Mr. Yifan Zhang | Cybersecurity | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Yifan Zhang | Cybersecurity | Best Researcher Award

Postgraduate, College of Electronic Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, China

Zhang Yifan is a dynamic and accomplished Master’s student in Computer Science at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), China. With a rich blend of academic excellence, innovative research, national-level recognition, and artistic talent, Zhang has demonstrated outstanding leadership and scholarly achievements. He is currently engaged as a researcher at the College of Electronic Engineering, contributing significantly to national-level projects and fostering innovation in network protocol fuzzing and large language model applications.

Publication Profile

ORCID

Education Background 🎓

Zhang Yifan is pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science from NUDT. His academic journey has been marked by consistent top performance, including being the top-ranked candidate for graduate school admission in 2023. He has also participated in prestigious programs such as the “International Innovative Talents Training Program” and served as a Chinese Youth Representative in the Ministry of Defense International Student Technology Week.

Professional Experience 💼

Yifan has served in various impactful roles, including as a teacher and teaching assistant at Lizko International Education Investment Management Co., Ltd., where he earned accolades like “Teaching Leader” and “Most Popular Teacher.” Additionally, he was a dance instructor at Hangwu Dance School, where he led students to win 266 provincial and municipal awards. He also interned at a national-level central government agency and currently works as a researcher at a key laboratory in NUDT, where he has led multiple national innovation and entrepreneurship projects.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Zhang Yifan’s accolades include the 2024 “Challenge Cup” Academic Competition First Place & Grand Prize, multiple “FLTRP Cup” English contest grand prizes, and the 2020 Mathematical Contest in Modeling: International Meritorious Winner Prize. He has received the First Prize Scholarship and was honored as a “Merit Student” consistently from 2019–2024. He also won a Bronze Award in the 2022 International “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. His creativity and performance extend to the arts, winning first prizes in national and provincial piano and dance competitions.

Research Focus 🔬

Yifan’s research interests lie in computer science, particularly in cybersecurity, network protocol fuzzing, and the integration of large language models for state-handling methods. He has published internationally as a first author and led innovation projects recognized at national conferences. His 2025 journal article introduces a cutting-edge approach to protocol fuzzing using large language models.

Conclusion 🌟

Zhang Yifan is a multifaceted individual who excels in research, leadership, education, and the arts. With a proven track record in innovation, national representation, and academic brilliance, he is set to make a meaningful impact in the field of computer science and beyond.

📚 Publication Top Note

StatePre: A Large Language Model-Based State-Handling Method for Network Protocol Fuzzing
Published: May 2025
Journal: Electronics
 Cited by: Citations will appear on databases like Google Scholar or Scopus once indexed

Muhammad Bilal Mahmood | Security | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Muhammad Bilal Mahmood | Security | Best Researcher Award

PhD Scholar, Dalian University of Technology, China

Muhammad Bilal Mahmood is a dedicated researcher and educator in Software Engineering, currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Dalian University of Technology, China 🎓. With a strong foundation in Computer Engineering and extensive expertise in machine learning, natural language processing, and cybersecurity, he has contributed significantly to academia and research. As a lecturer at The University of Lahore, Pakpattan Campus, since 2017, he has been instrumental in shaping young minds and fostering innovation 💡. His research interests include deep learning, facial expression recognition, and AI-driven cybersecurity solutions.

Publication Profile

ORCID

📚 Education

Muhammad Bilal Mahmood’s academic journey reflects his passion for cutting-edge technology and innovation 🚀. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Software Engineering (2021–2025) at Dalian University of Technology, China. Prior to this, he earned his MS in Computer Engineering from NUST College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, Rawalpindi, Pakistan (2015) 🎓. His undergraduate studies in Computer System Engineering were completed at NFC Institute of Engineering & Technological Training, Multan, Pakistan (2011), laying the groundwork for his expertise in programming and research.

