Michael Conti, PhD

Hello! I'm an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Statistics at the University of Rhode Island. My research sits at the intersection of computer science education, educational psychology, and cognitive science, examining how early interventions, motivation, identity, and scaffolded academic support influence student persistence and belonging in computing. I also design and teach industry-aligned undergraduate and graduate courses in computer science and cybersecurity.

Experience

Cybersecurity Associate Teaching Professor

CSC 211 / CSF 202 / CSF 432 / CSF 434 / CSF 534 / CSF 590 / CSF 591
  • Design, develop, and deliver the online instruction of theoretical and practical applications of network and system security.
  • Design and deliver contemporary and industry relevant computer science curricula that addresses problem specification, solution design, algorithm development, object-oriented programming, program structure, functions, iteration, recursion, classes, arrays, files, and introductory programming syntax and constructs.
  • Implement industry relevant practices that align with CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certification exams; enabling students to perform threat analysis on a system’s architecture, deploy appropriate mitigation techniques against identified attacks, participate in risk mitigation activities, and operate with an awareness of application policies, laws, and regulations.
  • Maintain a strong online presence and resource for undergraduate and graduate level students through forum discussion, virtual meetings, and remote tool assistance.
September 2019 – Present

Computer Science Assistant Teaching Professor

URI 101 / CSC 101 / CSC 211 / CSC 591
  • Implement research-based strategies to increase accessibility, isolate potential barriers, and accommodate student learning preferences, aptitudes, and areas of improvement.
  • Work with a diverse population of students and teaching staff with an average class size of 100 students.
  • Participate in departmental discussions to improve student outreach, equity, access, and retention.
January 2018 – September 2019

Graduate Research Assistant and Research Assistant IV

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
  • Research pedagogical approaches to enhance learning outcomes and participation of underrepresented minorities in computer science through the K–12 CS Framework’s core concepts and practices to help foster an inclusive culture in computing.
  • Develop and maintain micro-credentials that map to Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) computer science education standards for national-level K–12 educator badging.
  • Collect and perform qualitative and quantitative analysis on CS4RI data.
August 2017 – September 2019

Resident Advisor

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
  • Create and facilitate a civil, respectful, inclusive, and healthy residential community through programming, conflict mitigation, mentoring and referral guidance, informal counseling and caring interventions, on-duty coverage, and enforcement of community standards and University policy.
  • Identify and work with over 700 students to address personal, social, academic, or health problems.
August 2014 – May 2017

Education

University of Rhode Island

Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Science

University of Rhode Island

Master of Science, Computer Science

University of Rhode Island

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Minor in Mathematics

Recent Projects

  • PharmGKB Accession and Bioconductor Integration
    Developed software in R to access gene–drug associations and genotype–phenotype relationships from the PharmGKB database, enabling command-line queries to retrieve and visualize relationships across drug, disease, and variant data.
  • Microcredential Development
    Author, assessor, approver, and facilitator of BloomBoard-issued microcredentials mapped to CSTA computer science education standards for national K–12 educator badging; supports potential pathways for Rhode Island Department of Education CS endorsement.
  • Data Cleaning Automation with Pandas
    Built Python software that imports, cleans, and formats K–12 computer science education data exported from collection instruments. The task, performed ~16× per year and taking ~10 hours for an experienced Excel user, is reduced to seconds while eliminating human error.

Relevant Courses

Core Courses

  • Object-Oriented Programming
  • Data Structures & Abstractions
  • Software Engineering
  • Design & Analysis of Algorithms
  • Network and System Security

Other Courses

  • Calculus I/II/III & Linear Algebra
  • Advanced Intrusion Detection
  • Advanced Incident Response
  • Deep Learning
  • Educational Psychology

Skills

Programming Languages & Tools
Workflow
  • Agile Development & Scrum
  • Software Development & Debugging
  • Project Management
  • Cross Functional Teams

Interests

Apart from being a software developer, I enjoy spending my time outdoors. I love to travel, hike mountains, and kayak when the weather allows.

When forced indoors, I like to catch up on anime, play piano, and learn new skills. I spend a large amount of my free time reading up on current events, the latest technology advancements, and listening to music.

Accomplishments & Certifications

  • Green Dot Certified September 2015
    Bystander intervention training in sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and bullying.
  • Safe Zone Certified August 2014
    Training in LGBTQ terminology, history, and concepts of privilege and identity development.
  • Pi Mu Epsilon August 2014
    Mathematics National Honor Society.
  • Timothy J. Packhem Scholarship June 2012
    Awarded for fairness, kindness, and compassion.