Prof Alastair Beresford, MA, PhD (Cantab), Director of Studies in Computer Science. Deputy Head of the Department of Computer Science and Technology. Robin Walker Fellow in Computer Science.
I am the Director of Studies for the second-, third- and fourth-year computer science students at Queens’. This means I am responsible for organising supervisions and helping students to fulfil their academic potential. In addition, I supervise first- and second-year courses, so I get to know all students well. In recent years, I have supervised a wide range of subjects including Foundations of Computer Science, Object-Oriented Programming, Operating Systems, Software and Security Engineering, Programming in C, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Graphics and Artificial Intelligence. I also supervise some third- and fourth-year students for their personal or research projects as well as run regular Wednesday afternoon meetings where all the computer science students get together to listen to a talk or take part in a fun practical activity together.
I am Professor of Computer Security in the Department of Computer Science and Technology. My research work examines the security and privacy of large-scale distributed computer systems. Within this broad area, I am currently interested in the security and privacy of networked mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. I examine the security of the devices themselves as well as the security and privacy problems induced by the interaction between mobile devices and cloud-based Internet services. I approach this through the critical evaluation of existing products, by designing and building novel prototype technologies, and by measuring human behaviour. I am one of two Directors of the Centre for Mobile, Wearable Systems and Augmented Intelligence as well as an Investigator at the Cambridge Cybercrime Centre.
I have taught a wide variety of undergraduate courses on programming and software engineering over the last few years, as well as more advanced courses in computer security. In 2014, I was awarded the Pilkington Teaching Prize by the University for excellence and innovation in University teaching. I also lead the development of the tech platform used to deliver the IsaacComputerScience.org online learning system together with Prof Andrew Rice.
- Computer Science (Director of Studies)
- Official Fellow
- Director of Studies in Computer Science
- Robin Walker Fellow in Computer Science
