Christof Paar is a Professor of Embedded Security at Ruhr University Bochum's Faculty of Computer Science. His work focuses on hardware security, cryptography, and embedded systems security. He leads the Embedded Security Group within the CASE Cluster of Excellence (Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Attacks), addressing cutting-edge challenges in hardware Trojans, side-channel attacks, and cryptographic engineering. His research spans FPGA and IoT security, with contributions to physical-layer security, wireless jamming defenses, and tamper-resistant systems. Research Interests: Paar's expertise lies in hardware-software co-design for security, with a focus on embedded systems. His work includes analyzing vulnerabilities in FPGAs, developing countermeasures against side-channel attacks, and exploring physical-layer security mechanisms. He also investigates the human factors in hardware reverse engineering and the implications of adversarial machine learning on security systems. Notable Work: Recent publications highlight breakthroughs in detecting hardware Trojans across CMOS generations, breaking industry-standard IP protection mechanisms (IEEE 1735), and proposing novel defenses like IRShield against adversarial wireless sensing. His group actively contributes to standards for secure embedded systems and IoT devices, emphasizing practical implementations.
Dr. Steven H. H. Ding is an Assistant Professor at McGill University's School of Information Studies, specializing in cybersecurity, machine learning, and data mining. His research focuses on AI-driven solutions for malware detection, software vulnerability analysis, and reverse engineering. He holds a PhD from McGill University and has been supported by BlackBerry Cylance and DRDC. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in military systems and avionics cybersecurity. Dr. Ding earned his PhD in 2019 with notable awards including the FRQNT Doctoral Research Scholarship and McGill's Dean’s Graduate Award. His educational background includes degrees from McGill, Concordia University, and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. His research interests span cybersecurity domains such as zero-day malware identification, code obfuscation countermeasures, authorship verification for digital forensics, and AI applications in avionics anomaly detection. He actively contributes to open-source tools like the Kam1n0 MapReduce-based assembly clone search system. Recent work emphasizes adversarial machine learning for evasive malware generation, transformer-based anomaly detection in avionics, and automated SBOM generation for firmware analysis. His publications reflect a focus on real-world cybersecurity challenges in both civilian and defense sectors. Dr. Ding leads the L1NNA Lab and collaborates with industry partners on cutting-edge projects. His contributions include novel techniques for phishing detection leveraging large language models and innovative approaches to reverse engineering software composition in JavaScript applications.
Professor Jun Zhang is a leading academic in cybersecurity at Swinburne University, Australia, where he directs the Cybersecurity Lab. He has been honored as Australia's top cybersecurity researcher and instrumental in establishing Swinburne as a globally recognized cybersecurity research institution. His work includes high-impact papers and multi-million-dollar R&D projects, culminating in awards like the 2021 'Top Cybersecurity Research Institution' accolade. As course director of the Bachelor of Cyber Security, he pioneered an industry-driven teaching model with Deloitte and CSIRO, significantly boosting course enrollment. His collaborations extend to Adobe's Curriculum Innovation Program and the Australian P-TECH initiative, promoting STEM education and cybersecurity awareness. He supervises doctoral candidates and leads grants focused on AI-driven cybersecurity, smart home security, and blockchain-based edge computing. His research spans vulnerability detection, GAN forensics, IoT security, and privacy preservation in OSNs. Research interests include cybersecurity fundamentals, data science applications, and distributed systems. Notable achievements include the PTFix framework for Java vulnerabilities, the IoTFuzz smart home testing system, and CTI mining methodologies. Awards reflect his mid-career research excellence and industry partnerships. His grants with CSIRO and defense organizations emphasize real-world impact, addressing challenges from malware detection to adversarial machine learning. The Cybersecurity Lab and collaborative projects like Artchain demonstrate his commitment to bridging academia and industry. Professional activities include supervising over 20 HDR students and securing grants totaling millions. His work on blockchain-based edge storage (CSEdge) and SDCCP congestion control highlights innovation in networking. Future directions include advancing AI for design collaboration with CSIRO and enhancing privacy in smart energy technologies. His contributions span technical, educational, and community outreach domains, positioning him as a pivotal figure in cybersecurity's evolution.
