Hello, I'm Sujan.

I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Software Engineering at the University of Arizona, where I began graduate study in 2024 and also earned an M.S. in Software Engineering (2024–2026). Before that, I completed a B.E. in Computer Engineering at Tribhuvan University in Nepal (2015–2019).

My research sits at the intersection of compiled software security, hardware security, and AI-assisted security automation. I am interested in techniques that analyze, protect, and strengthen computing systems across hardware and software layers, including:

• Compiled software security analysis
• Post-compilation binary rewriting and hardening
• Control-flow integrity and ARM Pointer Authentication
• Embedded systems and firmware security; fuzzing and emulation
• LLM-assisted hardware vulnerability analysis
• Agentic AI for hardware security
• Hardware logic obfuscation and IP protection
• Trustworthy computing systems

Since January 2024 I have worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in the PRISM Lab under the supervision of Dr. Soheil Salehi. My current work focuses on retrofitting control-flow protections into compiled AArch64 software using binary rewriting and ARM Pointer Authentication.

I have also led and contributed to collaborative projects in the lab on LLM-assisted hardware weakness exploration (HWREx), agentic LLM-driven logic obfuscation, bare-metal firmware fuzzing, hardware side-channel and Trojan analysis, and interactive cybersecurity education.

Much of the software and hardware we depend on cannot simply be rebuilt with stronger protections: binaries ship without source, firmware is tied to specific devices, and hardware designs pass through many hands before fabrication. I am motivated by the challenge of adding meaningful security to systems as they actually exist.

I also want to understand, carefully and empirically, where large language models and AI agents can help security engineers — and where they cannot yet be trusted.

Before my Ph.D., I worked in industry as a software engineer, with roles as a Software Engineer II at Cotiviti Nepal, a Junior .NET Developer for Singapore Ecommerce App, and a Software Developer at Lambda Information Technology. Building and maintaining production software gave me an engineer's perspective that I bring to security research: solutions must be practical to deploy.

In Fall 2026 I am serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for ECE 413/513, Web Development and Internet of Things, supporting students working across web development, embedded devices, and cloud integration. I have also contributed to research on interactive, AR/VR-based tools for cybersecurity education and workforce development.

I am part of the student organizing team for the AI Hardware Design League (AI-HDL), a University of Arizona program that introduces students — from high school through graduate school — to semiconductor design using large language models and hardware description languages, with no prior experience required.

My work has been recognized with selection as a DAC Young Fellow at the 62nd Design Automation Conference (2025), the Best Poster Design Concept Award at the ECE Homecoming 2025 event, and the University of Arizona College of Engineering 2024 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant award.

I also serve as President of the Sonoran Nepali Student Alliance (SANSA), Wildcat Chapter, at the University of Arizona.