Technische Universität Darmstadt

• "Privacy by Design" seminar (WS 2015/16)
• "Privacy-Enhancing Technologies" seminar (WS 2016/17)
• "Project Lab Security Engineering" practical / internship course (WS 2016/17)
• "Privacy by Design" seminar (SS 2017)
• "Project Lab Security Engineering" practical / internship course (SS 2017)
• "Privacy-Enhancing Technologies" seminar (WS 2017/18)
• "Project Lab Security Engineering" practical / internship course (WS 2017/18)
• "Privacy by Design" seminar (SS 2018)
• "Project Lab Security Engineering" practical / internship course (SS 2018)
• "Privacy-Enhancing Technologies" seminar (WS 2018/19)
• "Project Lab Security Engineering" practical / internship course (WS 2018/19)
• "Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (WS 2018/19)
• "Bachelor's Internship" practical / internship course (WS 2018/19)

Universität Passau

• "Computer Architecture" exercises (SS 2019)
• "Technical Computer Science" exercises (WS 2019/20)
• "Hardware-Based Security" exercises (WS 2019/20)
• "Advanced Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (WS 2019/20)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (SS 2020)
• "Computer Architecture" exercises (SS 2020)
• "Advanced Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (WS 2020/21)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (WS 2020/21)
• "Advanced Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (SS 2021)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (SS 2021)
• "Advanced Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (WS 2021/22)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (WS 2021/22)
• "Advanced Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (SS 2022)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (SS 2022)
• "Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (SS 2022)
• "Advanced Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (WS 2022/23)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (WS 2022/23)
• "Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (WS 2022/23)
• "Advanced Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (SS 2023)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (SS 2023)
• "Security Engineering Lab" practical / internship course (SS 2023)
• "Master Seminar Security Engineering" seminar (WS 2023/24)
• "IoT Security: Security Solutions for the Internet of Things" lecture (SS 2024)
• "Introduction to Microelectronics: From Silicon to Computer Components" lecture (SS 2024)
• "Seminar on Hardware Security Solutions for the Internet of Things" seminar (WS 2024/25)
• "IoT Security: Security Solutions for the Internet of Things" lecture (SS 2025)
• "Introduction to Microelectronics: From Silicon to Computer Components" lecture (SS 2025)

Supervised Theses

• Kashif Jawed: "An Investigation and Implementation for the Effect of Row Hammering in Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)", Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, 2016. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Sebastian Schurig: "Development of a User Interface and Implementation of Specific Software Tools for the Evaluation and Realization of PUFs With Respect to Security Applications", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2017. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Prankur Chauhan: "Improvement and Integration of Software Tools for the Evaluation and Realization of Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) Into an Open-Source Library of Cryptographic Components (CogniCrypt)", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2017. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Ravi Sarangdhar: "An Investigation of the Effects of Radiation on Current Key Storage Solutions and on Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) Being Used as Key Storage", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2017. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Saad Ahmad: "Using Physical Unclonable Functions for Data-Link Layer Authenticity Verification to Mitigate Attacks on IEEE 802.11ad Beam Training", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2018. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Umair Muhammad Saleem: "Flash-Based Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) NAND Flash Memory", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2018. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Ratika Sharma: "Effects of Voltage Variation on Memory-Based Physical Unclonable Functions", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2018. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Stephanie Senjuty Bartsch: "An Investigation of the Effects of Temperature-Based Aging on DRAM Retention-Based PUFs", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2019. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Bassel Hanna: "PUF-Based Authentication Web-Server", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2019. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Iratxe González Garrido: "Improving the Security of IOTA Car Wallets", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2020. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Sergej Reißig: "Testing the Spatial Correlation of Weak Memory-Based PUFs", Technical University of Darmstadt, 2020. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Michal Slezak: "Implementation and Security Evaluation of Advanced Reconfigurable PUFs", University of Passau, 2020. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Daniel Schaubschläger: "Lightweight Power-Supply-Noise-Based True Random Number Generator", University of Passau, 2020. (B.Sc. Thesis)
• Sampada Diwanji: "A Single Sign-On System Based on Physical Unclonable Functions", University of Passau, 2020. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Rine Rajendran: "Testing the Capabilities of Machine Learning for Classification in Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs)", University of Passau, 2021. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Vinoth Kumar Adusumilli Govindarajulu: "Low-Temperature Data Remanence Attacks Against External SRAM PUFs", University of Passau, 2021. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Nishanth Kandaswamy Subramanian: "Development of Accurate 2D & 3D Curve-Fitting Models to Study the Characteristics of Power Magnetics and Capacitors", University of Passau, 2021. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Nico Mexis: "Fuzzy Extractors unter Einsatz von Low-Density Parity-Check Codes", University of Passau, 2021. (B.Sc. Thesis)
• Emiliia Nazarenko: "Implementation and Investigation of a Real-World Stream Encryption Mechanism Based on Synchronised Chua Chaotic Circuits", University of Passau, 2021. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Shashi Kumar Ravula: "An Extended Single-Sign-On (SSO) System Incorporating Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs)", University of Passau, 2022. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Tanja Schaier: "Auswirkung künstlicher Alterung auf den DRAM PUF", University of Passau, 2022. (B.Sc. Thesis)
• Nico Mexis: "A Comprehensive Comparison of Fuzzy Extractor Schemes Employing Different Error Correction Codes", University of Passau, 2023. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Aleena Elsa George: "Implementation and Investigation of a Real-World Stream Encryption Mechanism Based on Synchronized Lorenz Chaotic Circuits", University of Passau, 2023. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Mariam Elsharif: "Authentication of DRAM PUFs Using Random Forest Machine Learning", University of Passau, 2024. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• El Mehdi Bahoum: "Testing Temperature-Dependent Resistors as Physical Unclonable Functions", University of Passau, 2024. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Panagiotis Kessanidis: "Comparison of Two Different Resistive Random-Access Memories Acting as True Random Number Generators Under Varying Temperatures", University of Passau, 2024. (B.Sc. Thesis)
• Abdelwahed Rebhi: "Enhancing and Securing Smart Vehicles Charging: A Refined Proof-of-Concept Implementation Using IoTeX Technology", University of Passau, 2024. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Mohammad Mousavi: "PUF Authentication Using Machine Learning Based on Support Vector Machines", University of Passau, 2024. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Emine Gün: "Utilizing Asymmetric Cryptography for PUF-Based Security Applications Without the Need for an Enrollment Phase in a Secure
  Environment", University of Passau, 2024. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Ali Harb: "Authentication of Ternary PUFs Using Random Forest Machine Learning", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Felix Stalzer: "Exploration of the Potential of an External Dynamic Random-Access Memory Module Connected to an Arduino Nano Every to Act as a Physical Unclonable Function", University of Passau, 2025. (B.Sc. Thesis)
• Alireza Panahandeh: "Ephemeral Private Key Generation in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Using DRAM-Based Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs)", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Abin Babu: "Evaluation and Refinement of a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) Implemented on a Flash Memory Under Nominal Conditions and Aging Stress", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Abdelqader Waleed M. Algailany: "Post-Quantum Secure Communication Framework for LLM-Client Interaction Leveraging Kyber Encryption", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Saeed Doozandeh: "Evaluation of a Physical Unclonable Function Based on Static Random-Access Memory Implemented on the ESP32 Platform", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Joseph He Chang: "Ternary PUF-Based Secure Mutual Authentication Using Recurrent Neural Networks for Sequence Learning in Response Classification", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Zhidan Guan: "Degradation of NAND Flash PUFs After Aging: An Investigation Into the Impact of Temperature", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Anuja Raghuwanshi: "Integration of Generative AI Models for Social Engineering Red Teaming with MITRE ATT&CK Framework", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Selma Brimah: "Testing LM35 Temperature Sensors as Physical Unclonable Functions", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Maryam Asadkhani: "Overview of Chaos-Based Cryptographic Systems", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Shwas Vipul Gossain: "From Sensors to Sentience: A Comprehensive Blueprint for Mapping Security Threats and Countermeasures in the IoT and AI Ecosystems Using Risk Integrated Attack Trees", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Shamel Khalil Mohammady Khalil: "Classification of DRAM and SRAM PUF Responses Using a Multi-Input Convolutional Neural Network", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Walid Lombarkia: "Secure Data Transmission Over Various Network Protocols in IoT Systems", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)
• Deborah Abugah: "Post-Quantum Secure Real-Time Temperature Monitoring For Smart IoT Irrigation", University of Passau, 2025. (M.Sc. Thesis)

