Introduction
I am a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at National University of Technology, Islamabad. I have 5 years of research experience. Having a master’s degree in Information Security, my research interests include healthcare data privacy, IoT communication security, quantum cryptography and distributed ledger technology.
Experience
Lecturer, Department of Computer Science, National University of Technology, Islamabad (2024–Present)
- Taught Theory of Automata and am currently teaching Information Security (theory and lab) at undergraduate level.
- Designed and delivered Information Security Lab course plan and material, incorporating hands-on exercises with state-of-the-art tools to enhance practical learning.
- Engaged in curriculum development, fostering an interactive and applied approach to teaching core computer science concepts and security practices.
Research Assistant, Department of Information Technology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (2022-2024)
- Conducted in-depth research in the field of Information Security, focusing on areas such as data privacy, communication security, and healthcare data security and privacy.
- Explored and implemented advanced concepts in Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), including blockchain and IOTA, to enhance security and privacy in distributed systems.
- Authored and co-authored research papers published in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, contributing to advancements in cybersecurity and privacy-preserving technologies.
- Engaged in mentoring junior researchers and assisting in grant proposal writing to secure research funding.
Qualification
- Academia:
- MS in Information Security, COMSATS University, Islamabad (2021)
- BS in Information Technology, University of Gujrat, Rawalpindi (2018)
I have published 4 peer-reviewed papers in top-tier journals and conferences, such as the IEEE Access and the International Conference on Automation and Computing (ICAC). I also serve as a reviewer for several prominent academic journals in the field of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics.
Taught Courses
As a lecturer, I have taught three courses so far in the Department of Computer Science
- Theory of Automata (CS3101)
- Delivered comprehensive lectures on formal languages, automata theory, and computability.
- Information Security (CS290)
- Covered foundational and advanced topics such as cryptography, security principles, attack models, digital forensics, blockchain and cybersecurity laws.
- Information Security Lab (CS291)
- Developed and conducted hands-on lab sessions, utilizing tools like OpenSSL, Nessus, and blockchain platforms for practical security training.
Research
I have authored and co-authored several research papers in the field of Information Security, focusing on areas such as data privacy, distributed ledger technologies (blockchain and IOTA), and healthcare data security and privacy. My work has been published in reputable journals and presented at leading conferences, contributing to advancements in cybersecurity and privacy-preserving technologies. Below is a list of my publications:
- Iftikhar, Z., Javed, Y., Zaidi, S. Y. A., Shah, M. A., Iqbal Khan, Z., Mussadiq, S., & Abbasi, K. (2021). Privacy preservation in resource-constrained IoT devices using blockchain—A survey. Electronics, 10(14), 1732.
- Iftikhar, Z., Anjum, A., Khan, A., Shah, M. A., & Jeon, G. (2023). Privacy preservation in the internet of vehicles using local differential privacy and IOTA ledger. Cluster Computing, 26(6), 3361-3377.
- Hayat, A., Iftikhar, Z., Khan, M. I., Mehbodniya, A., Webber, J. L., & Hanif, S. (2023). A Novel Pseudonym Changing Scheme for Location Privacy Preservation in Sparse Traffic Areas. IEEE Access.
- Iftikhar, Z., Iftikhar, M., & Shah, M. A. (2021, September). Quantum safe cloud computing using hash-based digital signatures. In 2021 26th International Conference on Automation and Computing (ICAC) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
