Dr. Tamanpreet Kaur

Resilience is reoccurring theme in cybersecurity through theory, research, and application. But for Dr. Tamanpreet Kaur, the concept of resilience took on an entirely new meaning during her doctoral journey. 

While pursuing her degree, Dr. Kaur was also navigating a cancer diagnosis, an experience that brought her research into sharp focus. “It forced everything into perspective,” she said. “There I was, researching resilience, while life decided to give me a very real, very personal case study. I wasn’t just studying resilience anymore; I was living it.” 

Dr. Kaur successfully defended her thesis for her Doctor of Science in Cybersecurity at Capitol Technology University in February 2026, driven by a desire to make research practical and powerful. She didn’t want to write papers that collect dust but wanted to work in research that translates into something useful for businesses.  

Her focus was on smaller businesses that don’t have Fortune 500 budgets but still face Fortune 500-level threats, shifting the conversation beyond prevention to preparedness. “Breaches will happen. Systems will fail. The real question is this: can a business take the hit and keep moving? That gap is what I wanted to explore. It's never a matter of if, but a matter of when,” she said.  

She continued her research even on days that included a chemo session, a quick nap, pain meds and then back to brainstorming ideas as if nothing happened. And although she even credits some of her most creative work happening in a hospital's chair, the challenges were undeniable. “There were days when the goal wasn’t ‘write a chapter,’ it was just ‘get through the day,’” she said. “There were moments when my biggest academic achievement was opening my laptop. And honestly, some days even that felt ambitious.” 

Through it all, her motivation came from a deeply rooted sense of purpose powered by three things: perspective, stubbornness, and her Sikh faith, which helped ground her during uncertainty and offered strength when she needed it most. She also found unwavering support in her family. “Without question, my husband Arvy and my daughter Fatehjung were my constant through all of it.”  

Despite everything, Dr. Kaur never lost sight of her goal. Earning her doctorate is both a personal and professional milestone. “Personally, it means I proved something to myself. There were moments where quitting would’ve been the logical choice. But I didn’t,” she said. “Professionally, it strengthens my voice. It allows me to move from ‘experience-based opinion’ to ‘research-backed authority.’ In this field, that matters.” 

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, while also stepping into a teaching role. She said that she is currently focused on sharing her wealth of knowledge, emphasizing her desire to help others learn from both her research and lived experience. 

That perspective carries into the advice she offers others facing their own challenges. “Give yourself grace...but don’t give up. Progress might look different for you, and that’s okay. Some days you’ll sprint; some days you’ll crawl. Both count. The goal is forward movement, not perfection.” 

At its core, Dr. Kaur’s journey is a powerful reminder of what resilience truly looks like, not just in research and theory, but in practice. Reflecting on the impact she hopes to have, she put it simply: “If someone reads my story and thinks, ‘If she can get through that, I can handle what I’m dealing with,’ that’s enough.”