Student Spotlight: Giorgio Farina
Name: Giorgio Farina
Student classification: Visiting research scholar under the supervision of Saurabh Bagchi, Professor in Purdue University’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Where are you from?
I am visiting from the University of Naples, Italy. I come from one of the most amazing, contradictory, and beautiful cities in the world. My city is the birthplace of Italian pizza, coffee, and other well-known Italian products, as well as the home of brilliant and charismatic people.
Why did you come to Purdue?
I decided to visit Purdue as a research scholar for several reasons. Firstly, Purdue University is prestigious in my field, especially concerning my interests in security and dependability of new software design solutions. Secondly, there is a longstanding and close relationship between my mentor in Naples and my mentor at Purdue. Lastly, I have always been attracted and intrigued by the United States, its culture, landscape, and food, but above all, by its scientific working methods.
What are you doing during your time at Purdue?
I work in the Dependable Computing Systems Laboratory (DCSL) under the supervision of Prof. Bagchi. The research group works on very attractive and hot topics. Part of the group studies aspects of security and privacy in IoT, mobile devices, and artificial intelligence. Another part of the group provides new advanced design solutions, which can include advanced machine learning techniques or causal reasoning, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of complex and heterogeneous computer systems.
In particular, my recent research effort focuses on mobile phone privacy and is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Machiry, who leads the Purdue Systems and Software Security (PurS3) Lab. Protecting user privacy has become a pressing issue today given the vast amount of personal data handled by mobile phones. The presence of such sensitive data, coupled with the constant connectivity to the outside world, has resulted in increased investments from malicious actors interested in exploiting vulnerabilities to further their goals. My research efforts are dedicated to evaluating and furthering the latest protection mechanisms developed by Google in this area.
What advice would you give to someone that is considering being a visiting research scholar?
I would suggest enjoying the experience and working hard. I know that sometimes, you could feel lost or alone, but don't forget that you are in college, build friendships and share your feelings with other students! Before leaving Italy, I had this advice: "Be calm, cool-headed, and have presence of mind". Don't be scared, I can say I've succeeded about 50% and I'm moving forward.
What has been the best part of the experience?
Choosing the best part of the experience is difficult. Meeting and listening to top researchers in my field has ignited my passion. Additionally, interacting with new people and experiencing different cultures have been enriching experiences for me.
Did the experience meet your expectations? Were there any surprises about being a student at Purdue that were different than what you expected?
The experience has exceeded my expectations. I am impressed by the quality of work my colleagues produce. Every group meeting is filled with surprises and interesting ideas. I appreciate the insightful questions and answers provided by my advisors. In terms of social experiences, I have been pleasantly surprised to meet people from all over the world. I appreciate how the university fosters a sense of community through events like sports and informal games. I am particularly impressed by the importance placed on sports at Purdue and enjoy supporting the Purdue teams. The COREC building is incredible!