About me

I'm Akshith, a PhD student in Computer Science at Oregon State University. My research focuses on improving the reliability, safety, and security of critical software systems — from the Linux kernel and certificate authorities to the control firmware that powers UAVs, robots, and power systems.I'm fortunate to be advised by Dr. Rakesh Bobba and Dr. Yeongjin Jang.

Outside of research, I'm an active member of the OSU Security Club and have been part of the OSUSEC CTF team since 2018. Competing in CTFs has been an incredible journey, and one of the highlights was making it to the DEFCON CTF finals in 2022

Before starting my PhD, I was the Founding Developer at Simpl, now one of India's largest fintech companies. I helped take the product from concept to launch, and later focused on backend systems, infrastructure, and security. I also collaborated with MIT Media Lab's Computational Law group on early explorations of decentralized governance and collective decision-making in digital societies — one of the first blockchain experiments of its kind.

Outsite of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors — on the trail and in the waters. I also have a deep appreciation for thoughtfully designed products.

Let's Connect

• Security researcher? Let's collaborate.
• Starting something and need help thinking through security? Let's chat.
• Prospective grad student? I'm happy to share what I've learned.
• Hiring a security researcher? You can find my resume here.

Drop me a line at hello [@] akshithg.xyz — whether it's about zero-days or grad school applications.