【教授本人】George Mason University 2027 Spring 全奖PhD招生｜Cyber Forensics

大家好，我是 Mingxuan Yao，2026 年 8 月加入 George Mason University 信息科学与技术系（Department of Information Sciences and Technology, IST）任助理教授。现招收 2027 年春季入学的全奖博士生 1–2 名。
我的组做 cyber forensics, systems security 和 AI security

关于资助
博士生由我的 startup funding 支持，提供全额 GRA（research assistantship）。

研究方向（三条都在招，可以只对其中一条感兴趣）
1. 网络安全取证
2. 区块链与加密货币取证
3. AI 安全与取证

我在找什么样的人

• systems 基础扎实。OS、网络、二进制/程序分析、移动系统，AI 任一方向有底子即可
• 自驱，对"把一个真实存在的问题解决掉"这件事本身感兴趣
• 背景 CS、ECE、信息安全或相关专业都欢迎

关于我
本科毕业于电子科技大学信息安全专业，硕士和博士就读于 Georgia Tech（ECE），博士导师是 Dr. Brendan Saltaformaggio，在 CyFI (Cyber Forensics Innovation) Lab。研究主要发表在 IEEE S&P、USENIX Security、CCS、NDSS，完整列表见主页：https://mingxuanyao.com

对于未来PhD的建议
无论你最后选择去哪里，我都希望你能选择一个项目是因为你真的认同并且喜欢。PhD is a long journey. 你需要一份热情去支撑自己走下去。

关于职业发展
不管你毕业后想去工业界还是留在学术界，我都会按你的目标来支持。

关于学校和位置
GMU 是 R1 研究型大学，校区在弗吉尼亚州 Fairfax，属于华盛顿特区都会圈。这一带是全美安全行业和联邦机构最密集的区域之一，实习、合作和 networking 的机会都很多，这也是我选择来这里的原因之一。

申请方式

• 发邮件到 myao7@gmu.edu，邮件标题注明 [Future PhD]，附上 CV。
• 如果愿意，可以再写两三句：你对哪些研究方向感兴趣，以及为什么觉得这个问题有意思。不强制，但我会认真读。
• 同时需要正式提交 GMU College of Engineering and Computing 的 Information Technology (INFT) PhD 项目申请。只发邮件、不提交正式申请是没法录取的。 时间线：2027 春季的标准申请截止日期是 2026 年 10 月 15 日。考虑到 I-20 和签证的处理周期，越早联系越从容。名额主要是给春季的；如果春季确实来不及，2027 秋季也可以聊。

其他
除博士外，也欢迎硕士生、本科生和访问学生联系我参与科研。

Hi everyone. I'm Mingxuan Yao. I joined the Department of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at George Mason University as an Assistant Professor in August 2026, and I'm recruiting 1–2 fully funded PhD students to start in Spring 2027. My group works on cyber forensics, systems security, and AI security.

Funding PhD students are supported by my startup funds as full GRAs (research assistantships).

Research directions (all three are open)

• Cyber security forensics
• Blockchain and cryptocurrency forensics
• AI security and forensics

Who I'm looking for

• A solid systems foundation: OS, networking, binary/program analysis, mobile systems, or AI. Strength in any one of them is enough
• Self-motivated, and drawn to the work of actually solving a problem that exists
• CS, ECE, information security, and related backgrounds are all welcome

About me
B.E. in Information Security from UESTC; M.S. and Ph.D. from Georgia Tech (ECE), advised by Dr. Brendan Saltaformaggio in the CyFI (Cyber Forensics Innovation) Lab. My work appears mainly at IEEE S&P, USENIX Security, CCS, and NDSS. Full list on my site: https://mingxuanyao.com

A word of advice for future PhD students
Wherever you end up, I hope you choose a project because you genuinely believe in it and love it. A PhD is a long journey, and you will need real enthusiasm to carry you through it.

Careers
Whether you want to go into industry or stay in academia after you graduate, I will support the path you choose.

About the university and location
George Mason is an R1 research university in Fairfax, Virginia, part of the Washington, D.C. metro area — one of the densest concentrations of security industry and federal agencies in the country. Internships, collaborations, and networking are all close at hand, and that is part of why I came here.

How to apply

• Email myao7@gmu.edu with [Future PhD] in the subject line and your CV attached.
• If you like, add a few sentences on which research direction interests you and why you find that problem interesting. Not required, but I do read it.
• You also need to submit a formal application to the Information Technology (INFT) PhD program in George Mason's College of Engineering and Computing. Email alone cannot get you admitted. Timeline: the standard deadline for Spring 2027 is October 15, 2026. Given I-20 and visa processing times, the earlier you reach out, the more room you will have. The openings are primarily for Spring; if Spring turns out to be too tight, we can talk about Fall 2027.

Also Beyond PhD students, master's students, undergraduates, and visiting students interested in research are welcome to get in touch.