Prospective Students

Research Areas

My research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and next-generation wireless network architecture. I develop secure, interpretable, and real-time communication frameworks for cyber-physical systems. I leverage deep learning, large language models (LLMs), and vision-language models (VLMs) to improve network efficiency, security, and resilience, while integrating explainable AI (XAI) to ensure trustworthy decision-making in safety-critical environments.

Students in my group will work on problems at the intersection of:

Core Areas
Next-generation Wireless Communication Semantic Communication Communication Security Explainable AI (XAI) Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) Large Language Models (LLMs) Vision-Language Models (VLMs)
Application Domains
Internet of Vehicles (IoV) Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Grid / Energy Systems Autonomous Vehicles

Who Should Apply

I am looking for students who are curious, self-driven, and eager to tackle challenging research problems. You don't need to check every box — if the research excites you and you're willing to learn, I encourage you to reach out.

Minimum Qualifications
•A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field
•Solid programming skills in Python
•Foundational knowledge of computer networks
•Foundational knowledge of machine learning
•Familiarity with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar)
•Strong analytical thinking and willingness to learn new tools and concepts independently
•Good written and verbal communication skills in English
Preferred (a plus, not required)
+First-author publication(s)in peer-reviewed venues
+Experience with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar), DRL, LLMs, VLMs, or transformer-based architectures
+Hands-on experience with network simulators (ns-2/ns-3, OMNeT++, or similar)
+Background in cybersecurity and wireless communications
+A master's degree in a related field
+Programming experience in C/C++
+GRE scores

How to Apply

If you are interested, please email me at afia.anjum70@gmail.com with the following subject line:

Please include the following materials:

1.Your CV / resume
2.A brief research statement (1–2 paragraphs describing your interests and how they align with my work)
3.Unofficial academic transcript(s)
4.Representative publication(s), if any

Formal Application

If you submit a formal application through TCU's graduate admissions portal, please mention my name in your statement of purpose to ensure your application is reviewed by me.