Dr. Kokila J | Hardware security | Best Researcher Award
Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Information Technology Tiruchirappalli, India
Summary:
👩🎓Education:
Dr. J. Kokila’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, where she graduated with distinction. She then pursued a Master of Engineering at Anna University Tiruchirappalli, specializing in speech processing techniques and achieving a rank in her program. Building on her foundations, she completed a Ph.D. at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, supported by the prestigious Visvesvaraya Ph.D. Scheme. Her doctoral research focused on enhancing security and reliability of heterogeneous Intellectual Properties (IPs) for SoC FPGAs, which addressed critical security issues in digital computing. Her educational background, distinguished by strong academic performance and specialized research, has equipped her with the knowledge and expertise to excel in cybersecurity and embedded systems, positioning her as a thought leader in computer science and engineering.
🏢 Professional Experience:
With over 18 years of academic and research experience, Dr. J. Kokila has served in various educational institutions across India, including the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, IIIT Allahabad, and IIIT Tiruchirappalli. Her roles have ranged from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer and Assistant Professor. She has taught a broad spectrum of subjects, from Cybersecurity and Blockchain to Compiler Design and Operating Systems. In addition to teaching, she has held key administrative positions, such as Library In-charge and Department Committee Member, and actively participated in accreditation and course development. Dr. Kokila has also guided numerous student projects at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, showcasing her dedication to mentoring future researchers and engineers. Her experience spans academia, research, and administration, illustrating her commitment to educational excellence and institutional development.
Awards and Honors:
Dr. J. Kokila’s contributions to academia and research have earned her numerous awards and distinctions. She received first-class distinction in her B.E. and M.E. programs and was awarded College First in her B.E. class. As a Visvesvaraya Ph.D. scholar, she was the first from her department at NIT Tiruchirappalli to join the scheme. Her research excellence was acknowledged with the “Certificate of Recognition” from IEEE Transactions on Very Large Scale Integration Systems for publishing a notable paper. She also won the Best Paper Award at the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Technologies for her work on blockchain and embedded system security. These accolades highlight her impact in cybersecurity, hardware security, and SoC technologies, establishing her as a respected researcher and educator in her field.
Research Interests:
Dr. J. Kokila’s research centers on cybersecurity for hardware and embedded systems, including blockchain technology, IoT security, and System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms. She has pioneered studies in the reliability and security of SoC FPGAs, specifically focusing on enhancing the security of heterogeneous IPs in these devices. Dr. Kokila’s research also investigates cryptographic methods to secure IoT devices at the edge, addressing critical security needs in edge computing. Her work on Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) for device authentication and blockchain-based frameworks for secure firmware updates highlights her innovative approach to cybersecurity. Through journal publications and conference presentations, Dr. Kokila shares her findings and continues to push the boundaries in secure, reliable computing for modern digital architectures.
Skills:
Dr. J. Kokila possesses a diverse set of skills in computer science and engineering, particularly in cybersecurity, hardware security, and embedded system design. Her technical skills include expertise in SoC platforms, FPGA programming, and cryptography, with proficiency in designing secure architectures for IoT and edge devices. She is highly skilled in computer programming languages and digital design tools, essential for developing secure and reliable computing systems. In addition to her technical abilities, Dr. Kokila has strong academic skills, including teaching, curriculum design, and student mentoring. Her experience in organizing events, guiding research projects, and contributing to academic committees reflects her administrative and leadership capabilities. These combined skills enable her to excel in both research and teaching, making her a valuable asset in academia.