To promote research and education in cyber-defence, EPFL and the Cyber-Defence (CYD) Campus launched a rolling call for Master Thesis Fellowships – A Talent Program for Cyber-Defence Research.
This month we introduce you to Roxanne Chevalley, a CYD Master Thesis Fellowship recipient, who is finishing up her Master Thesis in the Decentralized and Distributed Systems Lab at EPFL.How did you find out about the CYD Fellowships and what motivated you to apply?I first found out about the CYD Fellowship during a career fair. I was later reminded about it by Shailesh Mishra, a CYD Doctoral fellow, with whom I am currently working on my thesis. What motivated me to apply to the fellowship was one of the research areas at the CYD Campus: Privacy and Accountability, which I’m currently working on.What was your CYD Fellowship project about?My project focuses on bridging privacy and lawful accountability in digital identity systems by proposing and implementing a cryptographic electronic search warrant protocol. The goal is to provide maximum privacy to compliant users while ensuring that the system cannot be exploited by malicious actors to evade accountability in illegal online activities.•What were the advantages of conducting your Master Thesis project at the CYD Campus?I was surrounded by experts in cyber-defence, as well as other motivated students conducting their theses. This led to many interesting discussions and new friendships. Additionally, the office in Zurich is very pleasant, and having a comfortable work environment greatly improves productivity.Did you as a child dream of working in cyber-defence?Not at all. When I was a child, I wanted to be a pop star! I discovered my interest in computer science during high school and started gravitating toward cybersecurity during my bachelor’s at EPFL.What is driving you to pursue research in cyber-defence?I really like the idea that my research can have a concrete positive impact on Swiss citizens. Improving privacy guarantees is something that makes a lot of sense to me. Moreover, the theoretical challenges involved are very engaging. It is the perfect way to align my interests, my capabilities, and my values.What is the most important lesson you have learned in your scientific career so far?That teamwork really does make the dream work. Regular meetings and discussions help you avoid going down the wrong path. They provide new insights and help you find solutions to your problems (and sometimes the other way around). I am very grateful for the high-quality supervision I’ve had during my thesis at the CYD Campus.What are you most proud of in your career to date?Probably my Master’s thesis. It is very satisfying to see how far you can take a project when given enough time and resources.Outside the lab, what do you enjoy doing most?Especially on sunny days, I enjoy doing outdoor sports: running, going for bike rides, or playing beach volleyball. I also like playing the piano to relax.What were your expectations about the CYD Fellowships?I expected great supervision and a good work environment. Both exceeded my expectations. The living allowance is also a major advantage. It is a real privilege to be able to dedicate 100% of my time and focus to the thesis, and I am very grateful for that.Could you share some tips with future applicants who are considering applying for the CYD Fellowships?Look into the available projects and don’t hesitate to reach out to the contact person for the topics you’re interested in. The application process might seem long and intimidating but it really isn’t. It encourages you to plan ahead, which is great. On a more general note, I especially encourage women to apply as this is still a male-dominated field, and that should change.