Open thesis topics:

• Secure updates using PUFs
• Testing sensors as TRNGs
• Testing the aging of TRNGs
• Examining/Testing/Implementing a PUF-based system realising 802.1ar
• Implementing an entropy harvester
• Implementing/Testing/Examining a secure/trusted network for cyber-physical systems-of-systems, with PUF-based IDs/addresses (e.g. Default WiFi password generation using PUFs)
• Implementing/Testing/Examining an Advanced Reconfigurable Physical Unclonable Function
  • By combining PUFs and the repetitive use of fast lightweight HMACs and their feedback
  • By combining multiple PUFs together
• Implementing/Testing/Examining a DRAM PUF (of any type) on an Android device
• Testing the entropy of strong PUFs through the correlation of their responses
• Implementing/Testing/Examining an advanced encryption scheme based on chaos (SRAM) and PUFs
• Examining/Testing/Implementing optical fiber PUFs
• Examining/Testing/Implementing chaos using SRAMs
• Examining/Testing/Implementing external SRAM PUFs
• Implementing/Testing/Examining an SRAM latency-based PUF
• Implementing/Testing/Examining external DRAM PUFs connected to the Raspberry Pi (https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=114326)
• Implementing/Testing/Examining chaotic circuits and chaos-based secure communication
• Implementing/Testing/Examining new applications of PUFs
• Implementing/Testing/Examining time-based authentication for embedded devices
• Testing ML as PUF ECC
• Analog PUF implementation
• Enhancing the Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) mechanism for LoRa networks
• CNT PUF digitisation
• ECC side channels
• FPGA side channels
• GUI and backend for PUF-related software
• Security protocols
• Side channel attacks against PUFs and PUF-related error-correction code

Please contact me with a short/brief CV that demonstrates your strong points related to the thesis topics you are interested in (e.g. potential experience with hardware, potential work in error correction codes, previous scientific publications, good knowledge of C, or Python, or English, etc.), as well as with your grades list (or grade average).

Please note that if you get registered and your work after your deadline is over (typically 3 or 6 months) is inadequate, you will fail. Therefore, you are getting registered at your own risk.

Please also feel free to suggest a topic of your own. All theses can be supervised in collaboration with a Ph.D. student who is a native speaker of German. Most of the topics are also potentially available as Praktikum/Lab topics (12 ECTS).

Additionally, please do note that in order to have your day-to-day thesis work supervised and supported by me, we will need to communicate regularly. 

Mentoring prospective Ph.D. students

• Khaled Sassi
• Yaman Qendah