- How did you find out about the CYD Fellowships and what motivated you to apply?
I am part of a student association called ETH Cyber Group, and some time ago the CYD Campus organized an office visit for the association’s members. During this event, they explained to us the mission and goals of the CYD Campus, and introduced the opportunity to apply for the CYD Fellowship.
Later, I carried out an internship at the CYD Campus, and I was extremely satisfied with the work environment that I found. In addition, I found the project offering to be extremely interesting and fitting what I was looking for. Having already had a very enjoyable experience at the CYD Campus and being drawn to the research topics offering, applying for the CYD Fellowship was a natural next step for me.
- What was your CYD Fellowship project about?
My CYD Master thesis Fellowship project is part of a larger research area called “Automating Cyber-Defence”. The goal is to develop, with the use of new AI-powered techniques, a fully automated player to deploy during cyber-defence exercises such as Locked Shields. More specifically, my project is concerned with the development of LLM-powered network-traffic-based security tools for network detection and response.
- What were the advantages of conducting your master thesis project at the CYD Campus?
The CYD Campus is an extremely stimulating environment: it is a place where talented students gather, and it is possible to learn a lot just by being around and talking to others. In addition, the Scientific Project Managers who supervise the student projects afford the right amount of independence and freedom to the students to stimulate and foster this kind of environment. Finally, the facilities are furnished with anything that can support the students, and the living allowance from the CYD Fellowship allows me to be fully focused on my project.
- Did you as a child dream of working in cyber-defence?
Not really. Like any good kid’s dream, my initial plan was to be both a professional basketball player and an astrophysicist (at the same time!). The first did not really pan out, while my passion for physics was slowly replaced by computer science instead. Then, during my Bachelor's degree, I found out about CTF (capture the flag) challenges, and that is when I fell in love with the field of cybersecurity.
- What is driving you to pursue research in cyber-defence?
I have two main motivations. The first is that this field is extremely interdisciplinary and complex, and as such I find it extraordinarily interesting to study. Secondly, I believe that advancements in cyber-defence can have a concrete impact on the privacy and safety of potentially millions of individuals. Knowing that my work could improve real people’s lives is a powerful driving force.
- What is the most important lesson you have learned in your scientific career so far?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that cybersecurity is ultimately a human challenge, not just a technical one.
We are naturally drawn to the "arms race" of advanced tools and complex implementations. Yet, the hard reality is that the vast majority of successful cyber-attacks don't defeat sophisticated technology: they exploit basic human error. Most breaches could be avoided with simple, foundational security hygiene.
This insight has reshaped how I approach cybersecurity: as a cultural dilemma rather than a purely technical puzzle. In most cases, investing in education and fostering a strong security culture within organizations yields far greater protection than any cutting-edge tool ever could.
- What are you most proud of in your career to date?
First of all, being able to obtain a joint Master’s degree from two prestigious universities such as ETH Zurich and EPFL makes me extremely proud, and being awarded the CYD Fellowship for my thesis project is the cherry on top. Another of my proudest achievements is to have published a peer-reviewed paper on my semester project work with the Applied Cryptography Group at ETH, and to have been able to present it myself at an international conference. The achievement that has given me the most satisfaction though is to have been part of the ETH Cyber Group board and to have successfully organized many security-themed events in which we brought together students, academics and industry professionals. I contributed to building a strong and passionate community with one main common interest, that has given me and other members amazing opportunities along the way, and that has created long-lasting connections that go beyond the professional sphere.
- Outside the lab, what do you enjoy doing most?
I enjoy travelling around the world, going to the cinema, watching and playing sports (especially basketball), listening to music, and playing some video games.
- What were your expectations about the CYD Fellowships?
Having already carried out an internship at the CYD Campus, I knew what to expect in terms of environment and support. The main difference is that the goals and deliverables for my internship were aimed at internal use within the CYD Campus, while my thesis is aimed at the broader research world. For this reason, I was expecting my work to be able to have a much greater impact on the cybersecurity world.
- Could you share some tips with future applicants who are considering applying for the CYD Fellowships?
First: apply for the CYD Fellowship, do not hesitate to put yourself into play! It is truly a worthwhile experience, the CYD Campus is a great place to carry out such important work for your career. My advice for your application is to select a topic that you enjoy and that is important for you, and then to clearly and convincingly explain the potential impact of your work for the CYD Campus and for the world of cybersecurity research in general.
