CYBER-DEFENCE FELLOWSHIPS: Patrick Louis Aldover

• How did you find out about the CYD Fellowships and what motivated you to apply?

My friends and I visited the Kontaktparty at ETH Zurich and we came across a booth representing the CYD Campus. The CYD representative informed us about the possibility of earning a fellowship while working on the Master's thesis.

Since I had already worked with the Cyber Defence Campus on my semester project titled "Detecting proxy servers based on their network traffic", and since I was interested in the other offered projects from the Cyber Defence Campus, I decided to apply for the CYD Master Thesis Fellowship.

• What was your CYD Fellowship project about?

My CYD Master Thesis Fellowship project is about designing a secure wide-area network using cloud service providers such as AWS and Microsoft Azure. The project was inspired by the previous joint work between ETH Zurich and the CYD Campus titled "On Building Secure Wide-Area Networks over Public Internet Service Providers".

• What were the advantages of conducting your master thesis project at the CYD Campus?

The greatest advantage of collaborating with the CYD Campus is having the opportunity to exchange knowledge and interact with highly talented students and CYD employees about our ongoing projects. The living allowance and the outstanding working facilities enabled me to fully focus on my thesis.

• Did you as a child dream of working in cyber-defence?

When I was younger, my first thought was to work in medicine. However, my passion for computer science, especially cyber security, rapidly grew throughout the years. Writing my own programs to solve complex and relevant problems, combined with the ambition for continuous learning, guided me to pursue a career in cybersecurity.

• What is driving you to pursue research in cyber-defence?

I aspire to come up with solutions for important and challenging problems to provide a safer and more secure digital environment. Knowing that our work could protect millions of users drives me to pursue a career in this field.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned in your scientific career so far?

Be ambitious, stay curious, and remain resilient. Don't just learn everything purely through memorization, but try to have a deep understanding of the concepts. Keep up with the latest news about relevant topics in your field, and don't hesitate to ask if something is unclear. Most importantly, choose a field that truly interests you. The path you take may include obstacles and setbacks, but I can guarantee that with perseverance you will achieve your desired goal.

• What are you most proud of in your career to date?

One of my biggest achievements includes being a part of the CYD Master Thesis Fellowship program, and the other is being on the Dean's list while pursuing my bachelor's degree at TU Graz for three consecutive years. Furthermore, being able to say that I’ll attain a joint Master's degree in Cyber Security from ETH Zurich and EPFL is definitely a highlight in my academic career. Throughout my academic journey, I have gained invaluable knowledge and skills, which shaped me into someone I am genuinely proud to be. I am excited to expand my expertise even further.

• Outside the lab, what do you enjoy doing most?

I cherish the moments I spend with my family and friends. I enjoy playing basketball, volleyball, billiards, and video games. I also love listening to music.

• What were your expectations about the CYD Fellowships?

I hoped that my CYD Fellowship project would make a meaningful contribution to research. But since I collaborated with the CYD Campus in the past for my semester project, I was already familiar with the diverse community of CYD members and the work facilities.

• Could you share some tips with future applicants who are considering applying for the CYD Fellowships?

Don't hesitate to apply for the CYD Fellowship! I can assure you that collaborating with the CYD Campus is a memorable experience. If you do decide to apply, my advice would be to select a topic that suits you and your interest as you’ll work on that project for six months.