💼 Experience

With over six years of academic and research experience, Muhammad Bilal Mahmood has been serving as a Lecturer at The University of Lahore, Pakpattan Campus, since 2017 🏫. His responsibilities include developing system requirement specifications, designing databases, programming under strict coding guidelines, and ensuring seamless project management 📊. His ability to mentor students and collaborate with fellow researchers has made him a valuable asset in the field of software engineering.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Muhammad Bilal Mahmood has been recognized for his contributions to research and academia 🏅. His innovative work in deep learning, NLP, and cybersecurity has earned him appreciation within the research community. His expertise in artificial intelligence-driven security solutions has led to impactful publications, making significant contributions to advancing technological frontiers.

🔬 Research Focus

Muhammad Bilal Mahmood’s research primarily revolves around artificial intelligence, deep learning, and cybersecurity 🔍. His work includes speech emotion recognition, malicious package detection in PyPI, and facial expression analysis using convolutional neural networks 🤖. He has also contributed to medical image processing, topic discovery in health data, and chatbot development for university applications. His interdisciplinary research bridges the gap between AI and real-world applications, improving human-computer interactions.

📝 Conclusion

Muhammad Bilal Mahmood is a passionate researcher, educator, and software engineer dedicated to advancing AI-driven solutions and cybersecurity methodologies 💡. His commitment to academia, combined with his innovative research projects, makes him a valuable contributor to the field. Through his teaching and research, he continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists, pushing the boundaries of technological advancements. 🚀

📄 Publications

Recognizing Semi-Natural and Spontaneous Speech Emotions Using Deep Neural Networks – This research explores deep learning-based speech emotion recognition to enhance human-computer interaction. [Published in: Journal Name, Year] 📜🔗

PypiGuard: A novel meta-learning approach for enhanced malicious package detection in PyPI through static-dynamic feature fusion – This paper introduces a cutting-edge security framework for detecting malicious packages in Python’s package repository. [Published in: Journal Name, Year] 📜🔗

Nordine Quadar | Cybersecurity | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Nordine Quadar | Cybersecurity | Best Researcher Award

Researcher, Royal Military College of Canada, Canada

🎓 Nordine Quadar, P.Eng, is a dedicated technical manager, researcher, and educator based in Montreal, Canada. With a strong foundation in engineering and advanced expertise in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, he specializes in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance the security of UAV systems. Passionate about teaching, he has guided students through complex subjects and contributed significantly to the fields of smart grids, IoT, and machine learning.

Publication Profile

Google Scholar

Education

📚 Nordine Quadar holds a PhD in Computer Science (in progress, 2022–2025) from the Royal Military College of Canada, supervised by Abdellah Chehri, focusing on UAV cybersecurity using Edge AI. He earned a Master of Applied Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering (2015–2018) from the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Claude D’Amours, with a thesis on spatial modulation for MIMO-CDMA systems. He also completed his Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering (2011–2014) at the University of Ottawa.

Experience

💼 Technical Expertise defines Nordine’s career. As a teaching assistant at the University of Ottawa (2015–2017), he facilitated labs, study groups, and lecture preparations for courses like computer networks, applied electromagnetism, and computer architecture. His role demonstrated his commitment to nurturing student success and understanding.

Research Interests

🔍 Nordine’s research interests center on cybersecurity, AI-powered intrusion detection systems, digital twins for smart grids, and IoT testbeds. He explores emerging technologies to solve real-world challenges, combining theoretical innovation with practical applications.

Awards

🏆 Nordine has earned recognition for his impactful contributions to engineering and research, highlighting his commitment to excellence in academia and technical leadership.

Publications

N. Mchirgui, N. Quadar, et al. The Applications and Challenges of Digital Twin Technology in Smart Grids: A Comprehensive Review. Applied Sciences, 2024. DOI:10.3390/app142310933

N. Quadar, A. Chehri, et al. Intrusion Detection Systems in Automotive Ethernet Networks: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Research Trends. IEEE Internet of Things Magazine, 2024, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 62–68.

N. Quadar, M. Rahouti, et al. IoT-AI/Machine Learning Experimental Testbeds: The Missing Piece. IEEE Internet of Things Magazine, 2024, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 136–143.

N. Quadar, H. Chaibi, et al. Recommendation Systems: Models, Techniques, Application Fields and Ethical Challenges. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Big Data and Internet of Things (BDIoT ’24), 2024.