About Me
My name is Mohammad Sadegh Majidi Yazdi, but I prefer to be called Sadegh. I am currently a first-year PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at Purdue University. My current research focus is on the field of computer security, specifically security and privacy of LLMs (Large Language Models). I’ve got my B.Sc. degree in Computer Engineering at Sharif University of Technology (March 2024). My research interests are:
- Computer Security
- Large Language Models
- Computer Architecture
- Distributed Systems
As a computer scientist, I have always enjoyed studying theoretical computer science and getting my hands dirty with mathematics, but I have a special fondness for the practical aspects of computer science. I love to spend consecutive hours trying to understand a challenge in the system security and solve it. My ultimate professional goal is to use my knowledge and skills to create something of value for the betterment of the world.
Education
Purdue University
PhD in Computer Science
August 2024 - Present
I’m in the middle of a challenging but rewarding academic journey at Purdue University, one of the top universities in the United States (it has the oldest Computer Science department in the country). During my PhD studies, I work there as a full-time research assistant. I am advised by Prof. Kazem Taram.
Sharif University of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
September 2019 - March 2024
Pursuing a BSc in Computer Engineering at Sharif University of Technology, one of the premier institutions in the region. Achieved an outstanding GPA of 19.19/20, reflecting dedication and academic excellence.
Mandegar Alborz High School
High School Diploma in Mathematics and Physics
Fall 2016 - Summer 2019
Completed high school education at Mandegar Alborz High School, one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in Iran. Graduated with an outstanding GPA of 19.54/20, showcasing my academic prowess and commitment.
Research Experiences
Purdue University
Aug 2024 - Present
I am currently working as a research assistant under the supervision of Prof. Kazem Taram and as a full-time member of the SecArch Lab. Our lab’s general focus is on the intersection of Computer Architecture and Security, but for now, I am focusing on the security and privacy of LLMs (Large Language Models), specifically investigating potential vulnerabilities related to inference process of these models. As the demand for inference is growing way faster than the training, we should consider the security risks of improving inference performance (latency & throughput) in our research. Understanding these risks is crucial for designing more secure and efficient AI systems.
I worked for almost a year as a research assistant under the guidance of Dr. Mohammad Izadi and as a member of the Distributed and Multi-agent Systems Lab. We worked on WIDESim, a simulation tool for resource management and scheduling of workflows in distributed computing environments with graph topology. This tool was built upon the well-known CloudSim simulator. I had the opportunity to work on various aspects of this project, including implementing different parts of the simulator, and writing a paper for publication.
Publications
WIDESim: A Toolkit for Simulating Resource Management Techniques Of Scientific Workflows in Distributed Environments with Graph Topology
Journal of Grid Computing, August 2024
publication link
Mohammad Amin Rayej, Hajar Siar, Ahmadreza Hamzei, Mohammad Sadegh Majidi Yazdi, Parsa Mohammadian, Mohammad Izadi
Projects
Designed and Implemented a messaging application using Python as part of the Data & Network Security course. To satisfy a wide range of security measurements, we used a simplified version of the Double Ratchet algorithm and public-private key encryption and concepts like hashing and signing. This project is also well-structured in regard to software development standards.
This project is part of the Hardware Lab course, featuring a UEFI application designed to display weather information and forecasts for users. The primary focus lies in the ability to interact with a network interface card (NIC) within the UEFI environment and initiate a simple HTTP request using the tools provided by EDK II, the standard UEFI implementation. This project serves as an excellent learning opportunity for working with the fundamentals of the UEFI environment and stands as a valuable reference for those seeking to utilize network interfaces within this setting.
Designed and implemented an online storage drive, similar to Google Drive, using Flask and Jinja templates, with additional use of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. This drive supports file sharing, metadata storage, folder management, and various file manipulation operations, among other features. Additionally, implemented a full CI/CD pipeline for the project using GitLab Runner.
Implemented a tweet categorization nlp model in C/C++ efficiently to achieve higher performance and speed and lesser resource usage. This model categorizes tweets based on their contents.
Implemented a Compiler for CMinus Langauge, a simplified subset of the C language, using Python and its standard libraries. The compiler consisted of Lexer, Parser, Code Generator, and Semantic Analyzer.
Implemented a simplified MIPS processor simulator using Verilog. It supports pipeline and caching.
Technical Experiences
Yektanet is the largest online advertising company in Iran. As a backend software engineer, I designed and developed online affiliate marketing platform (Chavosh) and product retargeting services using Django, Typescript, Postgresql and redis.
As a full-stack software engineer, I developed a new chat system (backend & frontend) for webinars using Django, React, and Lua and I also reduced live streaming latency by properly using HLS protocol over Nginx.
A Little More About Me
Alongside my interests in Computer Security, Computer Architecture, and Distributed Systems, some of my other interests and hobbies are:
- Gaming, with a particular fondness for Role-Playing Games
- Swimming, my favorite sport
- Listening to music, especially in the Rock and Metal genre