| Name | Rebecca Balebako |
| Expertise | Security Testing and Privacy Engineering |
| Experience | 30 Years |
| Resume | academic cv |
| Name | Rebecca Balebako |
| Expertise | Security Testing and Privacy Engineering |
| Experience | 30 Years |
| Resume | academic cv |
I am a Lecturer at the Zurich University of Applied Science. I also help organizations check the security and privacy of the AI systems. See https://www.brandworthy.ch.
I was a full-stack web developer for 10 years before specializing in privacy and security.
Thesis: Identifying and Communicating the Risks of Smartphone Data Sharing
Thesis: Using Distributed Computing to solve the 0-1 Knapsack Problem
Double Major: Math and Asian Studies
Full-time faculty in Information Security.
Consultant on privacy and security strategy and verification.
Review and advise on privacy sensitive features related to Google accounts. Run privacy red team attacks and mitigations.
Lead research on international privacy attitudes, requirements for secure communication networks, data retention policies, and technologies for the criminal justice community. Present research to high-level decision-makers in the U.S. Government and industry.
Developed and taught classes on Privacy Engineering
Full-stack programmer at various startups and universities. Led the digitization of existing processes, built user-friendly scientific websites, and introduced improved software engineering processes to multiple teams.
Verifying that LLM output is private and secure through red teaming and evaluations. Developing secure software management processes that incorporate human values.
My involvement in community projects and volunteering have pushed me to learn new skills and improve others. I describe a few projects below that required communication, teamwork, creativity, transparency, organization, and tenacity.
I enjoy teaching all skill levels, and currently focus on Bachelors and Mesters students. Other diverse teaching opportunities have incltraining in Togo, teaching astronomy labs to undergraduates, and teaching community classes on backyard composting and soccer.
I was an advocate for family leave and student parents at Carnegie Mellon University. I am proud that Carnegie Mellon University did enact a paid maternity leave for graduate students in 2015. I do wish that it included all parents and all families, and I hope future students and faculty will advocate for that change.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, I organized the first summer student camp to teach computer skills to high school children. I led all aspects of the camp organization, from curriculum, lodging, fundraising, and selecting games for the campers. I learned lessons about inter-cultural communication and expectations.