On "Sandia Day", TLI Takes Part in Infrastructure Security Dialogue

The University of Minnesota played host to Sandia National Laboratories for a single day earlier this month, and two TLI luminaries represented the Institute during the visit.

On April 10, TLI Director Dr. Allison Hubel delivered a presentation on the subject of medical device cybersecurity and Security Technologies fellow Marcia Cole took part in breakout sessions in which Sandia and U of M faculty discussed pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, hypersonics, climate and other global security topics. The University of Minnesota was represented by many players in the U’s R&D community, encompassing such disciplines as cybersecurity, climatology, AI, nanotechnology and aerospace

Sandia National Laboratories’s primary mission is to provide scientific and technical support to America’s national security programs, and plays a role in protecting the nation’s vital infrastructure.

During the visit Sandia officials were given a tour of the U’s R&D facilities in the Nano Center, Drone Lab and  Characterization Facility (Char Fac) at Shepherd Labs.

“Sandia Day” happens not only at the University of Minnesota, but at colleges and universities around the country every year, said Marcia Cole, faculty member and fellow for the Security Technologies (ST) program at TLI. She noted that Sandia sees the events as a way to build synergy with collegiate security programs and to look for new talent emerging from college campuses.

“It’s a really great fit between TLI and Sandia, because our program was built around protecting the 16 critical infrastructures as well” said Cole. The 16 critical infrastructures, she said, are part of an interrelated ecosystem that provides functions and services such as the nation’s energy, food and agriculture, water, transportation and defense systems, to name a few. Sandia’s security portfolio is quite broad, and we are one of the few programs around the country that aligns with their mission.

To that end, she said, Sandia offers internships for students in security programs, and often recruits the best and the brightest from them. “They are looking for new talent, and TLI is developing it,” she said. 

“One of the things that they are looking for is a stronger pipeline of potential employees. They want people who are well-versed in security technologies, vulnerability assessment and risk assessment, not only skilled in the conceptual end – creating spreadsheets and that kind of thing –  but using the tools as well.”

The University of Minnesota is a natural to host Sandia Day, Cole said, noting that Sandia has a facility in Minnesota, and Minnesota’s reputation as a tech corridor driven not only by the U’s research but private entities in the region such as Medtronic and 3M.

Sandia Day wrapped with presentations from Rick Huebsch of the  U’s Technology Commercialization Office and Steve Corkery of the Corporate Engagement Center.