A Year at IITB Trust Lab
Digital Trust research, as an emerging field, currently shows a significant gender imbalance, with male researchers comprising the majority of the field. Through targeted initiatives such as specialized Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, Winter/Summer schools and inclusive research opportunities, IITB Trust Lab is creating pathways for women to enter and excel in Digital Trust research. In this article, we feature Prerna Shukla, a second-year MS student at IITB Trust Lab, who shares her journey as a researcher in this emerging field.
Hey, I’m Prerna! I’m currently pursuing my second year of MS studies at IIT Bombay. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Engineering from Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bengaluru.
After graduation, I worked at Infosys in Bengaluru for two years, where I specialized in API development and testing. In 2023, I joined the Trust Lab at IIT Bombay to begin my research journey. My work focuses on analyzing how different last-level cache defense techniques interact with existing cache management policies.
It’s been a roller coaster of a journey, full of ups and downs, especially since this is my first time doing research.
The last-level cache (LLC) serves as a shared resource among multiple cores, making it vulnerable to attacks. As a result, various defense techniques have been proposed to address these vulnerabilities. My research focuses on analyzing the interaction of these defense mechanisms with cache management policies and enhancing the effectiveness of existing replacement policies on secure last-level caches.
This journey has been anything but smooth. There have been plenty of challenges along the way—figuring out complex problems, running into dead ends, and trying to make sense of everything. Since this is my first real experience with research, I had a lot to learn. But each challenge has taught me something valuable. I learned how to think critically, approach problems from different angles, and persist even when things got tough.
IITB Trust Lab has been a great place to work through these challenges. It’s more than just a research space; it’s a community where everyone is supportive and collaborative. Being in such an open environment has helped me grow and learn from others, making the tough parts of my research journey a bit easier to handle.
I’ve been fortunate to have Prof. Biswabandan Panda as my mentor. His deep knowledge and experience have been a guiding light through the ups and downs of my research. He’s always encouraged me to persevere, even when challenges arise, and to view these obstacles as opportunities for learning and growth.
As I move forward with my research, I’m excited to see what comes next. I’m eager to continue exploring how we can enhance the security of the LLC without sacrificing performance. The lessons I’ve learned from the challenges I’ve faced so far will undoubtedly help me tackle new problems ahead.
Looking back on this year, I can see how much I’ve grown, both as a researcher and as a person. The roller coaster ride of ups and downs has been tough, but I’m grateful for the experience. The support from the Trust Lab and Prof. Panda has been invaluable, and I look forward to the next chapter in my research journey.
