A passion for science and software engineering
I am always fascinated by science and how it has reshaped our lives, making us feel more comfortable, connected, empowered, and safe. Computer Science is my core field. I have been studying it since my undergraduate studies, and I still consider myself a student of it, given how rapidly the field advances.
The idea of writing a piece of code that will perform a certain task has always ignited curiosity in me, and the fact that it must function as intended is the reason the motivation never dies. Anyone who has ever done any programming will certainly share my feelings, because if your program does not function properly, you will certainly dream about it at night until you fully work out the solution. So, to cut a long story short, I consider myself a software engineer at heart who takes pride in writing, debugging, and testing code to ensure it functions properly. I worked as a software engineer for quite a few years and then decided to do a PhD in cybersecurity. It was quite a shift, because now, instead of building systems, I needed to study existing ones to understand the security challenges they face, focusing on why they fall short, and then propose and develop solutions to make them secure, reliable, efficient, and lightweight. The problem domain had become broader, and I needed to look at the bigger picture.
From cybersecurity research to connected systems
In my PhD, I investigated the security challenges of cloud and edge-based Internet of Things (IoT) and developed a framework that not only secures the data but also does behavioural monitoring of the connected devices to ensure they have not been compromised and are functioning as expected, hence are trustworthy. My PhD research was the first project in which I integrated the concepts of data security and trust to design lightweight and scalable security solutions for edge/fog-based IoT and sensor systems. And it has never stopped since!
Right after finishing my PhD, I started working as a postdoctoral research associate in the AESE group headed by Prof Julie McCann at Imperial College London. I would not hesitate to say that this was the time I got to know how vast the fields of wireless sensor networks (WSN) and IoT systems are, and how they can be powered by different types of connectivity such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and LoRa. The interesting thing about WSN and IoT systems is that they are small computers onboard devices and cannot have all the features of a typical tablet, laptop, or desktop. However, they are extremely useful and part and parcel of current and future connected systems like smart cities, smart factories, smart hospitals, and smart homes. Another interesting thing about these systems is that they are hard to secure but easy to hack!
Securing the future of connectivity
These computers, despite their small size, collect and process massive amounts of sensitive and confidential data and can often be part of critical national infrastructure, making cybersecurity a key enabling technology for the reliable, real-world deployment of connected systems.
To secure these systems, I have been working on designing lightweight physical layer security (PLS) key generation solutions by exploiting wireless channel properties such as RSSI, CSI, and phase information. The PLS approach enables frequent key updates that prevent attackers from breaking in, while guaranteeing data confidentiality, integrity, and authentication.
What makes this particularly exciting is that the PLS secret key generation solutions that I have proposed have already been tested and implemented across several real-world use cases, including building monitoring and logistics powered by LoRa, Bluetooth, and LTE. I have now extended PLS to non-terrestrial networks (NTN), pushing the boundaries even further. My PLS research has been funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK, and the Cheddar Federated Telecom Hub.
Leading the 6G-FINESSE project
I am leading the 6G-FINESSE project, a landmark initiative funded by EPSRC and DSIT under the Federated Telecoms Hub 6G Research Partnership Programme, valued at nearly £550,000 and partnering with Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Surrey, and Satellite Applications Catapult. The mission is to bring the power of 6G to rural and underserved communities, while ensuring that the networks reaching into the sky are fortified against those who would exploit them. The challenge is extraordinary. 6G-FINESSE proposes to utilise Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, UAV drones, High Altitude Platforms, and CubeSats, forming a sprawling Space-Air-Ground network with countless points of vulnerability. Eavesdroppers, rogue nodes, and weak authentication are real threats across these layers. We are developing PLS secret keys using channel randomness and RF signatures for device authentication. PLS acts as a powerful defence against attackers, enabling lightweight encryption and authentication without burdening resource-constrained devices.
Advice for women in connectivity
Lastly, I would say that leading a large-scale, collaborative research project as an early-career researcher for the first time was quite a challenge at the beginning, but my endurance, persistence, and drive to deliver kept me going. I would also like to highlight that no single person can do it alone, and it is always the teamwork that makes the difference. I am immensely thankful to my team, especially my Co-Is and research assistants, who ensured we delivered what we promised. I am also grateful to my line managers and mentors who always believed in me and encouraged me to do better. So, to all the girls and women in computer science, cybersecurity, and communications research, have confidence in yourselves. If I can do it, you can do it too.
