This Fall, I’m joining the University of Georgia as an Assistant Professor!
I want to push on the fundamentals of software reverse engineering, from decompilation to how humans actually understand code.
I’m looking for PhD students, collaborators, and sponsors. More below.
We’re getting very good at producing code and worse at understanding.
AI-generated code and growing complexity in compiled systems are pushing us toward a breaking point with real safety consequences.
What does society look like when no one understands the software it runs on?
Reverse engineering sits right in the middle of this.
It’s how we explain systems we didn’t build, debug what’s broken, and analyze what might be vulnerable.
But much of it still relies on intuition rather than well-defined methods.
One issue: we don’t have a clear notion of what “understanding” even means.
Two experts can analyze the same binary and reach different conclusions.
We rarely measure this; we just assume it as a limitation of expert-driven fields.
If you’re a student interested in these problems, I’m recruiting.
I’m especially interested in people who want to go deep, whether that’s systems, human factors, or both.
Reverse engineering sits at that intersection.
I’m also looking to collaborate more broadly, across industry, academia, and government.
Especially with folks thinking about real-world security problems, large-scale systems, or building tools people actually use.
If any of this resonates with you, feel free to reach out.
I'm excited to start this next phase of my career and make a real impact on the world.
mahaloz