[07/08/2024] Alec Diallo, a postdoctoral Research Associate in the Mobile Intelligence Lab (ICSA) won the SICSA PhD Award for Best Dissertation in Scotland 2024 and Professor Ajitha Rajan won the SICSA Best Supervisor Award 2024. This is the first time Informatics winners triumphed in both categories. Outstanding PhD thesis Alec Diallo was nominated by his PhD supervisor Professor Paul Patras. He received this coveted award based on his thesis's outstanding technical quality, presentation, and impact. Alec's thesis entitled 'Active Intelligence for Secure Systems' addresses the growing complexity of cybersecurity in the context of rapidly evolving digital technologies. It explores issues around the use of Artificial Intelligence Systems for Cyber-Security applications and introduces a range of strategies for improving their performance, robustness, adaptability, and reliability. Through four key principles, his thesis addresses the main challenges faced by modern and next-generation AI-driven solutions for critical infrastructures such as transportation, networking, and communication. Alec's thesis primarily addresses the issue of performance by proposing a divide-and-conquer strategy, breaking down complex problems into smaller, simpler tasks. To enhance robustness, it advocates for consistency in neural network inputs, ensuring that they maintain their integrity under varying conditions. For adaptability, two new statistical methods are proposed for leveraging the structural homogeneity of datasets to refine learning processes, allowing AI systems to efficiently adapt to new scenarios. Lastly, the thesis studies cause-and-effect relationships between AI inputs and outputs to tackle the need for greater transparency in decision-making systems. The interplay between the key principles put forward in Alec's thesis offers a unified, coherent vision for the future of cybersecurity, marking a significant step towards the development of secure and transparent AI systems. I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive the SICSA 2024 Best Dissertation Award. I am grateful to all those who continued to motivate and support me, which made this achievement possible. I am now, more than ever, inspired to continue striving for excellence through impactful and innovative research. Alec Diallo Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Mobile Intelligence Lab Alec is an exceptional young researcher who has made important scientific contributions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, networked systems, and cyber-security. His stellar publication record is testimony of the high-calibre of his research, and I am delighted that he received the SICSA Best Dissertation Award 2024. His outstanding PhD work lays solid foundations for his future academic career and I am confident he has the highest potential to become a leader in his field. Prof Paul Patras Alec’s PhD thesis supervisor First-class supervisor Professor Ajitha Rajan won the SICSA Best Supervisor Award 2024 for her exceptional guidance and commitment to her students' academic and personal growth. Nominated by her students, she was praised for her unwavering support, from setting clear research directions to assisting with major transitions and challenges. Her students highlighted her role in fostering strong research collaborations and professional opportunities, such as facilitating presentations at top-tier conferences and involvement in summer schools. Ajitha's dedication extends beyond academic supervision; she ensures her students maintain a healthy work-life balance and are prepared for diverse career paths. Her holistic approach to mentorship includes regular, personalized meetings, proactive problem-solving, and substantial contributions to their research publications and thesis preparations. Her comprehensive, compassionate, and highly effective mentorship style not only leads her students to achieve academic excellence but also prepares them to mentor others in the future, continuing a legacy of outstanding academic leadership. She has gone above and beyond to help me throughout my PhD, both academically and personally. I am extremely happy with her supervision. She is the whole reason behind my PhD - I did my undergraduate dissertation with her, and she took me on directly as a PhD student to continue our work. Throughout the course of my PhD studies, I honestly could not ask for a better supervisor. I have been her PhD student for over two years, and in that time, I have experienced firsthand her dedication to the success and development of her students. From day one, Ajitha helped me set a clear direction towards my PhD. And, when I faced research drawbacks, she was always available, suggesting alternatives and adjustments and giving me clear advice towards an effective direction, always in a supportive manner and with respect to my own efforts and opinions, essentially teaching me how to lead my research. She also actively supported me on my paper writing process, helping me improve significantly. When I began my PhD, I came from a biology background and lacked knowledge in Computer Science and Informatics. Despite this, Ajitha provided unwavering support throughout my first year. She created and suggested comprehensive reading lists, conducted regular check-ins, and ensured that I never felt lost while studying new material. Her encouragement and guidance were instrumental in helping me bridge the gap in my knowledge. Having lived in about five countries and worked with many supervisors, I can confidently say that Ajitha stands out as the best supervisor I have ever had. Her genuine investment in her students' success and her exceptional mentorship make her an outstanding academic leader. Ajitha's students The students’ decision to nominate me and their heartfelt words of appreciation makes this the most cherished recognition in my career. I would like to say a massive thank you to each of my students, who have been thoughtful, kind and patient with my supervision. Thank you so much for putting your faith in me and trusting me. The nominations remind me that supervision from the eyes of students is not just about academic progress but equally about the consideration and support we provide for student’s mental and physical well being. Prof Ajitha Rajan Promoting excellence in informatics and computer science in Scotland The awards were presented at the SICSA PhD Conference dinner, which took place at the University of Aberdeen on Tuesday, 9 July. SICSA PhD conferences have been held since 2009, each year by a different SICSA institution. SICSA is a consortium that promotes international excellence in University-led research, education and knowledge exchange for Scottish informatics and Computer Science. It connects students and academics with industry, policy makers, practitioners and research partners to deliver a range of activities to support Computing Science in Scotland. SICSA is funded entirely by member institutions comprising all 14 Scottish Higher Education Computer Science and Informatics Schools and Departments and three Scottish Innovation Centres. Related links https://sicsaconf.org/ https://www.sicsa.ac.uk/ Ajitha's thank you message This article was published on 2024-08-07
