Leveraging Research and Real-World Experience in Computer Science
Driven by a passion for technology and problem-solving, Madeline Moran always knew she wanted to pursue a career in computer science. After double majoring in computer science and cybersecurity as an undergraduate at Loyola, Moran continued on to earn her MS in Computer Science in just one extra year through Loyola’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (ABM) program. Now, she’s leveraging her technical expertise and real-world experience to stand out in a critical and ever-changing industry.
Attending Loyola
Before she even arrived at Loyola, Moran had already developed a strong interest in computer science. In high school, she had participated in a number of coding and cybersecurity camps that first sparked her passion for the field. Initially unsure about the direction she wanted to take her career, she decided to double major in both computer science and cybersecurity as an undergrad. “I thought, well I might as well enroll in both for now to try them out. I took as many classes as I could, and I ended up graduating with both,” she explained.
From the beginning, Moran was impressed by Loyola’s supportive and knowledgeable faculty, who brought a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom. “Many of the professors work in industry and bring a lot of industry knowledge to class,” she said. “It was so valuable to see how the theory we were learning connected to their direct experiences.” That practical perspective not only deepened her understanding of computer science but also inspired her to seek opportunities to apply what she was learning in a hands-on setting.
Moran found the opportunity she was looking for during her junior year when she joined Dr. Eric Chan-Tin’s cybersecurity lab, where she contributed to research in areas such as phishing susceptibility, password security, and website fingerprinting. Guided by faculty mentors, her work with the lab allowed her to strengthen her technical skills, gain invaluable research experience, and even provided her with an opportunity to present her work at an international conference in Sydney, Australia.
Earning a master’s degree
Although Moran hadn’t originally planned to pursue a graduate degree, she changed course after realizing she could apply credits earned during her senior year towards an MS in Computer Science through Loyola’s five-year ABM program. “I didn’t look at any other schools. It was either go straight into industry or do one more year to finish out my master’s,” she said. “I had been working on research with Eric [Chan-Tin] for about two years, so it was also an opportunity for me to continue doing research, add more experience to my resume, and hopefully bump up my pay grade.”
Beyond her graduate courses and work with the cybersecurity lab, Moran further bolstered her resume by serving as the vice president of 7968, Loyola’s student-run cybersecurity competition club. The club prepares students to compete in cybersecurity competitions across the country, offering hands-on training that simulates real-world security challenges while also helping them build valuable industry connections. “The club allowed us to create a pipeline of opportunities with the support of a few professors who wanted to ensure we would be successful,” she said.
A lasting impact
Since graduating, Moran has been working at IBM as a technical sales specialist in IT automation, where she was hired full-time after completing two internships as an undergraduate student. Looking back, her experiences at Loyola have proved to be an invaluable asset to her career. “The diversity of the curriculum really prepared me to adapt quickly to new technologies and gave me a strong basis for my internships at IBM,” she said. Likewise, “the research I did gave me a foundation for communicating information to people who don’t know much about cybersecurity or computer science to make it more digestible.”
To learn more about Loyola’s Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Computer Science program, visit our website or contact Loyola’s Graduate & Professional Admissions team with questions.
Driven by a passion for technology and problem-solving, Madeline Moran always knew she wanted to pursue a career in computer science. After double majoring in computer science and cybersecurity as an undergraduate at Loyola, Moran continued on to earn her MS in Computer Science in just one extra year through Loyola’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (ABM) program. Now, she’s leveraging her technical expertise and real-world experience to stand out in a critical and ever-changing industry.
Attending Loyola
Before she even arrived at Loyola, Moran had already developed a strong interest in computer science. In high school, she had participated in a number of coding and cybersecurity camps that first sparked her passion for the field. Initially unsure about the direction she wanted to take her career, she decided to double major in both computer science and cybersecurity as an undergrad. “I thought, well I might as well enroll in both for now to try them out. I took as many classes as I could, and I ended up graduating with both,” she explained.
From the beginning, Moran was impressed by Loyola’s supportive and knowledgeable faculty, who brought a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom. “Many of the professors work in industry and bring a lot of industry knowledge to class,” she said. “It was so valuable to see how the theory we were learning connected to their direct experiences.” That practical perspective not only deepened her understanding of computer science but also inspired her to seek opportunities to apply what she was learning in a hands-on setting.
Moran found the opportunity she was looking for during her junior year when she joined Dr. Eric Chan-Tin’s cybersecurity lab, where she contributed to research in areas such as phishing susceptibility, password security, and website fingerprinting. Guided by faculty mentors, her work with the lab allowed her to strengthen her technical skills, gain invaluable research experience, and even provided her with an opportunity to present her work at an international conference in Sydney, Australia.
Earning a master’s degree
Although Moran hadn’t originally planned to pursue a graduate degree, she changed course after realizing she could apply credits earned during her senior year towards an MS in Computer Science through Loyola’s five-year ABM program. “I didn’t look at any other schools. It was either go straight into industry or do one more year to finish out my master’s,” she said. “I had been working on research with Eric [Chan-Tin] for about two years, so it was also an opportunity for me to continue doing research, add more experience to my resume, and hopefully bump up my pay grade.”
Beyond her graduate courses and work with the cybersecurity lab, Moran further bolstered her resume by serving as the vice president of 7968, Loyola’s student-run cybersecurity competition club. The club prepares students to compete in cybersecurity competitions across the country, offering hands-on training that simulates real-world security challenges while also helping them build valuable industry connections. “The club allowed us to create a pipeline of opportunities with the support of a few professors who wanted to ensure we would be successful,” she said.
A lasting impact
Since graduating, Moran has been working at IBM as a technical sales specialist in IT automation, where she was hired full-time after completing two internships as an undergraduate student. Looking back, her experiences at Loyola have proved to be an invaluable asset to her career. “The diversity of the curriculum really prepared me to adapt quickly to new technologies and gave me a strong basis for my internships at IBM,” she said. Likewise, “the research I did gave me a foundation for communicating information to people who don’t know much about cybersecurity or computer science to make it more digestible.”
To learn more about Loyola’s Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Computer Science program, visit our website or contact Loyola’s Graduate & Professional Admissions team with questions.