What is your academic background? 

I completed a Masters in Mathematics at the University of Warwick. At Bristol I've spent more time learning cryptography and plan to study post-quantum cryptography for my PhD project. I also have a background in software engineering, so I've really enjoyed the practical sessions so far including working with industrial control system hardware. 

What made you apply to the CDT? 

I've always been interested in cyber security, and I was really impressed by the cyber security group at Bristol with the breadth and depth of research taking place and the facilities available. I saw the multi-disciplinary and cohort-based nature of the CDT as a unique opportunity to explore topics from different perspectives. Also, committing to a 3 year project is a big decision, and the first year of the CDT gives more time and resources to develop ideas for my research proposal. 

What's been the best thing so far about the CDT? 

I've enjoyed stepping back from maths, and learning about other disciplines including human factors, risk management and regulation. It gives a sense of perspective to where your research lies, and how it all fits together to make up cyber security as a whole. As well as taught sessions, I've attended industry talks, academic seminars and conferences, which have all helped broaden my knowledge. 

What excites you about cyber security?

Cyber attacks appear in the news on a regular basis ranging from nation-states conducting espionage to teenagers correctly guessing a password. As technology develops, more problems are introduced leading more frequent and devastating attacks, my favourite example being new threats from quantum computing. This makes cyber security extremely important in a digital society, and a very rewarding area to research. 

What are your future ambitions for your work? 

In the long term, I'm considering staying in academic research in cryptography, perhaps post-quantum. Alternatively I might take a research role in industry as I enjoy working with new ideas and projects in early stages. To this end, the CDT's industrial partners and conference opportunities will provide a great source of connections.