Willem Jonker is a Full Professor at the Digital Society Institute, specializing in Semantics, Cybersecurity & Services. His research focuses on encryption schemes, access control, and privacy-preserving technologies. He has contributed to over 120 publications, with recent work addressing CVE-to-CWE mapping, anomaly detection in network traffic, and functional encryption systems. His expertise aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to secure digital systems and privacy. Jonker has supervised 10 students and actively participates in academic conferences, presenting on topics like secure data management and cryptographic protocols. Research interests include cryptographic protocols, secure data management, and cybersecurity solutions. Notable projects involve developing methods for detecting covert channels, enhancing data privacy in healthcare, and improving secure search over encrypted data. He has also contributed to standards in digital rights management and forensic image recognition.
Ajay Kapur serves as Associate Provost for Creative Technologies and Director of the Music Technology program (MTIID) at California Institute of the Arts. With an interdisciplinary background spanning computer science, electrical engineering, and music, he bridges technological innovation with artistic expression through leadership in academic programs and entrepreneurial ventures. His research centers on symbiotic human-machine interaction for artistic creation, particularly exploring computer improvisation with humans through Indian Classical music frameworks. This manifests in developing programmable mechatronic instruments, sensor-based interfaces, and AI-driven systems for musical expression. His work extends traditional techniques while creating new performance paradigms like the globally touring Machine Orchestra and KarmetiK Orchestra. Kapur's recent publications reveal evolving expertise from music robotics to blockchain applications, with significant focus on NFT systems, tokenization, and immersive environments. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent innovation at the intersection of artistic practice and emerging technologies. As an educator and entrepreneur, he has co-founded companies in edtech and AI while authoring foundational texts like Digitizing North Indian Music and Introduction to Programming for Musicians and Digital Artists . His performances at venues including LACMA, Singapore Arts Festival, and the 2010 Winter Olympics showcase practical applications of his research.
Duong Hieu Phan is a Professor at Telecom Paris, part of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, and Head of the Cybersecurity-Cryptography team. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Ecole Normale Supérieure and has extensive postdoctoral experience at University College London and research roles at France Telecom R&D. His academic career includes roles as an assistant/associate professor at LAGA, University of Paris 8 (2007–2015), and later as a professor and director of the Master 2 Maths CRYPTIS program at XLIM, University of Limoges (2015–2020). His research focuses on cryptography, with emphasis on provable security, functional encryption, privacy-preserving systems, and anamorphic cryptography. Key areas include secure communication mechanisms against oppressive surveillance, decentralized systems, and post-quantum security. He has contributed to foundational work on CCA security for FHE, quantum-resistant protocols, and verifiable functional encryption. Prof. Phan is actively involved in professional committees, including IACR ASIACRYPT and PKC steering committees, and editorial boards such as the IACR CIC Journal. He promotes Franco-Vietnamese scientific collaboration through roles in the CNRS IRL partnership. His teaching spans cryptography, algorithms, and mathematics at undergraduate and master’s levels, including program coordination and research supervision.
Reza Tourani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Saint Louis University since Fall 2018. He earned his Ph.D. (2018) and M.S. (2012) in Computer Science from New Mexico State University, preceded by a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Islamic Azad University of Tehran (2008). His career includes prior work in the telecommunications industry in Iran. University: Saint Louis University School: School of Science and Engineering Department: Department of Computer Science Academic Rank: Assistant Professor Dr. Tourani’s research focuses on security and privacy in resource-constrained environments, including: Internet of Things (IoT) : Secure communication protocols and edge computing Information-Centric Networking (ICN) : Access control and request flooding mitigation Cyber-Physical Systems : Smart grid and UAV swarms Private Communication : Anonymity in distributed systems Networked Systems : DDoS defense and caching optimization His recent articles explore trends in: DDoS mitigation in Named Data Networking (PERSIA framework, 2020) Secure UAV swarm communications (2020) Attribute-based encryption for edge computing (APECS, 2021) Collaborative caching mechanisms (MuNCC, 2016) Smart grid data security (iCASM, 2020) Dr. Tourani has secured research grants from Saint Louis University and Intel Labs to advance projects on privacy-aware contact tracing and edge computing security . He actively mentors students in cybersecurity, IoT, and networked systems.
