The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT is a school that focuses on science and engineering, and it is one of the best technology institutes in the United States. The campus was established in 1861, and has continued to provide education for science and engineering students for 165 years and counting.
The Lincoln Laboratory held a summer internship that focused on researching cybersecurity threats. Two particular interns, Anna Raymaker and Vivek Jagadeesh, studied national security challenges.
The Internship Program
Nearly 170 interns dispersed from the laboratory to return to their degree programs. Raymaker and Jagadeesh are among the interns who decided to stay in MIT as student technical assistants, so they could continue to support research on national security for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Robert Loynd, the executive officer in the Director’s Office, states, “Our summer research program is a key pathway for developing talent to support defense-critical programs. Interns are embedded in R&D teams across nearly all mission areas, from missile defense and cyber operations to advanced communications and quantum technologies.”
This year, the intern program received a Public Service Award, which recognizes how the program demonstrates exceptional commitment to meaningful intern engagement that benefits the public good.
The Issue with Maritime Infrastructure
Anna Raymaker made her breakthrough when she began researching maritime security. A PhD student from Georgia Tech, she began her journey four years ago, when she started to study cybersecurity. Her research helped her notice a gap in shipping security.
Raymaker states that her realization led her to speak directly with mariners, so she could study the cybersecurity issues they struggle with.
One thing she learned was the issues with the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is a device that helps ships avoid collisions by broadcasting their location, speed, and course. Raymaker learned that “ghost fleets” use AIS to disguise themselves as cargo and tanker ships so they can easily evade sanctions. Such depiction is possible because AIS does not require identity verification.
Now, as a student technical assistant at MIT, Raymaker will continue her research in other dimensions of maritime security. She is interested in preventing major geopolitical security concerns.
Cyber Technology for Industry Adoption
Vivek Jagadeesh, a master’s student from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, came to Lincoln Laboratory after interviewing for a summer position. Jagadeesh’s advisor had a connection with staff in the Secure Resilient Systems and Technology Group, which gave him the confidence to work with the laboratory.
Jagadesh began researching on operating systems and the security established in them. Lincoln Laboratory researchers have been developing Hardware-Assisted Kernel Compartmentalization (HAKC). An operating system’s core software is a kernel typically with the highest level of access to the hardware of a computer. Easy access to such hardware leaves it vulnerable. Just one bug in kernel code can lead to catastrophic security failures.
HAKC navigates and prevents this risk by dividing the kernel code into smaller components and separating them by access-control checks, and Jagadeesh focused on supporting the transition of HAKC into the tech industry.
The goal is to have big distributors like Linux use HAKC, however, they need clear insight on how the kernel codes are modified. Jagadeesh developed a tool called a source-to-source complier, or transplier, to enable such insight. This transplier will serve as the foundation for a new and improved iteration of HAKC. The new version is planned for release under the Open Resilient Compartmentalization Alliance, a Linux Foundation initiative that is dedicated to bringing compartmentalization technology to Linux systems.
For more information, you can read the full article from MIT News.
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