Simplify
Don't Over-Simplify

Liyi Zhou, Email: lzhou1110 (at) gmail (dot) com
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Abstract

I am a Computer Science Lecturer (roughly equivalent to a US Assistant Professor) at the University of Sydney. I co-founded D23E.ch with Professor Arthur Gervais (UCL) and Dr Kaihua Qin (Yale).

My focus is on security and privacy issues, with the ultimate goal of developing generalized AI in system/software security to identify vulnerabilities, much like how Noam Brown created the first Poker AI. While my research spans beyond blockchain, I find it particularly engaging as a testbed due to its vast amount of open code and bytecode, transparent data from millions of users and bots, and real-world attacks involving billions of USD. Don't let the term "blockchain" mislead you though - my research in this space directly advances general system/software security principles.

I am Hiring!

I am actively looking for PhD students to join my research group at the University of Sydney. My primary vision is to develop the next generation of AI security agents - systems that can autonomously identify, analyze, and prevent security vulnerabilities, similar to how AI has revolutionized games like Poker. My research interests span across:
  • AI-powered security agents for vulnerability detection and prevention
  • Large security models - using LLMs to enhance existing security tools
  • Real-time intrusion detection and prevention 🔔
  • Advanced program analysis (fuzzing, symbolic execution)
  • Privacy-preserving transaction systems
PhD Candidates 🎓
If you are passionate about pursuing a PhD with me at the University of Sydney, please email me with:
  1. Three bullet points highlighting your achievements (anything)
  2. At least one technical achievement (research / engineering)
  3. Your CV

I am Seeking Funding Opportunities!

I am actively seeking funding and collaboration opportunities. My research philosophy emphasizes practical value and real-world impact - I believe the best research not only advances academic understanding but also solves concrete problems in industry. If you have interesting research questions you'd like me to explore, or if you're interested in my research and want to discuss potential opportunities, I'd love to hear from you. I'm always eager to tackle challenging problems that have real-world impact.

My Achievements

Rankings do not mean much, but they help illustrate my dedication to high-impact, top-tier research, especially for prospective PhD students.

My CV

Details of my publications, academic services, and experiences. [Download]