Bagley researcher wins award from the National Institute for Justice

August 27, 2019

Bo Tang, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering within Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering, was recently recognized by the National Institute for Justice.

Head shot of assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering Bo Tang

Bo Tang, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Mississippi State University (photo by Russ Houston / © Mississippi State University).

Tang is the recipient of the NIJ’s New Investigator/Early Career Award for his work in helping to identify and track contraband wireless devices that are smuggled into correctional facilities.

“I am deeply honored to receive this Award,” said Tang. “The growing use of contraband wireless devices, particularly cell phones, smuggled in correctional facilities poses a significant security challenge to correctional facility administrators, law enforcement authorities, and the general public across the country.”

Tang worked alongside Mississippi State faculty members John Ball (electrical and computer engineering) and Maxwell Young (computer science and engineering) to develop novel systems with low-cost and high-efficacy for identifying, localizing, and tracking contraband wireless devices that transmit radio signals. The team designed an algorithm that aims to combat illegal wireless device usage in real time.

The team’s research was titled “Radio-Frequency (RF) Fingerprinting for Contraband Wireless Devices Identification, Detection and Tracking in Correctional Facilities.”

The Bagley College of Engineering is online at www.bagley.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at @msuengineering.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

By: Kaleigh Walker