Kimberly Tam

Dr. Kimberly Tam is an Associate Professor in Cybersecurity at the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Plymouth. She specializes in maritime cybersecurity, focusing on ship IT/OT/IoT security, port infrastructure protection, autonomous vessels, offshore renewable energy systems, and smartphone security. She is affiliated with the Alan Turing Institute as the Theme Lead for Marine and Maritime.

Her research addresses critical challenges in maritime autonomy, cyber-physical systems, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., IMO MASS). She has supervised 7 PhD students and 7 research staff across multiple projects, contributing to cyber resilience training and risk assessment tools like CERP and MaCRA. Her work emphasizes practical applications, such as penetration testing frameworks (BridgeInsight) and cost-benefit analysis methods for energy infrastructure cybersecurity.

Teaching responsibilities include leading modules like Security Operations & Incident Management, Cyber-Physical Systems Security, and unmanned maritime systems operations. She has developed specialized courses in Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, integrating industry-relevant training.

Her recent publications (2023–2025) highlight advancements in adversarial AI defense, ransomware mitigation in maritime contexts, and digital twin technologies for port optimization. She collaborates internationally, hosting visiting researchers from China, Turkey, and Norway, and supports early-career professionals through work experience programs.