Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Institute
Cybersecurity education, research, and community engagement.
San José State University · Digital-forensics research and training
Investigating digital evidence. Advancing justice.
The Silicon Valley Digital Forensics Lab (SVDFL) is a San José State University research and training environment for careful acquisition, analysis, and communication of digital evidence.
// move over the hex dump: the lens decodes what is hidden
20+students mentored
03mock-case themes
02forensic platforms
Hacking · Money Laundering · Corporate Data Exfiltration
A lab built for evidence, learning, and collaboration
We connect digital-forensics education with applied research so that students, researchers, and practitioners can examine digital evidence with clarity and discipline. Start with the pathway that matches your question, role, or next step.
Students
Turn coursework into supervised practice through internships, projects, and research that can reach publication.
Explore internships and student researchResearchers and educators
Study how evidence is acquired, validated, and interpreted across platforms, and make methods more transparent and teachable.
See current researchPractitioners and partners
Bring field questions into a setting built for careful experimentation, then translate findings back to practice.
Explore partnershipsResearch-led and student-centered. Evidence work is most useful when it is rigorous, teachable, and transparent.
Method first
Making evidence easier to explain—from acquisition to validation to interpretation. Explore each step in the simulated terminal.
svdfl@lab: case-sv-001 (simulated)
A working index of the lab's current questions
Select an exhibit to see its scope, method, and current status.
Good forensic work is collaborative by design
Faculty direction, student inquiry, and practitioner perspective meet around questions that matter in the field.
faculty_leadDr. Nurettin Senol
Assistant Professor, Department of Justice Studies, San José State University.
Student researchers
Develop evidence fluency through supervised internships, projects, coursework, and research dissemination.
Explore the student pathwayPractice partners
Bring field questions into a setting built for careful experimentation and translation.
Start a conversationInfrastructure for careful questions
A resource base for repeatable analysis across operating systems, browser environments, and investigative workflows.
Forensic software workflows
Magnet AXIOM and OSForensics-centered exercises for acquisition, artifact review, and comparative analysis.
Windows and macOS environments
Controlled browser and operating-system contexts for cross-platform evidence studies.
Evidence handling practice
Documentation, validation, and reporting habits that foreground integrity and reproducibility.
Publication and dissemination
Support for student papers, conference submissions, research briefs, and practitioner-facing outputs.
Mobile forensics and workforce preparation
SVDFL connects practical evidence processing with the education of current and future digital-forensics practitioners.
Device acquisition
Logical acquisition and sector-level duplication workflows for iOS and Android devices, with hash verification and documented evidence handling.
Data extraction
Physical extraction workflows supported by evidence review, tagging, filtering, and careful interpretation.
Case reporting
Clear, reviewable reports that connect investigative methods, findings, and practical objectives.
Secure operating context. The lab’s work is designed around controlled evidence handling, practical training, and procedures that support reliable processing and reproducible analysis.
NSF-supported education
A three-year National Science Foundation grant awarded in August 2023 supported digital-forensics curriculum research and the implementation of a cyber-investigation unit for student practice.
Mission. Reduce the digital-evidence backlog, develop the technical acumen of current and future practitioners, and cultivate a diverse workforce through rigorous, practice-centered education.
Research that leaves the lab
Submitted to ISDFS 2027
Browser Forensics of Messaging Platforms: A Comparative Analysis of Artifact Persistence
Accepted to ISDFS 2027
Browser-Based Dating Application Forensics: Analysis of Bumble and OkCupid Using Magnet AXIOM and OSForensics
Accepted to ISDFS 2027
Comparative Evaluation of Magnet AXIOM and OSForensics Workflows for Recovering Browser-Based User Account Information
Turn coursework into supervised forensic practice
SVDFL internships give students a structured way to apply digital-evidence concepts in a university research environment. Students gain supervised experience with case studies, research projects, mock investigations, forensic tools, documentation, and professional reporting.
Case studies
Analyze real-world digital-forensics scenarios and examine how evidence is acquired, interpreted, and communicated.
Research projects
Develop focused research questions, compare forensic workflows, document findings, and contribute to reports or publications.
Mock cases
Practice evidence acquisition, validation, documentation, professional reporting, and presentation in simulated investigations.
A clear next step
Check each step off as you go.
0 of 3 steps ready
student_opportunity
Intern with SVDFL
Interested in an internship through San José State University? Contact Dr. Senol to discuss current capacity and the best pathway for your academic goals.
Ask about internship opportunitiesAvailability varies by semester.Partners: make a field question researchable
The lab welcomes conversations with agencies, technology teams, educators, and community organizations interested in responsible digital evidence research.
- Define a focused research question.
- Design a transparent, teachable protocol.
- Share findings with the people who can use them.
Partners in evidence and education
SVDFL builds relationships with organizations that strengthen digital-forensics education, applied research, public safety, and professional practice.
East Bay Forensic Science Research Center
Forensic science research, laboratory practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
SJSU University Police Department
Public-safety collaboration and real-world digital-evidence questions.
Interested in collaborating? Bring a focused field question, training need, or research idea to the lab.
Student highlights
Alumni of the lab's internship program—and what they went on to do with what they learned here.
🏆 2nd place
svdfl_alumnus
Jayden Thai
San José State University
At the Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Conference (SVCC) 2026, Jayden's team took 2nd place in the CyberWarrior "Build It, Break It" HPE hackathon, sponsored by HPE and supported by the Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Institute.
Team: Jayden Thai · Nathan Chuop · Sneha Nalla
📄 ISDFS 2027
svdfl_alumna
Zoe Davis
San José State University, B.S. Forensic Science — Digital Evidence
During her internship with the Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Institute, Zoe researched web-browser activity, ran investigations in Magnet AXIOM, and prepared professional digital forensic reports. Her comparison of Magnet AXIOM and OSForensics for recovering passwords and usernames from Chrome and Firefox was accepted for presentation at the 2027 ISDFS conference.
Mentors: Dr. Senol · Dr. Park
🎓 SVDFL intern
svdfl_alumni
Jillian Walker
San José State University, Forensic Science: Crime Scene Investigation
During her internship with the Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Institute, Jillian developed practical experience with digital-evidence tools, including Magnet AXIOM and OSForensics, while strengthening her digital-forensic report-writing skills.
Bring us a question worth examining
For student opportunities, research collaboration, equipment questions, or partnership conversations, reach out to Dr. Senol.
San José State University
Department of Justice Studies
MacQuarrie Hall 528
San José, CA 95192
info@svdfl.com
nurettin.senol@sjsu.edu
Department of Justice Studies
MacQuarrie Hall 528
San José, CA 95192
info@svdfl.com
nurettin.senol@sjsu.edu