Lincoln Student Shakhnoza Wins Scholarship With Vision for AI-Driven Cybersecurity
- editor
- 44 minutes ago
- 3 min read
It all began with a university-wide email, one many students might have skimmed past.
But for Shakhnoza, the subject line, “Zero Trust in the Age of AI: Rethinking Identity and Access Management for the Next Decade,” immediately caught her eye.
As an MBA student specializing in Management Information Systems, Shakhnoza has long been fascinated by the “phygital” future, the space where our physical and digital lives intersect. This scholarship opportunity wasn’t just a contest; it was a chance to tackle a big question: As AI increasingly shapes our world, how can we maintain security without sacrificing freedom?
“It felt like the perfect challenge,” she recalls. “To me, the prompt wasn’t just about technology; it was a question about the future of how we inhabit a phygital world.”
Bridging Technology and Strategy
Shakhnoza’s path to winning the Sage IT Scholarship blended technical expertise with strategic insight. With an undergraduate in Telecommunication Technologies, she had the “how-to” of IT. Her MBA studies at Lincoln University taught her the “why” and “how” technology fits into business strategy.
She credits Dr. Tailab, Director of the Multidisciplinary Research Center (MRC), as a key mentor. “ Dr. Tailab wasn’t just a professor; he was a mentor who truly believed in my potential. Whenever I felt stuck, his encouragement helped me find my voice and ensured my ideas were meaningful in the real world.”
The scholarship process required a careful balance of technical execution and strategic thinking. “Writing the article allowed me to merge my technical skills with high-level management strategy,” Shakhnoza says. “The MRC pushed me to refine my arguments and ensured my final article was both academically sound and professionally impactful.”
The Vision: The ‘Silent Sentinel’
In her winning article, Shakhnoza challenged the traditional “Castle and Moat” approach to cybersecurity, arguing that static defenses no longer work in an AI-driven world. Instead, she proposed the ‘Silent Sentinel,’ an intelligent system that learns a user’s unique digital behaviors, such as typing patterns and mouse movements, to secure access.
“It’s like a seatbelt,” she explains. “It doesn’t stop the car from going fast, it just makes it safe enough to enjoy the ride.”
Her concept reflects a forward-looking approach. Identity management must be as dynamic as the AI-driven threats we face. Drawing from her experience with relational databases, she envisions a future where security enables innovation rather than blocking it.
A National Recognition
Receiving the Sage IT scholarship is more than recognition, it’s a motivation boost. “Knowing that my research is valued on a national level gives me the confidence to tackle complex problems,” she says.
Professionally, it bridges her technical IT roots with her leadership-focused MBA studies. “It proves that understanding both the code and the business strategy is highly valued in today’s job market,” she adds.
Advice for Lincoln Students
She encourages peers to step outside their comfort zones. “Even if a competition feels too big or a topic too complex, just start. Your unique background, your culture, experiences, and mix of classes is your greatest edge.”
She also emphasizes Lincoln’s resources, saying, “Reach out to mentors at the Multidisciplinary Research Center, they help you find your voice. Your perspective is valuable and unique, so don’t hesitate to share it with the world. You might find that your ideas are exactly what the industry is looking for.”
Original article submitted to Sage IT scholarship competition:
