Intern of the Week: Shruti Dharmani 

Name: Shruti Dharmani 

 

Pronouns: she/her

 

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

 

Major: MS in Cybersecurity

 

Current Class Level: Master's Student

 

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

 

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Technuf LLC.

 

Location of the Organization (City, State): Rockville, Maryland

 

Title of position: Cybersecurity Intern

 

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

• Performing cybersecurity analysis and threat monitoring using Technuf's proprietary product , including triaging security alerts, investigating incidents, and assisting in the detection, analysis, and response to potential threats across client environments. 

• Supporting internal research and development for company's product by maintaining 

accurate technical documentation, understanding platform integration points, assisting with 

system maintenance activities, and contributing to planning and evaluation of future 

security features and enhancements.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first learned about Technuf through my mentor, Dr. Faisal Quader, who is also the President of the company. As someone interested in cybersecurity and research, I was excited to learn more about the organization and the work they were doing. I applied through Technuf's careers page and was selected as a cybersecurity intern. Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of challenging projects, and my internship was extended multiple times as I continued to grow and contribute to the team. After graduating from UMBC, I was grateful to receive a full-time offer, allowing me to continue the journey I started as an intern.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Faculty Connections

 

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I've enjoyed the most is the opportunity to continuously learn and work with a wide range of cybersecurity tools and technologies. One of the most exciting experiences was being part of the team that built CyberSafe, a cybersecurity platform that has now been launched and is being used in the market. I had the chance to work with more than six different security tools, evaluate their strengths, and help identify the best capabilities to incorporate into our product. Beyond learning how to operate cybersecurity platforms, I also gained valuable insight into how these tools are designed, integrated, and built behind the scenes. That experience gave me a much deeper understanding of cybersecurity than I ever expected from an internship.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

One of the things I'm most proud of is being involved in almost every stage of the product's development. My work included research, documentation, product development, testing, and using the platform for threat intelligence and cybersecurity operations. Seeing CyberSafe evolve from the research and development phase into a live product being used by customers has been incredibly rewarding. The trust my team placed in me, along with the fact that my internship was extended multiple times before I ultimately received a full-time offer, gives me confidence that my contributions made a meaningful impact on both the team and the product.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone or explore opportunities beyond your core area of expertise. You don't have to abandon the field you're passionate about—instead, look for ways to build complementary skills that make you more versatile. Being open to learning new technologies, taking on unfamiliar challenges, and saying "yes" to opportunities helped me grow far beyond what I expected. Every new skill you develop adds to your capabilities and prepares you for opportunities you may not have imagined when you first started.