Multidisciplinary Frameworks for Digital Forensics in the AI Era

Ahmad Tasnim Siddiqui is a scholar and educator specializing in the application of emerging technologies in higher education, with a particular focus on IOT, Artificial Intelligence, Web Application Development, Credentialing, Digital Learning Systems, and Data Governance. He serves as a faculty member at Horizon University College, where he contributes to academic development, research, and technology-driven educational innovation. Dr. Siddiqui holds a PhD in Computer Science, and his research interests span AI-driven learning analytics, decentralized credentialing, e-learning, e-commerce and mobile commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), Health IT, educational data management, and technology-enhanced pedagogy. He has played an active role in curriculum design, faculty development initiatives, and institutional digital transformation efforts, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to advance modern pedagogical and administrative practices. A committed researcher and academic leader, Dr. Siddiqui has authored and presented work on the integration of disruptive technologies into higher education, with an emphasis on transparency, learner mobility, and sustainable innovation. His professional engagement includes membership in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), reflecting his dedication to contributing to scholarly and professional communities in computing and technology. As the editor of Innovating Credentialing and Data Management in Higher Education with Blockchain and AI, Dr. Siddiqui brings together global perspectives to explore cutting-edge advancements and promote strategic, responsible digital transformation across higher education systems.

Deepika Saxena is a distinguished academician, researcher, and Head of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at Poornima University, Jaipur. With extensive experience in academia and research, she has established herself as a leading voice in Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, IoT-based Public Safety Systems, and Docker Container Security. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science with specialization in cloud and container security, supported by strong qualifications including M.Tech, B.E. in Computer Science, and a PGDM in Cyber Security. As a dynamic department leader, Dr. Saxena is known for her strategic academic planning, student-centric initiatives, and her ability to build strong, innovation-driven learning environments. She has guided several research scholars and postgraduate students in domains such as cloud computing, AI/ML, networking, IoT, and digital forensics. Dr. Saxena has published widely in reputed platforms, including Springer, Taylor & Francis, Scopus, Web of Science, and various international conference proceedings. Her impactful contributions on Linux container security, Docker performance, MANET optimization, and AI-driven safety systems reflect her expertise in designing secure and efficient computing environments. She is also an active innovator with multiple technology-driven inventions in areas such as cloud security mechanisms, IoT-enabled healthcare systems, modular NAS architectures, and public safety systems using embedded technologies. Her interest in Digital Forensics further strengthens her multidisciplinary research identity, especially in areas involving cyber investigation and forensic readiness of cloud and containerized environments. Dr. Deepika Saxena continues to inspire as an educator, researcher, and technology leader committed to advancing modern computing solutions.

Nikhil Kumar Goyal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Noida International University, Greater Noida, India. He earned his Master’s degree in Information Security and holds a Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology from the Institute of Technology, Guru Ghasidas University (A Central University), Bilaspur. His research interests span cybersecurity, ethical hacking, digital forensics, blockchain security, and artificial intelligence applications in security systems. He has published in reputed Scopus-indexed journals and international conferences, with recent work including contributions to a Q1 journal on Digital Twin Technology and presentations on blockchain security, distributed AI in cybersecurity, and advanced forecasting models. In addition, he has co-authored several book chapters with international publishers, covering areas such as security in wireless sensor networks, artificial intelligence in healthcare, AI-driven roles in tourism, and IoT in sustainable agriculture. His applied research includes patents on secure incident reporting and verification systems that emphasize anonymity, social integration, and advanced verification tools. Alongside his academic work, he has professional experience through cybersecurity internships with Gurugram Police and Bilaspur Police Cyber Cell, industry roles in ethical hacking and cybercrime investigation, and software development projects. Through his blend of teaching, research, and industry experience, Nikhil Kumar Goyal continues to advance scholarship and practice in cybersecurity and digital forensics, with a growing specialization in the study of the dark web ecosystem.

Valentina E. Balas is currently Full Professor in the Department of Automatics and Applied Software at the Faculty of Engineering, “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad, Romania. She holds a Ph.D. Cum Laude, in Applied Electronics and Telecommunications from Polytechnic University of Timisoara. Dr. Balas is the author of more than 400 research papers in referred journals and International Conferences. Her research interests are in Intelligent Systems, Fuzzy Control, Soft Computing, Smart Sensors, Information Fusion, Modeling and Simulation. She is the Editor-in Chief to International Journal of Advanced Intelligence Paradigms (IJAIP) and to International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering (IJCSysE), member in Editorial Board member of several national and international journals and is evaluator expert for national, international projects and PhD Thesis. Dr. Balas has edited or co-authored more than 200 books with Elsevier, Springer, CRC Press, and other publishing houses. She is the Series Editor for two book series with Elsevier: Advances in Biomedical Informatics and Advanced Studies in Complex Systems. Dr. Balas is the Head of the Intelligent Systems Research Centre at Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad. She is a member in the specialized committee “Computers, Information Technology, and Systems Engineering” of the National Council for Attestation of University Titles, Diplomas, and Certificates (CNATDCU) for the 2024-2028 term. She served as General Chair of the International Workshop Soft Computing and Applications (SOFA) in ten editions organized in the interval 2005-2022 and held in Romania and Hungary. Dr. Balas participated in many international conferences as Organizer, Honorary Chair, Session Chair, member of Steering, Advisory or International Program Committees and Keynote Speaker. Recently she was working on a national project with EU funding support: BioCell-NanoART = Novel Bio-inspired Cellular Nano-Architectures - For Digital Integrated Circuits, 3M Euro from National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation. She is a member of European Society for Fuzzy Logic and Technology (EUSFLAT), member of Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and a Senior Member IEEE, member in Technical Committee – Fuzzy Systems (IEEE Computational Intelligence Society), chair of the Task Force 14 in Technical Committee – Emergent Technologies (IEEE CIS), member in Technical Committee – Soft Computing (IEEE SMCS). She is member in the Committee of IEEE Romania Section as Volunteers Training Coordinator and vice chair of IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Chapter – CIS 11. During the interval 2021-2022 she was a member of IEEE European Public Policy Committee Working Group on ICT. From May 2023 Dr. Balas is associate member of Romanian Academy of Scientists and from 2025 is corresponding member. Dr. Balas was past Vice President (awards) of IFSA - International Fuzzy Systems Association Council (2013-2015), is a Joint Secretary of the Governing Council of Forum for Interdisciplinary Mathematics (FIM), - A Multidisciplinary Academic Body, India. She is the recipient of the “Tudor Tanasescu” Prize from the Romanian Academy for contributions in the field of soft computing methods (2019) and “Stefan Odobleja” Prize from Romanian Academy of Scientists (2023 and 2024) and Diploma – Section Information Technology from The General Association of the Engineers in Romania (AGIR) 2023.