Congratulations to PhD candidate, Ziqiang Xu, who has been awarded Tertiary Student of the Year at the Australian Information Security Association’s (AISA) Cyber Security Awards 2025.
Ziqiang’s research focuses on making blockchain systems more secure and efficient. A blockchain is a digital record-keeping system that stores information in a series of linked “blocks,” making it extremely difficult to change or tamper with.
“This means they can support the huge amount of data created by smart devices in our daily lives, such as sensors, smart homes and connected vehicles,” he says. “Stronger and more reliable blockchain systems can help protect data, improve trust and support the safe use of new technologies in areas like healthcare, energy and transportation.”
Ziqiang says there have been many highlights throughout his studies, including publishing in leading international conferences and journals, and receiving the School of Computing Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Graduate Researcher Award.
When he completes his PhD, Ziqiang hopes to continue in academia.
“I would like to focus on advancing research in cybersecurity while also contributing to teaching and mentoring the next generation of students.”
