SHIKHAR SAKHUJA [email protected] | github.com/shikhar394 | linkedin.com/in/shikhar394 | (+86) 1881-650-1969

CURRICULUM VITAE I am a senior at New York University Shanghai. I am interested in the overarching field of Security and Privacy with a focus on social network analysis, data-driven security and empirical-based measurements. I am passionate about teaching and working on projects with a social impact.

EDUCATION New York University (NYU) Shanghai, Shanghai, China August ’15 - May ’19 Major: B.S. Computer Science GPA: 3.78/4.0 | Major GPA: 3.86/4.0 Minors: Cybersecurity and Mathematics NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York June ’17 - August ’18 Coursework and research in Cybersecurity and Operating Systems design St. Columba’s School, New Delhi, India July ‘15 Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English and Computer Science Top 1% of graduating class

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Undergraduate Research Assistant, Center for Cybersecurity, NYU Tandon Advisor: Damon McCoy June ’18 - Present • Scraped and analyzed the political advertisements released on social media website using Python. Scraped over 500,000 unique ads stored on PostgreSQL database. Open-sourced the data and findings. • Published author of An Analysis of Facebook’s Archive of Ads with Political Content. • Built labeling tool using Python (Flask), HTML, CSS and JavaScript specific for our data to crowdsource and speed up labeling task. Increased labeling efficiency by over 500%. • The research was featured in NYTimes, CNBC, Fortune and several other prestigious media outlets.

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Center for Cybersecurity, NYU Tandon Advisor: Justin Cappos June ’17 - May ’18 • Worked on further development in securing updates for automobiles through the project Uptane. • Used Python to implement hybrid encryption (RSA and AES-128) to encrypt updates, integrated security features for defense against attack vectors rising from a compromised repository and increased test coverage for the project Uptane by 5%. • Researched novel techniques to build a compromise-resilient framework to update IoT devices in the medical industry and the sphere of Industrial Control Systems. • Helped to redesign the graduate-level course Application Security offered at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Course to be offered both online and in-person students (1000+ students).

TEACHING EXPERIENCE Learning Assistant, NYU Shanghai Fall ’16 | Spring ’17 | Fall ’18 • Course: Introduction to Computer Science. • Team of 2 LAs responsible for assisting with in-class assignments, homework, holding office hours, and weekly review session for over 120 students.

Teaching Assistant (TA), NYU Tandon Fall ’17 | Spring ’18 | Summer ’18 • Course: Data Structures and Algorithms. • Team of 6 TAs responsible for leading two labs per week, grading homework and labs, making lab assignments, holding office hours and helping with other administrative tasks for over 400 students. PUBLICATIONS An Analysis of Facebook’s Archive of Ads with Political Content July ‘18 By Laura Edelson, Shikhar Sakhuja, Damon McCoy (NYU). Published on Github.

A Comparison and Analysis of Political Advertisements Across Social Media Platforms In progress By Laura Edelson, Shikhar Sakhuja, Ratan Dey, Damon McCoy (NYU)

SELECT PERSONAL PROJECTS Distributed Systems Coursework (GoLang – Code available on GitHub) May ‘18 • Implemented MapReduce, Viewstamped Replication, and Raft for the graduate-level Distributed Systems course. The only undergraduate in the class. • Developed a fault-tolerant distributed Twitter Clone (Web Application). Designed front end and back end in GoLang, HTML, JavaScript and CSS. Used GoRPC and REST API.

MalURL (Python – Code available on GitHub) May ‘17 • Employed Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing algorithms using concepts in Cybersecurity to detect malicious websites by its plain-text URL. • Breaks down URL into lexicographic, domain-based and reputation features. • Achieved an accuracy rate of 98% on our data (5000 malicious websites and 5000 benign websites).

Voice[H]over (Python and Java in Processing – Code available on GitHub) February ‘17 • Won the Assistive Technology Track amongst over 1500 participants at HackNYU 2017. • Used Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing algorithms and modules. • Project enables those with Cerebral Palsy and other immobilizing or speech disabilities to talk using a virtual keyboard that can be controlled with a laser or gaze. Created for 10% of the price of the market competitors.

TALKS AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS 5th Annual Diversity Summer Student Research Conference, NYU Courant July ’18 • Presented An Analysis of Facebook’s Archive of Ads with Political Content.

Poster Presentation, Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), NYU Tandon July ’18 • An Analysis of Facebook’s Archive of Ads with Political Content. • Poster selected from over 200 posters to be featured in the NYU Tandon library.

Research Symposium, SURP, NYU Tandon August ’17 • Presented Uptane: Securing Software Updates for Automobiles.

Poster Presentation, SURP, NYU Tandon July ’17 • Uptane: Securing Software Updates for Automobiles. • Best poster award from over 150 posters.

TECHNICAL AND LANGUAGE SKILLS • Experienced in Object Oriented Design and in working with languages such as Python, C, C++, GoLang, Arduino, Java in Processing and MIPS. • Proficient in English, Hindi and Mandarin. Conversational in Punjabi and Urdu. SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES Head Learning Assistant, Academic Resource Center, NYU Shanghai August ’18 - Present • Leading a team of 20 learning assistants for the CS department. • Responsible for improving communication between the CS faculty and the CS learning assistants, building the LA community and ensuring high standards of tutoring. • Interviewing new LAs for the following semester. Recruiting 10 new LAs for the Spring semester.

Founder and Advisor, CS + Social Good Club, NYU Shanghai August ’18 - Present • Founded the premier humanitarian engineering club at NYU Shanghai. 60+ members from STEM, Social Sciences and Arts fields in its first month. • Recruited the leadership for the club and defined vision for the club. • Working in close liaison with other clubs at NYU Shanghai and 13 CS + Social Good clubs across the US. • Working to host a semester long lecture series and a CS + Social Good hackathon.

Head Student Photographer and Videographer, NYU Shanghai August ’16 - Present • Working under the University Communications Department, team of 10 photographers, chosen from the entire university. • Covered over 20 events as the photographer and have albums uploaded on the NYU Shanghai website. • Interviewed new photographers. Recruited 5 new photographers for the team. • Lead development of initiatives and projects that successfully expanded NYU Shanghai's online presence. 1000+ followers on social media websites such as Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS • NYU Dean’s Honors List, 2015-18. • NYU Futures Global Scholars Award for contributions to the NYU Shanghai community, 2015-18. • NYU Recognition Award for Exceptional Academic Performance and Campus Involvement, 2015-18. • Winner of Assistive Technology track at HackNYU 2017. • Selected as one of the 1000 scholars to participate in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit 2017.

REFERENCES Damon McCoy Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, New York University http://damonmccoy.com/ [email protected]

Keith Ross Dean of Engineering and Computer Science, NYU Shanghai & Leonard J. Shustek Professor of Computer Science, CSE Department, NYU https://www.nyu.edu/projects/keithwross/ [email protected]

Gustavo Sandoval Industry Professor, Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, New York University https://engineering.nyu.edu/faculty/gustavo-sandoval [email protected]