Luca Demetrio is an Assistant Professor at the University of Genoa, Italy, specializing in adversarial machine learning and cybersecurity. Previously, he was a Post-doctoral Researcher at the PRA Lab within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Cagliari. He holds bachelor's (2015), master's (2017), and Ph.D. (2021) degrees from the University of Genova, with his doctoral thesis focusing on formalizing evasion attacks against security detectors. His research emphasizes enhancing the robustness of machine learning models against adversarial attacks, particularly targeting malware detectors, SQL injection defenses, and Windows security systems. He leads the development of SecML Malware, a Python library for generating adversarial Windows malware, and contributes to the SecML framework. His work has been published in top-tier journals like ACM TOPS and IEEE TIFS. Key research interests include adversarial example generation, malware analysis, and cybersecurity defense mechanisms. He has explored query-efficient attacks on phishing detectors, certified adversarial robustness via randomized smoothing, and robust synthetic data-driven threat detection. His recent studies (2023–2025) address challenges in hardening machine learning models against evasion attacks, adversarial SQL injection countermeasures, and securing autonomous driving systems from adversarial reinforcement learning attacks.
Russell Tessier is a Professor and Department Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, affiliated with the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences. His research focuses on reconfigurable computing, FPGA architectures, and hardware security, with notable contributions in CAD algorithms for FPGAs, embedded systems, and multi-tenant FPGA vulnerability analysis. Education: B.S.C.S.E., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1989) M.S. and Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1992 and 1999) Research Interests: Dr. Tessier's work spans FPGA security (e.g., side-channel attacks, power distribution vulnerabilities), reconfigurable cloud computing, and hardware acceleration for applications like SAR imaging and machine learning. His lab, the Reconfigurable Computing Group, develops open-source FPGA cores (e.g., FlexGrip GPGPU, DE4 NetFPGA) and explores cutting-edge security countermeasures. Awards and Honors: Chancellor's Leadership Fellow (2015-2016) NSF Information Technology Research Grant Lilly Teaching Fellow (2002-2003) Multiple College of Engineering Excellence Awards Grants and Projects: Active funding includes NSF SaTC grants on reconfigurable cloud security and NASA support for snowpack measurement systems. His research also addresses FPGA-based solutions for cybersecurity, such as intrusion detection and power-side channel mitigation. Labs and Teams: Leads the UMass Reconfigurable Computing Group, which collaborates on open-source FPGA tools, security frameworks, and embedded system designs. The group maintains platforms like the DE4 NetFPGA and FlexGrip architecture.
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesGermany
Jelena Mirkovic serves as Principal Scientist at USC Information Sciences Institute (USC/ISI) and Research Associate Professor at the University of Southern California's Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science. She has held faculty positions at USC since 2010, progressing from Research Assistant Professor to her current role as Research Associate Professor since 2017, while also serving as Project Leader at USC/ISI. Her educational background includes: PhD in Computer Science from UCLA (2003) MS in Computer Science from UCLA (2000) B.Sc. in Computer Science from University of Belgrade, Serbia (1998) Mirkovic's research spans network security, human-centered attacks, and cybersecurity experimentation infrastructure. Her work focuses on critical security challenges including botnets, denial-of-service attacks, IP spoofing, vulnerability scanning, and user-centric privacy. She has pioneered methodologies for security experiments and led major infrastructure projects including the DETER testbed and SPHERE (Security and Privacy Heterogeneous Environment for Reproducible Experimentation). Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent innovation across multiple security domains. Her work demonstrates strong technical depth in DDoS defense systems (particularly DNS protection), binary vulnerability analysis, privacy-preserving systems, and security experimentation infrastructure. A notable trend is her focus on bridging theoretical security concepts with practical implementation through large-scale testbeds and real-world data analysis. Her significant scientific achievements include: IEEE Senior Member distinction Best paper award at IEEE COMSNETS 2023 for DNS DDoS defense research Mirkovic has secured substantial research funding as Principal Investigator or Co-PI on numerous grants from NSF, DHS, and other agencies. Current major projects include SPHERE (Security and Privacy Heterogeneous Environment for Reproducible Experimentation), DISCERN (Datasets to Illuminate Suspicious Computations), and modernizing DeterLab education infrastructure. She has successfully led multiple REU sites focused on cybersecurity education and workforce development. She directs the STEEL (Security Research Lab) at USC/ISI, which develops innovative security solutions through interdisciplinary research in network security, human factors in security, and cybersecurity experimentation infrastructure. The lab emphasizes practical implementations that address real-world security challenges while advancing theoretical understanding of security systems.
