Empirical Study of Adversarial Reverse Engineering: Tool-Agnostic Observation and Student-Based Experimentation
- Promovendus/a
- Zhang, Tianyi
- Faculteit
- Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen en Architectuur
- Vakgroep
- Vakgroep Elektronica en Informatiesystemen
- Curriculum
- Master of Science in Security Informatics, Johns Hopkins University (VS), 2020
- Academische graad
- Doctor in de ingenieurswetenschappen: computerwetenschappen
- Taal proefschrift
- Engels
- Promotor(en)
- prof. Bjorn De Sutter, vakgroep Elektronica en Informatiesystemen - prof. Bart Coppens, vakgroep Elektronica en Informatiesystemen
- Examencommissie
- voorzitter prof. Filip De Turck (academisch secretaris) - prof. Christian Collberg, University of Arizona (VS) - prof. Peter Dawyndt, vakgroep Wiskunde, Informatica en Statistiek - prof. Bruno Volckaert, vakgroep Informatietechnologie - prof. Stijn Volckaert, KU Leuven - promotor prof. Bjorn De Sutter, vakgroep Elektronica en Informatiesystemen - promotor prof. Bart Coppens, vakgroep Elektronica en Informatiesystemen
Korte beschrijving
Tab (Tianyi) Zhang is a PhD candidate in Computer Science at Ghent University, where he has conducted his doctoral research since 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Bjorn De Sutter. His research focuses on software security, empirical software engineering, cybersecurity education, reverse engineering, and human factors in security. Before starting his PhD, he obtained an M.S. in Computer & Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University in 2020 and a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota in 2019. During his doctoral studies, he served as a Teaching Assistant for the Software Hacking and Protection course at Ghent University from 2021 to 2024. His responsibilities included supporting students in reverse engineering and software protection experiments, and conducting ethical student-based experiments in empirical software engineering. Since June 2025, he has worked as a Cybersecurity Application Specialist at Volvo Cars in Gothenburg, Sweden. His work includes assessing and prioritizing cybersecurity vulnerabilities across global manufacturing applications, supporting secure software development, delivering cybersecurity training, and evaluating the responsible use of AI-powered security tools. His selected publication includes two journal articles and one workshop paper. His work has appeared in Empirical Software Engineering, the Journal of Systems and Software, the Journal of Transportation Engineering, and the MATE research workshop.
Praktisch
- Datum
- Donderdag 12 november 2026, 10:30
- Locatie
- auditorium 1, iGent (eerste verdieping), Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde
- Livestream
- Volg online
Meer info
- Contact
- doctoraat.ea@ugent.be