Professor Carsten Rudolph serves as Deputy Dean at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology and directs the Oceania Cyber Security Centre (OCSC). He holds a PhD in Information Security from Queensland University of Technology (2002) and a Diplom in Computer Science from Goethe University Frankfurt (1997). His interdisciplinary research focuses on cybersecurity foundations, including cryptographic protocols, AI-driven security, human factors, and national cybersecurity policy. Key areas include securing smart grids, digital health systems, and transnational energy networks. Notable contributions include establishing the OCSC, leading Pacific region cybersecurity maturity reviews with Oxford University, and advancing frameworks for firmware security in virtual power plants. He chairs major projects like RAI4IoE (Responsible AI for Energy) and Post-Quantum Cryptography initiatives. Teaching responsibilities include cybersecurity modules like FIT3173 and FIT3168. Rudolph's research outputs (137+ publications) emphasize phishing detection via AI, blockchain-based energy trading, and resilient smart grid systems. He collaborates internationally on policy development and has advised 12 major research projects funded by agencies like the U.S. Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs.
Gerardo Schneider is a Full Professor in Computer Science at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and holds a joint appointment at Chalmers University of Technology. He serves as Head of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) Division and has previously led the Formal Methods Division and acted as Director of Graduate Studies. University of Gothenburg: 2009–present Chalmers University of Technology: 2009–present Uppsala University: 2002–2003 University of Oslo: 2005–2009 His research focuses on formal methods for software engineering, including contract specification and analysis , privacy policy formalization , model checking , and runtime verification . He works on verification of real-time systems, embedded systems (e.g., smart Java cards), and blockchain-based smart contracts. Key projects include: X-LEGAL (2020–2023): Smart Legal Contracts (Swedish Research Council) PolUser (2016–2019): User-Controlled Privacy Policies (Swedish Research Council) ARVI (2014–2018): Runtime Verification Beyond Monitoring (ICT COST Action) ReMU (2013–2017): Reliable Multilingual Digital Communication (Swedish Research Council) He has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students in formal methods, blockchain security, and privacy compliance. His tools include SPeeDI (Polygonal Hybrid Systems Verification), CLAN (Contract Normative Conflict Detection), and AnaCon (Controlled Natural Language Analysis).
Dr ASM Kayes serves as Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity and Cyber Curriculum Lead at La Trobe University's Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, where he shapes cybersecurity education programs including Master's, Bachelor's, and Double Degrees. His academic journey began with a PhD from Swinburne University of Technology in 2015, followed by postdoctoral research at La Trobe before joining as Lecturer in 2019 and promotion to Senior Lecturer in 2022. His research spans critical cybersecurity domains including data security, privacy preservation, context-aware access control, malware/ransomware defense, and IoT/fog/cloud security leveraging AI/ML techniques. Dr Kayes has established himself as a leading voice in blockchain security frameworks, privacy policy analysis, and cyber incident response through publications in top-tier venues like ACM Computing Surveys, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, and Computers & Security. His recent publications reveal a strong trajectory toward integrating AI with traditional security frameworks, particularly in blockchain risk assessment (2025), cross-domain access control (2025), and IoT behavior prediction (2024). The research demonstrates consistent focus on practical security solutions addressing ransomware mitigation, privacy breaches, and emerging threats in decentralized systems. Over $880,000 secured as Chief Investigator for cybersecurity projects Australian Government Department of Social Services grant (2023-2026) for cyberbullying prevention AustCyber research funds with industry partners (2020-2023) SmartSat CRC and ASCRIN PhD scholarship grants (2021) Dr Kayes has successfully supervised 5 PhD candidates to completion and currently mentors 5 doctoral students across diverse topics including AI-driven threat hunting, satellite network security, and blockchain risk frameworks. His collaborative network spans UK, USA, Europe, and Asia, with active industry partnerships through Westpac, BHP, and Quantum Victoria. He serves on editorial boards for leading cybersecurity journals and has examined HDR dissertations globally, reflecting his significant standing in the academic community.
Diego F. Aranha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Aarhus University . His research focuses on cryptographic systems, cybersecurity, and privacy-preserving technologies with applications in voting systems, post-quantum cryptography, and secure computation. He has contributed extensively to homomorphic encryption, secure multiparty computation (MPC), and cryptanalysis of cryptographic implementations. Key projects include: MPCC (2025-2028) : Multi-Party Computation in the Confidential Cloud SCI (2024-2027) : Secure Computation Infrastructures for the Retail Industry RENAIS (2021-2026) : Residue Number Systems for Cryptography His work emphasizes practical efficiency and formal verification of cryptographic protocols. Recent publications highlight advancements in lattice-based cryptography, secure voting schemes, and mitigating side-channel vulnerabilities in post-quantum algorithms. He actively collaborates on open-source cryptographic libraries and standards, with a focus on bridging theoretical security and real-world implementation challenges.
