Month: December 2021

How to Find a Good Research Topic?

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Finding a good research topic is not an easy task. Rookies and even seasoned professionals struggle with brainstorming about topics in academic or workplace settings. If you have not already been through the process of selecting a dissertation topic and writing your Ph.D., then it is best to think about suitable research topics before starting work on your dissertation.

There are numerous research topics that you can investigate and write about. Whether you choose to specialize or explore different areas at the same time, you need to ensure that your research topic will help establish your reputation as a professional in the field. The most important thing to remember when choosing a study topic to write about is to choose one that has a lot of promise.

There are various ways to find a good topic. You could find a gap in the scientific literature, you could look into emerging technologies, or you could focus on an issue that has personal meaning for you. No matter how you go about it, it is important to familiarize yourself with a topic before diving right in.

A good research topic is likely to carry you through your entire thesis and/or dissertation process. While the process of finding a topic may be difficult and time-consuming, the rewards are great. When done correctly and with effort, this will be a good exercise for you and will help you in the future. Once you have the right topic, your thesis will come to you naturally.

If you need help deciding on a topic for your thesis or your next paper, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The Importance of Information Ethics in the Digital Age

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Over the years, the world has witnessed a technological evolution that has resulted in the World Wide Web becoming a location where information about individuals is acquired and spread. Information ethics is a subset of ethics that investigates the impact of information technology on society. It draws on a variety of fields, including philosophy, law, and computer science. Information ethics seeks to assist us in thinking about how we, as individuals, companies, governments, and societies, think about information: what it is, where it comes from, and how we use it. With the rapid rise of ubiquitous computing and networks, it is becoming an increasingly essential topic of research.

As our world gets more interconnected, individuals must make more responsible decisions about how they acquire, use, and share information with others. Making these decisions can be challenging at times, especially when there is little information available to assist us in deciding what is acceptable and what is not. If one’s actions or inactions have the potential to cause harm to others, one should be held accountable. Information ethics looks at what is right and wrong in relation to information systems. But where can we find these rules, and how can we apply them to the Internet, particularly to the Internet of Things, where certain key decisions are made automatically by machines?

This is a topic that I have been researching for the past few months. I was able also to publish a paper on this topic. If you are a scholar or simply are interested to explore ethics, I recommend reading the book “Ethics & Technology: Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing” by Herman T. Tavani.

The Right Way to Review a Scholarly Manuscript for a Journal

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A manuscript is a document that is submitted to a publisher for publication as a book, article, or other type of written work. A journal article is a piece of writing that is published in a scholarly journal.

To be indexed, the scholarly journal must have been examined by experts in the field as well as independent scholars who are not affiliated with the authors’ institution(s). The criterion for inclusion can differ from one journal to another.

Reviewing a manuscript.

Reviewers are supposed to provide authors with constructive feedback. They should discuss what is good about the manuscript, i.e., its strengths, and how it could be improved, i.e., its weaknesses. As far as possible, reviewers should refrain from passing judgment on how good or awful they believe the work is, instead focusing on what areas of content are well implemented and which could use better. When reviewing a manuscript, I tend to follow the three-step procedure described below.

First, I read the entire manuscript and jot down any remarks that come to mind as a result of the reading. Following that, I generate questions regarding the language, such as what appears to be confusing or unclear, and whether sections of the text may be enhanced or expanded upon. Aspects I focus on include the manuscript’s: structure and content; novelty, originality, and empirical validity; use of suitable methodology; and clarity and precision of communication. Finally, I draft comments in the form of questions and editing suggestions for the authors but also keeping in mind the intended audience of the manuscript.

Peer review is an important aspect of the scholarly process since it ensures that published work meets standards of quality and originality. However, peer review takes time and can be difficult to implement on a large scale.

If you wish to learn more about reviewing scholarly publications, please contact me or leave a comment below. Also, if you are an author and you need a reviewer for your manuscript, you are welcome to get in touch.

My Lecture about the IoT and Data Privacy

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We live in a world where even brushing our teeth can constitute the transmission of data to servers across the world. One day, we will sleep with smart pillows that will be able to detect our stress levels and send them to an app on our phone. We already wear fitness trackers all day, every day. What does this mean for our privacy? This is what I talked about during my 2-hour guest lecture at Malmö University on December 15.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is all around us, and with it comes an increased risk of privacy and security breaches. In the age of the IoT, we must be cautious about the information we make available to the public or share with shops and manufacturers. We must also consider how businesses may exploit personal data to discriminate against us or charge us extra since they have more knowledge about us thanks to these devices. 

Please feel free to get in touch if you need any information about privacy, security, or related topics.

My FOSAD experience and Ph.D. security courses

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Going back to the summer of 2016, I had the opportunity to attend a summer school on information security. It was the International School on Foundations of Security Analysis and Design (FOSAD) held in the University Residential Center of Bertinoro, Italy. FOSAD is one of the best Ph.D. summer schools I have ever attended.

There were various outstanding and demanding presentations on a wide range of topics, including mathematical models, analysis tools, and Internet security, as well as formal verification of security protocol implementations, practical system security, and others. We also covered information security from a practical perspective as well.

Aside from education, we also enjoyed the Italian countryside, breathtaking views, exquisite food, and some local wine. I had the opportunity to meet and mingle with exceptional students from all around the world, as well as professors from renowned universities. This also helped me in the expansion of my academic network.

If you are a Ph.D. student or simply you want to delve deeper into the intricate world of information security, I recommend attending FOSAD, preferably in person. It is a challenging summer school, but it is one of the best schools I have ever attended.

Here is a group photo from that event.

FOSAD 2016 group photo (adapted from http://www.sti.uniurb.it)

More details about FOSAD can be found on their website: https://sites.google.com/uniurb.it/fosad

Finally, if you want to learn more about security-related Ph.D. courses organized in Sweden, I highly recommend that you visit the website: https://swits.hotell.kau.se/Courses/SWITS-PhD-courses-in-IT-security.htm

Also, please feel free to drop me an email or a tweet in case you want to know more about Ph.D. courses in general.

Life as a postdoc

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What is a postdoc? A postdoctoral researcher (postdoc) is a scientist who receives advanced training in a certain domain by collaborating with a subject matter expert. It is a temporary position that bridges the gap between a Ph.D. and a career in academia. There is no other job like this. You get to choose what you want to accomplish and how you want to do it as a postdoc. You may work on new projects almost autonomously or design your research projects with the help of your mentors. 

My work as a postdoc in computer science focuses mainly on cyber security and digital privacy. Most of my days are spent researching topics like machine learning and artificial intelligence, as well as how they may be utilised to automate security processes and privacy management on the Internet of Things. I examine solutions that have been developed to assist secure systems and user data against evolving threats. Some of the domains I am researching are related to smart buildings and smart homes.

Life as a postdoc can be challenging, but it is also full of opportunities. Aside from your research tasks, which will mostly revolve around publishing, you will be required to take on responsibilities that go beyond those of your Ph.D. You could be handling administrative tasks, including funding applications and working long hours in the lab, as well as lecturing and supervising Bachelor’s or Master’s students. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to complete the majority of the aforementioned activities throughout my Ph.D.

What else can I say? On a typical day, there is rarely a moment when I am bored or feel as if I do not have enough to do. You will likely find a large amount of freedom in what you choose to focus on. You do not need to think about whether you are using your time well because there is so much interesting work to be pursued! Of course, I am biased here because my postdoc themes are partly related to what I studied during my doctoral studies and on which I have industrial expertise.

If you want to learn more about postdoc life in Sweden, have questions about my research interests, or simply want to get in touch, you are welcome to email or tweet me.