State University of New York at New PaltzUnited States
Wafi Danesh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Programs at SUNY New Paltz, part of the School of Science & Engineering. He holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Missouri Kansas City (2022). Prior to academia, he served as a Senior Engineer I - Design at Microchip Technology Inc. (2022-2023). His research focuses on hardware security, leveraging machine learning for FPGA Trojan detection and secure 3D IC design. Teaching interests include System-on-Chip Design, Digital Logic Fundamentals, and Computer Architecture. Education: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Missouri Kansas City, 2022 Research Interests: Dr. Danesh explores cutting-edge methods to enhance hardware security, including AI-driven approaches for IoT device protection and thermal management in 3D integrated circuits. His work bridges machine learning and physical hardware vulnerabilities, emphasizing FPGA security and PUF-based solutions for wireless systems. Publications Trends: His articles span FPGA Trojan detection via NLP and unsupervised learning, thermal challenges in 3D ICs, and neuromorphic computing innovations. Recent work highlights automated security tools and multi-valued computing for energy efficiency. Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided materials. Advising & Grants: No formal advisees or grants are mentioned. His professional activities center on research and teaching.
Fatemeh Ganji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), with an affiliation to the Cybersecurity program. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin (2017), where she received the BIMoS Ph.D. Award and was nominated for the ACM Dissertation Award. Prior to WPI, she served as a Post Doctoral Associate at the University of Florida (2018–2020) and at Telecom Innovation Laboratories/Technical University of Berlin (2017–2020). Her research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches in hardware security, combining machine learning and cryptography to design and evaluate security-critical hardware systems. Key areas include physically unclonable functions (PUFs), side-channel analysis, and countermeasures against tampering and counterfeiting. Her work is funded by the European Union (Horizon 2020, FP7), German BMBF, NSF, and NIST. Ganji actively contributes to the academic community as a reviewer for IEEE and ACM journals and serves on technical program committees for CHES, FPL, DATE, and SPACE conferences. Her recent projects include developing AI-driven forensic analysis for PCB tamper detection, secure multiparty computation frameworks for chiplet systems, and open-source tools for implementation security testing. Her awards include the BIMoS Ph.D. Award 2018 and recognition from the Technical University of Berlin for her doctoral work on PUF learnability. She has also pioneered methods to detect recycled integrated circuits and enhance hardware trust through reverse engineering and machine learning.
Dr. Ahmad Azab is a Lecturer at the University of Sydney’s School of Computer Science, specializing in Networking, Cybersecurity, and Machine Learning. He holds a PhD and industrial certifications including CISSP, CCSP, and CCNA. His teaching spans networking, cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and machine learning applications. Research interests focus on network traffic classification, IoT integration in cognitive radio networks, malware analysis, and cybersecurity countermeasures. His work bridges academic research with industrial applications, emphasizing practical solutions for emerging threats. Publications highlight innovations in botnet detection, malware classification, and cybersecurity frameworks. Supervision of bachelor and master’s projects underscores his commitment to mentoring future technologists. Professional affiliations include IEEE and ISC².
Domenic Forte is Professor and Steven A. Yatauro Faculty Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. He directs research on hardware security and trust at the Florida Institute for Cybersecurity (FICS) Research Scan Lab. Forte's innovations include anti-counterfeiting technologies for integrated circuits, protection against side-channel attacks, and hardware Trojan detection. Recent projects develop low-cost methods to detect recycled counterfeit chips using LDO-based odometers and defenses against optical probing attacks. His work integrates AI/ML approaches for hardware assurance challenges including SEM image analysis and X-ray tomography reconstruction.
Sam Pagliarini is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he leads research in hardware security and trustworthy integrated circuit design. Prior to joining CMU in 2024, he directed the Centre for Hardware Security at Tallinn University of Technology (2019–2023). He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Télécom Paris (France, 2013), an M.S. in Microelectronics from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil, 2011), and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the same institution (2008). His research focuses on securing hardware design pipelines, including EDA tools for secure chips, countermeasures against hardware trojans, and obfuscation techniques to protect intellectual property. He has pioneered work on reconfigurable-based obfuscation (ReBO), layout-effect-based security mechanisms, and post-quantum cryptographic accelerators. Recent efforts include collaborations on post-quantum cryptography vulnerabilities and silicon demonstrations of hardware trojan insertion methods. Prof. Pagliarini's work spans academia and industry, with contributions to both theoretical frameworks (e.g., SCARF framework for chip security) and applied solutions like the G-GPU ASIC accelerator generator. His research has addressed emerging threats in the IC supply chain and explored trade-offs between security, performance, and design complexity in post-silicon manufacturing.
