Dan Williams

Dan Williams is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. His research focuses on operating systems, kernels, virtualization, and system security, with particular emphasis on kernel extension security (e.g., eBPF) and cloud computing infrastructure. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from Cornell University and dual B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Rochester.

Education:

• 2013: Ph.D. and M.S., Computer Science, Cornell University
• 2003: B.S. in Computer Science and B.A. in Mathematics, University of Rochester

Research Interests:

• Secure kernel design and verification
• eBPF program safety and performance
• Container and cloud security
• System software optimization
• Runtime enforcement mechanisms

Recent Work Trends: Recent publications emphasize securing kernel extensions through novel verification frameworks (e.g., Rex), optimizing eBPF tracing efficiency, and mitigating vulnerabilities in containerized environments. His work bridges practical system implementation with formal verification techniques.

Awards: No specific awards listed.

Advising & Grants: No student advisees or grant details explicitly stated in provided text.

Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations mentioned beyond departmental affiliation.