Year 2 Student - 2025 Cohort - Cohort 7

I have a BSc in Computer Science from the University of the West of England, and an MSc in Engineering Mathematics from the University of Bristol. Prior to starting this PhD, I spent two years working as a software engineer at Airbus - helping to test fuel and landing gear systems. Over the last few years, I have been reading a great deal about how technology is used by authoritarian regimes, and those involved in the modern slave trade. I would like to bring my technical experience to help solve such problems through my research.

A Pathway and Resilience-Centric Dynamic Risk Assessment Model for Operational Technology Systems

My research focuses on dynamic risk assessments (DRA) for operational technology (OT). Specifically, I am developing a new DRA that is more in-line with OT system defender's typical mode of thinking - that being network pathway resilience. Furthermore, there are many DRA solutions for IoT, but significantly less for OT. A part of my research involves looking at these solutions and seeing where they may be used to fill gaps in OT DRA solutions. Finally, I am considering how the rise of agentic AI in offensive cybersecurity might be mitigated to some extent by a newly developed DRA. My research is currently at the early literature review stage, so changes are possible where new information comes to light.

Academic placement: Literature review of operational technology 'goodness' metrics with Joe Gardiner, University of Bristol

Industry placement: Looking at cybersecurity capabilities of agentic AI on a confidential computing system with HP Labs.

Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Managing a Secure and Sustainable Supply Chain
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-68534-8_23

Federated Blockchained Supply Chain Management: A CyberSecurity and Privacy Framework
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-79150-6_60

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/michael-tonkin-338324134