Zheng Yang is a Professor at Tsinghua University's School of Software, with significant research contributions in cryptography, cybersecurity, and privacy-preserving systems. His work spans multiple institutions including collaborations with University of Helsinki's Secure System Group and Chongqing University of Technology. He maintains active research in both theoretical and applied security domains, with particular focus on industrial applications. Professor Yang's research interests center on cryptographic protocols, authentication mechanisms, and security for emerging technologies. His work addresses critical challenges in Cyber-Physical Systems security, Industrial Internet of Things protection, and privacy-preserving computation. He has made significant contributions to secure key exchange protocols, authentication systems, and defenses against sophisticated network attacks including DDoS mitigation strategies. His research bridges theoretical cryptography with practical implementations for resource-constrained environments. Analysis of Professor Yang's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward practical security solutions for industrial and embedded systems. His work increasingly focuses on balancing security with performance constraints in Cyber-Physical Systems and Industrial IoT environments. Key research themes include lightweight cryptography for resource-constrained devices, privacy-preserving location services, and novel authentication mechanisms that maintain security while minimizing computational overhead. His publications demonstrate consistent innovation in adapting cryptographic techniques to real-world security challenges. Professor Yang has established himself as a leading researcher through his extensive publication record in top security venues including IEEE Security & Privacy, USENIX Security, and ACM conferences. His work has been published consistently in high-impact journals and conferences, demonstrating sustained research productivity and influence in the security community. Professor Yang maintains active research collaborations with numerous institutions globally, evidenced by his extensive co-authorship network. His research has attracted significant funding for projects addressing critical security challenges in emerging technologies. His work on secure authentication protocols and privacy-preserving systems has practical applications across multiple industry sectors. Professor Yang leads research initiatives focused on secure Cyber-Physical Systems and Industrial IoT security. His laboratory work emphasizes practical implementations of cryptographic protocols for real-world systems, with particular attention to performance constraints in embedded environments. Current research directions include secure communication for programmable logic controllers, privacy-preserving location services, and adaptive defenses against sophisticated network attacks.
Nikos Komninos is a researcher at City, University of London , specializing in cybersecurity, network security, and privacy-preserving systems. His work spans Internet of Things (IoT) , mobile ad hoc networks , and cloud computing security. Research Areas : Cybersecurity frameworks, machine learning for threat detection, quantum-resistant encryption, and privacy-preserving authentication systems. His recent publications focus on ransomware detection under concept drift, DDoS mitigation in IoT, and attribute-based encryption for fog computing. He has contributed to IEEE Transactions and journals like Computers & Security , with a trend toward real-time adaptive security systems and Bayesian risk assessment .
Michael Sirivianos is an Associate Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), where he serves as Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Duke University (2010) and leads research in cybersecurity, disinformation detection, and social media analysis. He coordinates multiple EU-funded projects including ReCRED (Horizon 2020) and ENCASE (Marie Curie RISE), securing over €3M in research funding. Research Focus His work spans: Cybersafety : Detection of cyberbullying, hate speech, and inappropriate content targeting children Trust Systems : Device-centric authentication and blockchain applications Disinformation Analysis : Graph-based detection of fake news and state-sponsored manipulation Scalable Systems : Distributed databases and network infrastructure Achievements & Recognition Best Paper Award (2019) for work on state-sponsored disinformation Distinguished Paper (2018) for fringe web community analysis Spotlight Session recognition (2020) for child protection research Featured in NYT, Washington Post, and Wired for YouTube content analysis Leadership Co-directs the Network Systems Research Lab, serves on the Board of CYENS Centre of Excellence, and coordinates the Fact-check Cyprus Centre against Disinformation.
Dr. Ahmad Alsharif is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Alabama's College of Engineering. His research expertise spans applied cryptography, IoT security, cyber-physical systems security, and blockchain applications. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Benha University, Egypt, and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Tennessee Tech University. Research focuses on security challenges in critical infrastructure systems including smart grids, IoT networks, and UAV systems. Current projects investigate privacy-preserving machine learning techniques, adversarial attack resilience, secure data marketplaces, and attack detection mechanisms for distributed energy systems. His work combines cryptographic protocols with machine learning for trustworthy systems. Awards include the NSF Research Initiation Initiative Grant (NSF CRII) and Young Innovator Award from Egyptian Industrial Modernization Center.
