IUCRC Phase III West Virginia University: Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR)

West Virginia University Research Corporation, Morgantown WV

Investigators

Abstract

The ability to establish, confirm and protect an individual’s identity is essential to the function of our society. Biometrics uses physical measurements of the body to identify an individual. A secure biometric identity and secure processes that use identities allow individuals to function in our growing on-line society with reduced risk of identity theft and fraud. Establishing identity is critical for preventing and detecting crime, terrorism, fraud and human trafficking. Challenges facing the arena of identification include the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create images, videos and recordings as a means to intentionally deceive, and the potential existence of preference within the identity systems. In Phase III, the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) expands impact in generative AI, advanced computing, and digital identity management, along with fair, transparent and explainable biometrics to address challenges that both commercial and government sectors face in today's society. CITeR will conduct research to measure outcomes resulting from approaches to mitigate specialized loss functions in neural network models. Additionally, projects to ensure robust identity systems through comprehensive evaluation of challenge response and liveness methods to prevent replay attacks, as well as methods to recognize natural or synthetically added information will be explored. The WVU site will address emerging biometric challenges by focusing on projects relating DNA and facial features, morph attacks, speaker recognition, and face recognition. CITeR plays a critical role in addressing the challenges in the ability to establish, confirm and protect an individual’s identity in today’s modern society. CITeR will support opportunities for sharing and learning through the development of educational videos, STEM outreach efforts for public schools and the continued development and hosting of Challenge Problem workshops for industry and government organizations to address challenges in the problem space. WVU will continue to offer a biometrics degree credential as well as increase participation in undergraduate programs. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.