Interview Romino Steiner – CYD Master Thesis Fellow

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

As a cybersecurity student at ETH Zurich, I was regularly reminded through newsletters and events that the CYD Fellowships were open to us, alongside the many exciting projects the CYD Campus offers. I ended up doing my semester project at the CYD Campus, and that is where I learned more specifically about the Master Thesis Fellowship, which made applying an easy decision.

• What was your CYD Fellowship project about?

We explore to what extent language-model-powered agents can autonomously modify existing malware artefacts to evade endpoint detection and response systems (EDRs). The aim is to quantify how much AI automation lowers the cost and effort of evasion, and to use the agent's mutation trajectories to find detection blind spots and strengthen endpoint protection.

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

A big advantage is being surrounded by like-minded students and interns who are all working on cyber defence projects. Beyond the great workspace, the CYD office is a fantastic place to bounce around new ideas and get quick feedback.

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

Not at all. My interest in cyber defence started during my electrical engineering bachelor's, where a few computer science courses introduced me to the field, and the security side always stood out to me as the most interesting part. What drew me in was realising how much of our daily lives now depends on systems staying secure, and how much difference even a single vulnerability or defence can make.

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

AI is moving incredibly fast, and, in this rush, security is often an afterthought, even though these systems are increasingly being trusted with critical tasks. I want to work at exactly this intersection: understanding how AI reshapes both sides of cyber defence, from new attacker capabilities to stronger defences, and making sure the defensive side keeps pace.

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

Ask for help early and often. There are so many people who know more than you do, and learning from them only accelerates your own understanding. I have also learned not to get discouraged when things do not work as expected, because some of the most valuable insights come from what looks like a failure at first.

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

What means the most to me is being able to balance my studies at ETH Zurich, my personal life, my marriage, and work all at once. Getting to give each of these the time it deserves while still contributing to meaningful research, and being given the CYD Fellowship along the way, is something I am very grateful for.

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

Spending time with family and friends, working out, cooking and eating.

• What were your expectations about the CYD Fellowships?

I already knew the CYD Campus from my semester project, so I had a clear sense of how much I could benefit from the work environment and the security experts at the CYD Campus. That is exactly why I wanted to do my master's thesis there as well. Getting the fellowship on top of that was a great bonus, giving me more financial headroom to focus on the project.

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

Start by thinking about what genuinely interests you and what you want to get out of a project, because the projects you care about most are the ones where you will bring the most to the table. Then reach out to the supervisors of projects that match your interests, and be proactive in bringing your own ideas on how you would approach them. This spirit of initiative goes a long way and shows you are truly invested.