Securing Smart Environments
MSc scholarhips in Information Systems Engineering
Last updated: July 14, 2025, 11:42 a.m.
Supervisory details
Supervisor: Carol Fung
Department: Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start date: Flexible (Fall 2025, Winter 2026)
MSc scholarship: 22K CAD per year for 2 years
Project overview
This project addresses the urgent cybersecurity and privacy challenges of smart cities and the Internet of Everything (IoET). While smart devices optimize energy use, mobility, and public services, they also pose security risks due to weak protections and poor update practices. The project takes a multi-pronged approach to secure devices, protect data privacy, and align with user expectations. Leveraging generative AI, advanced cryptography, and program analysis, it aims to build trust and resilience in future smart city infrastructure.
Role description
- Designing privacy-preserving cooperation frameworks among IoT devices, including key generation and key exchange protocol development.
- Enhancing integrity and accountability of IoT systems through the integration of blockchain technologies.
- Implementing and evaluating privacy-preserving IoT testbeds, including performance and energy efficiency assessment.
- Developing static analysis tools for IoT firmware to detect privacy leaks and sensitive data flows.
- Creating data flow monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify unauthorized data leaks in real time.
- .Conducting large-scale surveys to understand public perceptions of privacy in shared smart environments.
Research areas
- Cybersecurity
- Internet of Things
- Network Management
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Information Systems Engineering.
- Strong programming skills in Python, C/C++, or Java.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity, IoT systems, and network security protocols.
- Experience with cryptographic algorithms, key exchange protocols, and/or blockchain implementation.
- Background in static code analysis, taint analysis, or data flow monitoring in embedded systems or IoT devices.
- Familiarity with anomaly detection techniques and/or machine learning for security applications.
- Ability to conduct systematic literature reviews, design algorithms, and develop experimental prototypes.
- Experience in performance evaluation, energy efficiency analysis, or security/privacy assessment of systems.
Preferred qualifications (assets):
- Knowledge of survey design and data analysis for privacy-related social science studies.
- Experience with federated learning, distributed systems, or blockchain consensus mechanisms.
- Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in cybersecurity, IoT, privacy, and blockchain technologies.
- Access to state-of-the-art labs, tools, and computing resources at Concordia University.
- Supervision and mentorship from a leading expert in cybersecurity and IoT with strong academic and industry connections.
- Opportunities to publish in high-impact journals and present at top international conferences.
- Competitive funding packages and support for professional development and networking.
Please combine the following documents into a single PDF file.
- Letter of intent strongly aligned with the project and the research domain of the professor
- Academic CV
- Transcripts
- Names and contact information of 3 referees
- Publications, if any
- Any other documents that might benefit your file
If you are already in Canada, or if you’re a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident, please highlight this in your communications.
Send your PDF file to carol.fung@concordia.ca with the subject as
SSE_Your Name_MSc.
August 1, 2025.
Questions/contact
For all questions, please contact Alisa Makusheva at alisa.makusheva@concordia.ca.
