Tenured Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity in University College Dublin (UCD)
University College Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
46 profile visits
Tenured Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity, UCD | Expert in Network & Information Security | World's Top 2% Scientist | Head, DNS Research Labs | EU Reviewer
University College Dublin (UCD) is Ireland’s largest and most globally engaged university, renowned for excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Founded in 1854, UCD is a leading research-intensive institution, consistently ranked among the top universities worldwide. It offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across disciplines such as science, engineering, business, humanities, law, and health sciences.
Located in Dublin, UCD’s main campus in Belfield provides a vibrant academic environment with state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge research centers, and a dynamic student community. The university places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, industry partnerships, and societal impact, contributing significantly to advancements in fields like cybersecurity, AI, sustainability, and biomedical research.
With a strong international presence, UCD fosters global engagement through strategic partnerships, study abroad opportunities, and a diverse student body representing over 140 nationalities. Its alumni network includes influential leaders in academia, business, politics, and the arts.
As a research powerhouse, UCD is committed to addressing global challenges, driving innovation, and shaping the future through groundbreaking discoveries and thought leadership.
I am a tenured Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin (UCD), where I have been shaping the future of cybersecurity research and education since 2015. Recognized as a World's Top 2% Scientist, I have over 16 years of experience in academia and industry, bridging the gap between theoretical security models and real-world applications.
Previously, I worked in the area of data security and formal verification as a postdoctoral researcher with the Data Communication Security Laboratory, University of Limerick, Ireland and as a software engineer at IBM Analytics, Dublin, Ireland.
I hold a PhD in Security Engineering from University of Limerick, Ireland, funded by the Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). I received a BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics from West University of Timisoara, Romania.
Research & Expertise
🔹 Network & Information Security
🔹 Security for Internet of Things (IoT)
🔹 Attack Detection & Prevention
🔹 Design & Formal Verification of Security Protocols
🔹 Blockchain for Security & Privacy
🔹 Machine Learning for Security
🔹 Quantum Resistant Design of Security Protocols
Some of my key contributions
✅ Development of a novel logic-based technique for the formal verification of security protocols.
✅ Design and implementation of an automated tool for protocol analysis, now used internationally.
✅ Discovery of previously unknown protocol vulnerabilities, leading to the publication of new verifiably secure protocols.
✅ Creation of the first comprehensive SDN attack-specific dataset and machine learning-based intrusion detection techniques.
Industry & Collaborations
I have collaborated with leading institutions and industry partners on high-impact cybersecurity projects. As an expert reviewer for the European Commission, I have evaluated H2020 and cybersecurity funding proposals. Additionally, I have served on top-tier conference program committees and co-organized international workshops in my field.
✅ Expert Reviewer for the European Commission
✅EU Project Review Committee
✅ Editor & Associate Editor at top journals:
Elsevier - Journal of Information Security and Applications (Q1)
✅ Program Chair/Committee Member for top conferences (GLOBECOM, WCNC, etc.)
Publications & Impact
📖 Author of over 110 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious venues.
🏆 Recipient of multiple Best Paper Awards, including in the top Q1 journal Journal of Networks and Computer Applications Best Paper Award
🏆 Recognized as a World's Top 2% Scientist
Social media
Skills
Design of Security Protocols
Attack detection and prevention
Network security
Formal Verification of Security Protocols
Interests
Network & Information Security
Security for Internet of Things (IoT)
Attack Detection & Prevention
Machine Learning for Security
Quantum Resistant Design of Security Protocols
Quantum Resistant Infrastructure
Design & Formal Verification of Security Protocols