Sazzadur Rahaman serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Arizona, maintaining his office in GS 734. His scholarly focus spans system and software security, program analysis, applied cryptography, and internet measurement, positioning him at the forefront of cybersecurity research. His research program investigates critical vulnerabilities in modern software ecosystems, with particular emphasis on protestware dynamics, unsanctioned technology adoption in educational settings, and adversarial attacks against machine learning systems. Methodologically, he integrates program analysis with cryptographic techniques to develop practical security solutions, evidenced by frameworks like BLADE for code debloating and SpanL for API misuse detection. His work consistently bridges theoretical security principles with real-world deployment challenges. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) software supply chain security (protestware characteristics, container debloating), (2) education technology risks (unsanctioned tool usage, LLM-assisted cheating countermeasures), and (3) foundational security mechanisms (binary code analysis, cryptographic API validation). These publications demonstrate increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between cybersecurity and educational technology domains. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. While student advising activities and research grants aren't specified in the source text, his publication record suggests active mentorship through co-authored works and potential grant-funded projects in software security tool development. The available documentation does not reference specific research laboratories or collaborative teams associated with his current position.
Herbert Bos is a Full Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, holding positions in the Faculty of Science (Computer Systems department), the Network Institute, and the Systems and Network Security group. His research focuses on hardware and software security, including transient execution attacks, memory exploitation, and vulnerability detection. He has authored over 229 research outputs, including influential papers on Spectre mitigation, Rowhammer attacks, and fuzzing techniques. Notable contributions include frameworks like PANDAcap and BinRec. Bos teaches courses such as Binary and Malware Analysis and Operating Systems. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to innovation and infrastructure security. Education details are not explicitly provided, but his academic titles (prof. dr. ir.) suggest advanced degrees in computer science and engineering. Ancillary activities include roles as an author for Pearson textbooks and a member of the Kiesraad in The Hague. Research interests emphasize cutting-edge hardware vulnerabilities (e.g., Spectre, Rowhammer), memory safety, and automated testing (fuzzing). Recent work highlights practical defenses against transient data leaks (Phantom Trails) and data-only attacks. Collaborations span international institutions, reflecting his global influence in cybersecurity. Publications since 2016 showcase advancements in CPU architecture security, kernel exploitation, and embedded device defenses. His datasets (e.g., PANDAcap SSH Honeypot) provide foundational resources for the security community. Grants and lab affiliations are inferred through his research outputs and teaching roles.
Francesco Regazzoni is a Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Informatics, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), and affiliated with the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA USI-SUPSI). His work bridges embedded systems, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on securing hardware and cyber-physical systems. Research Interests: His expertise spans embedded and cyber-physical systems security, side-channel attacks, post-quantum cryptography, hardware trojans, random number generators, and the security of AI and approximate computing. He also contributes to hardware/software co-design and operating systems security. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on hardware and system-level security , particularly in resource-constrained environments like IoT and embedded devices. His work integrates machine learning for attack detection and applies formal methods to ensure trust in hardware. A growing emphasis is placed on securing AI systems from physical and adversarial threats. Scientific Contributions: Over 100 peer-reviewed publications One book and one patent Extensive international collaboration (Belgium, Netherlands, USA, Switzerland, Singapore) Advising and Grants: While specific advisees and grants are not listed, his leadership in funded research projects and involvement with ALaRI and IDSIA suggest active mentorship and project coordination. His work has been supported by industry (e.g., ST Microelectronics, HP), the Swiss National Foundation, and the European Union. Labs and Teams: He is part of the Graph Machine Learning Group (GMLG) at IDSIA, which evolved from the Advanced Learning and Research Institute (ALaRI). This group focuses on graph machine learning, reinforcement learning, and dynamical systems, particularly in non-stationary environments.
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.
