# CICI: UCSS: Advancing Security in TEE-Enabled Scientific Research Workflows: A Holistic Approach

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of Connecticut (CT) · $599,999

## Abstract

Scientific breakthroughs in fields such as genomics, drug discovery, and materials science increasingly depend on large-scale computational workflows executed on high-performance computing (HPC) platforms. These workflows coordinate thousands of interdependent computational tasks, creating unprecedented collaboration opportunities but also introducing serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities. A single compromised step can lead to inaccurate scientific conclusions, disruption of critical research, or breaches of confidential data. Foreign adversaries actively target American research infrastructure to steal intellectual property and gain competitive advantages. By establishing a strong foundation of computational trust, this project protects scientific data and ensure research integrity, even when computations run on shared or potentially compromised computer systems. This enables confidence in scientific collaboration, protect sensitives information and helps preserve America's scientific leadership. 

The SafeSci-TEE award advances the state of the art in cyberinfrastructure by introducing novel techniques in runtime and distributed attestation tailored to scientific workflows. The project develops continuous runtime attestation mechanisms for confidential virtual machines, ensuring that HPC applications within trusted execution environments (TEEs) maintain integrity throughout execution. It also creates a distributed attestation framework that propagates trust across multip

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2530909
- **Awardee organization:** University of Connecticut (CT)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** WNTPS995QBM7
- **PI:** wei zhang
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** —
- **Estimated total:** $599,999
- **Funds obligated:** $599,999
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2530909

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2530909, CICI: UCSS: Advancing Security in TEE-Enabled Scientific Research Workflows: A Holistic Approach. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2530909. Licensed CC0.

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