Spacelab.

Work with us

Thanks for your interest in joining the Spacelab! Below is a guide on how to join us as a research assistant. This page has information for prospective PhD students, current City College and CUNY students, prospective City College students, and high school students. Before you send me an email about opportunities, please read through this page to understand what positions are available and the application process. I have made this information available here to increase transparency.

Prospective PhD Students

I am actively recruiting PhD students to start in Fall 2025! Applications are due February 15, 2025.

So, you want to do a PhD. It is an exciting time to be a researcher, and there are plenty of open problems to investigate – great choice! The next decision you have to make is choosing an advisor for your PhD. To help you make this decision, I have collected some thoughts on working under my mentorship in the Spacelab.

You would probably be a good fit for our group if:

• You are interested in computer security, privacy, and/or applied cryptography. The overall trajectory for the Spacelab is building practical cryptographic systems, i.e., efficient, deployable computer systems that provide security and privacy guarantees through the use of cryptography. I am particularly interested in problems that impact everyday people, and these interests are reflected in my publications. My research area and background are more aligned with computer science and engineering, and so I would not be as helpful a mentor for the other disciplines (e.g., electronics, power systems, photonics) in our department.
• You believe in the power of security, privacy, and applied cryptography to achieve social good. As academics, I believe we have a responsibility to achieve positive impacts on society through our work. I tend to agree with Phillip Rogaway’s statement that cryptography is “an inherently political tool”. This worldview influences the types of questions I like to answer; typically, these involve designing technical solutions within real-world societal contexts, and that requires confronting social ills such as surveillance, censorship, and exploitation.
• You prefer a hands-on mentorship style. As an early-career faculty member, I am very active in research projects and coming up with new ideas. I try to keep the Spacelab to a manageable size so I can give my students personal attention and mentorship. I will work on projects closely alongside you, and will be regularly available if you need my help.
• You like to collaborate with other people. I believe that teamwork is a requirement to be successful in the field. The questions we think about require expertise from networks, hardware, machine learning, theory, sociology, and beyond. Projects in the Spacelab typically consist of several people – a combination of students and faculty from different institutions.
• You want a full-time, funded position. My PhD students will have full tuition support as well as a stipend for living expenses each year. There are also opportunities for summer internships and research exchanges at other universities.
• You want to live and work in New York City. City College is located in Manhattan, and is well connected by the greatest public transit system in America to all that New York City has to offer: world-class food, arts, shopping, and (occasionally) sports. Also, being in New York allows you to easily collaborate with and even take classes at the other universities in the area.

Take some time to think about these criteria. I see my PhD students as collaborators, and while there are hierarchies inherent to academia, it is important to me that the whole group has a good working relationship. Even if you and I might not be a good fit, I would encourage you to reach out to one of my excellent colleagues at City College or the CUNY Graduate Center instead!

After reading all of this, if you think you’d like to work with me, send me an email with the following:

• The subject line “Prospective Spacelab Crewmate”.
• A copy of your resume and transcript(s).
• A paragraph describing your research interests.
• A paragraph describing why you think we would be a good fit.

Before you email me, also consider taking a look at David Evans’s advice on how prospective students should contact advisors.

If there is potential, we can find time to chat and discuss more. Then, you can apply to the PhD program at City College, with me as a prospective advisor, before February 15. I would highly recommend that you include in your statement why you think you and I would be a good fit.

Current students

If you are a City College undergraduate or master’s student and want to do research with the Spacelab, please take my course, EE G7701 Secure Systems Engineering, first. If you are an undergraduate, you can use this permission form to register for the course. I am also happy to approve ePermit requests for students at other CUNY campuses. After you take the course, we can discuss how you can get involved in research with our group.

Currently, I do not have any funded opportunities for master’s students or undergraduate students. But, we can explore how you can get independent study credit for your research work.

Prospective master’s and undergraduate students

Applications to our master’s and undergraduate program are handled at the college level; I do not have control over this process. Due to a high volume of emails, you may not get a response to inquiries as a prospective master’s or undergraduate student. Instead, take a look at the City College admissions website, as well as the Cybersecurity Master’s Program website, for more details.

High school students

I currently do not offer any opportunities for high school students. Due to a high volume of emails, you may not get a response to inquiries as a high school student. I will update this page if any become available.