Dilip Sarkar serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami. His academic profile demonstrates a strong research focus across multiple domains of computer science with particular emphasis on theoretical foundations and practical applications. Dr. Sarkar's research interests include: Artificial Intelligence and Cybernetics Parallel Algorithms and Programming Combinatorics Image Processing and Compression Internet of Things Security Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare Quantum Computing Approaches His publication record from 2018-2024 reveals a researcher engaged with cutting-edge computational challenges. Recent work spans quantum tensor networks for time series analysis, security frameworks for single sign-on systems, efficient computation in belief theoretic models, and machine learning applications for traumatic brain injury recovery prediction. His research demonstrates consistent integration of theoretical computer science with practical problem-solving across diverse application domains. As a member of CCS (Center for Computational Science) at the University of Miami, Dr. Sarkar participates in interdisciplinary research initiatives that bridge computational methods with scientific discovery across multiple fields. His technical expertise spans both theoretical frameworks and practical implementations, with notable contributions to image compression techniques, particularly for medical applications, and security protocols for modern web and IoT environments.
Prof. Dr. Daniel Slamanig is a Full Professor of Cryptology at the Universität der Bundeswehr München (UniBw M) in its Department of Computer Science and Research Institute Cyber Defense (CODE). He heads the Quantum Safe & Advanced Cryptography (QuSAC) Lab and focuses on the development of provably secure cryptographic primitives with applications to real-world security challenges. Prof. Slamanig obtained his PhD in computer science from the University of Klagenfurt in 2011 (with distinction). Prior to his current position, he worked as a Scientist and then Senior Scientist at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, and as a Senior Researcher and PostDoc at Graz University of Technology's IAIK. Prof. Slamanig's research spans the foundations and applications of cryptography, with special focus on provably secure public-key cryptographic primitives (including digital signatures) with strong security guarantees against quantum attacks, and privacy-friendly cryptographic mechanisms such as zero-knowledge proofs. His work consistently emphasizes the connection between theoretical foundations and practical implementations, ensuring cryptographic solutions are both secure and applicable to real-world scenarios. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on post-quantum cryptography (particularly isogeny-based approaches), privacy-preserving technologies, anonymous credentials, and structure-preserving cryptographic protocols. A notable contribution is his work on the Picnic family of post-quantum digital signature schemes, which reached the final round of NIST's post-quantum cryptography standardization project. Prof. Slamanig has received several prestigious awards for his contributions to cryptography: "netidee SCIENCE" award of the Internet Foundation (2018) Best Paper Award at CANS 2021 Top Reviewer Award at the 30th ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS 2023) Prof. Slamanig actively mentors the next generation of cryptographers, currently supervising PhD students Thomas den Hollander, Sebastian Spindler, and several others. His research is supported by numerous grants from EU Horizon programs, including PiQASO, SUNRISE, and EDOCC, as well as national funding agencies like FFG. He serves on program committees for top cryptography conferences including CRYPTO, EUROCRYPT, and ACM CCS, and reviews for leading journals such as the Journal of Cryptology. At Universität der Bundeswehr München, Prof. Slamanig leads the Quantum Safe & Advanced Cryptography (QuSAC) Lab within the Research Institute Cyber Defense (CODE), where his team works on cutting-edge research in post-quantum cryptography, privacy-enhancing technologies, and practical implementations of cryptographic protocols for real-world security challenges.
Dr. Yi Wang is an Associate Professor and Department Chairperson of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Programs at Manhattan College, New York. He also serves as Director of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Graduate Program. His research focuses on machine learning, deep learning, cybersecurity, blockchain, and their applications in cyber-physical systems. Dr. Wang is an IEEE Senior Member (since 2021) and has secured NSF grants totaling over $149,000. Education: Ph.D. Computer Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville M.S. Computer Science, Wuhan University of Science and Technology B.S. Information Systems, Wuhan University of Science and Technology Research Interests: Machine learning and deep learning algorithms Cybersecurity for IoT and smart grids Blockchain applications in attribute-based access control Adversarial machine learning defense mechanisms Optical fiber communication systems Recent Publications Trends: His work spans blockchain platform comparisons, adversarial attack mitigation in power systems, and AI-driven smart home solutions. He frequently publishes in IEEE journals and conferences. Awards: Best Paper Award at 2017 IEEE UEMCON Best Paper Award at 2015 ICDIP Grants and Advising: Principal Investigator for NSF-funded UIRiSCS project (2022–2025). Co-Principal on NYC DOT Loading Zone Study. Recipient of Manhattan College Faculty Summer Grants (2021, 2017). Advises graduate students in cybersecurity and IoT research. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the University of Zaragoza, Spain on smart systems research. Leads projects on plastic optical fiber networks and AI-driven smart home systems.
