Patanjali Sristi

Patanjali Sristi is an Assistant Professor at Augusta University's School of Computer and Cyber Sciences, specifically within the Department of Cybersecurity Engineering. Located at 100 Grace Hopper Lane in Augusta, Georgia, Dr. Sristi joined the university in January 2025 after previously working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Florida with Dr. Swarup Bhunia. Their academic journey began with a B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Pondicherry University in 2011, followed by both MS and Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras).

Dr. Sristi's educational background demonstrates a strong foundation in electrical engineering and computer science, with advanced specialization in hardware security. Their Ph.D. research at IIT Madras was supervised by Dr. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, focusing on critical aspects of hardware security that would form the basis of their future research career.

Dr. Sristi's research program centers on addressing one fundamental question: "How can we design, measure and build efficient and affordable security assurances for a given hardware design in the context of an untrusted supply chain while respecting the design constraints at each level of abstraction?" This research vision spans three interconnected domains:

• AI for System Design: Developing data models and AI techniques for next-generation hardware systems
• AI for Hardware Security: Creating AI models for vulnerability detection, countermeasure evaluation, and mitigation of supply chain threats
• Cybersecurity for AI: Establishing metrics and algorithms for secure development, deployment, and operation of AI systems

Dr. Sristi's scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on hardware security challenges within the modern distributed electronics supply chain. Their work demonstrates a progression from foundational research on hardware trojans and side-channel attacks toward comprehensive frameworks addressing the emerging "zero trust" paradigm in hardware security. A notable trend is the integration of AI/ML techniques with traditional hardware security approaches, reflecting the evolving nature of security threats and countermeasures. Their publications span prestigious venues including IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems, IEEE Transactions on Computers, and various IEEE conferences, indicating strong recognition within the hardware security community.

While specific awards aren't detailed in the available information, Dr. Sristi's research impact is evident through multiple US patents (including US Patent 11,899,827 and US Patent App. 17/392,376) and invitations to deliver talks at prominent organizations including Sony Finishing School, Northrop Grumman, and IEEE events. Their work on Netflix Privacy Analysis was featured in Wired, demonstrating real-world relevance and impact.

Dr. Sristi actively engages with students through courses including CSCI 8940 (Dissertation Research), CSCI 8720 (Problems in Computer & Cyber), and CSCI 7900 (Research Colloquium). Their research program appears well-supported through collaborations with major institutions and industry partners, as evidenced by workshops conducted for the Indian Army in conjunction with Pravartak and IIT Madras. These partnerships suggest substantial research funding and collaborative opportunities that enhance the educational experience for students.

Though specific lab information isn't provided in the available text, Dr. Sristi's research scope suggests involvement with hardware security laboratories equipped for VLSI design, testing, and security evaluation. Their work on IoT security, hardware trojans, and supply chain security would require facilities for physical device testing, side-channel analysis, and hardware emulation. The focus on "zero trust" implementation for hardware security indicates a research environment that bridges theoretical security models with practical implementation challenges.