2026Journal
AI-Enhanced Zero-Knowledge Authentication for High-Mobility IoT Using Predictive Token Learning
S. Ahmed, M. H. Anisi
IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 9068-9077
Shafiq Ahmed
Cybersecurity researcher at the University of Essex, building provably secure, post-quantum authentication for smart grids, vehicles and IoT.
Right now
PhD dissertation submitted at the University of Essex, awaiting the degree.
- MilestoneSubmitted my PhD dissertation at the University of Essex.
- 2026 · Paper“LP-AKA: QoS Aware Privacy Preserving Lattice Authentication for 5G-Advanced and 6G Slices” accepted at IEEE GLOBECOM 2026.
- 2026 · Paper“Low Latency Hybrid Post-Quantum Authentication for Mobile EV Charging” accepted at 2026 IEEE 104th Vehicular Technology Conference: VTC2026-Fall.
About
Cybersecurity researcher with more than six years of academic, teaching, and research experience. My PhD research examines provably secure and cost-effective authentication for smart grids, vehicle-to-grid communication, and Internet of Things networks. The work combines applied cryptography, post-quantum security, AI-assisted authentication, federated learning, physical unclonable functions, and formal verification.
Applied Cryptography
Authentication protocols, key agreement, signcryption, elliptic curve cryptography, and post-quantum cryptography
Network and IoT Security
Smart grids, V2G communication, industrial cyber-physical systems, vehicular networks, and wireless sensor networks
AI for Cybersecurity
Reinforcement learning, intrusion detection, zero-knowledge authentication, and predictive token learning
Secure Distributed Systems
Federated learning, blockchain access control, PUFs, and edge computing security
- Based in
- Colchester, United Kingdom
- Now
- PhD Candidate in Computer Science & Electronic Engineering, University of Essex
- Languages
- Urdu, Punjabi, English
Selected publications
View publications- 2025Journal
A Post-Quantum Secure Federated Learning Framework for Cross-Domain V2G Authentication
S. Ahmed, M. H. Anisi
IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 8433-8440
- 2025Journal
AIDAS: AI-Enhanced Intrusion Detection and Authentication for Autonomous Vehicles
S. Ahmed, M. H. Anisi
IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, vol. 26, no. 8, pp. 12548-12557
Experience & education
Experience
- Oct 2023 - Present
PhD Researcher
University of Essex, School of Computer Science & Electronic Engineering, UK- Design and formally analyse post-quantum authentication and key-establishment protocols for smart grids, V2G systems, autonomous vehicles, and resource-constrained IoT networks
- Develop AI-assisted and federated learning security frameworks supported by protocol verification
- Publish first-author research in IEEE journals and collaborate with researchers in the United Kingdom, Pakistan, China, and Ireland
- Sep 2020 - Jul 2023
Lecturer, Department of Computer Sciences
Bahria University Lahore Campus, Pakistan- Designed and delivered Programming Fundamentals, Introduction to Information and Communication Technology, Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, and Network Security
- Developed curricula incorporating emerging technologies and industry-relevant practices
- Supervised final-year projects and served as Project Coordinator and Student Advisor
- Managed departmental research reporting as Research Coordinator
- Received the Rector's appreciation letter and a PKR 100,000 award for research excellence
- Apr 2019 - Aug 2021
Research Assistant, Network Security Research Group
COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan- Researched secure and privacy-preserving frameworks for IoT, V2G, edge, and cloud environments
- Co-authored peer-reviewed journal publications on authentication and network security
- Feb 2018 - Sep 2020
Teaching Assistant and Junior Lecturer
COMSATS University Islamabad, Sahiwal Campus, Pakistan- Delivered undergraduate teaching in programming, object-oriented programming, data structures and algorithms, and mobile and web application development
- Conducted laboratory sessions, assessed coursework and examinations, and provided individual student support
- Prepared course materials, practical sessions, and assessment frameworks
Education
Oct 2023 - Present
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science & Electronic Engineering
University of Essex, Colchester, UK- Status
- Dissertation submitted, awaiting degree
- Thesis:
- AI Based Provably Secure and Cost-Effective Authentication Protocols for Demand Response Power Management in Vehicle to Intelligent Grid Paradigm
- Supervisor:
- Dr. Mohammad Hossein Anisi, Head of IoE Laboratory, University of Essex
2018 - 2020
Master of Science in Computer Science
COMSATS University Islamabad, Sahiwal Campus, Pakistan- Thesis:
- Anonymous Key-Agreement Protocol for V2G Environment within Social Internet of Vehicles
- GPA:
- 3.78/4.00
2015 - 2017
Master of Computer Science
COMSATS University Islamabad, Sahiwal Campus, Pakistan- Thesis:
- Remindly, a natural-language mobile application for reminders and meeting scheduling.
- GPA:
- 3.74/4.00
Methods & tools
- Formal verification
- ProVerifAVISPAScytherTamarin
- Programming
- PythonC/C++JavaJavaScript
- Research software
- LaTeXMATLAB
- Cryptography
- Elliptic curve cryptographyML-KEMML-DSAXMSSPUFsZero-knowledge proofsSigncryption
- Artificial intelligence
- Reinforcement learningFederated learningDeep learning for security applications
- Distributed systems
- Ethereum smart contractsHyperledger FabricConsortium blockchains
- Cybersecurity
- Authentication protocolsKey agreementIntrusion detectionNetwork securityIoT security
Awards, service & teaching
- Research Excellence AwardRector of Bahria University. PKR 100,000 cash award and Rector's appreciation letter
- Peer reviewerIEEE journals covering cybersecurity and network security
- Research CoordinatorBahria University, research portfolio reporting
- Student AdvisorBahria University, timetable planning, course registration and student enquiries
- Final-Year Project CoordinatorBahria University, supervising and coordinating undergraduate research projects
- Programming FundamentalsBahria University Lahore Campus
- Introduction to Information and Communication TechnologyBahria University Lahore Campus
- Object-Oriented ProgrammingBahria University Lahore Campus
- Data Structures and AlgorithmsBahria University Lahore Campus
- Network SecurityBahria University Lahore Campus
- Mobile and Web Application DevelopmentCOMSATS University Islamabad
Let's talk.
Collaborations, speaking invitations, or a thoughtful disagreement with something I wrote.
- Alternative email
- csshafiqahmed [at] gmail.com
- References
- Available on request