Club, promotes internship connections for UNT students to make valuable professional contacts with industry leaders in cybersecurity. The Department of Sociology, in affiliation with CISO XC, provides an internship program for qualifying students.

NEXUS aims to prepare and connect students with future employment through active participation in cybersecurity internships; coupled with invaluable experience with professional and academic presentations, allowing students to unite with key industry leaders in cybersecurity including CISOs, FBI, Secret Service, Cybercrime law firms, and others for post-graduation employment.

For more information please contact Dr. Helen Potts, NEXUS Director of Research & Development, at Helen.Potts@unt.edu.