CV

Education

• B.S. in Computer Science, Lahore University of Management Sciences, 2016.
• Ph.D in Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2023 (expected).

Work experience

• Research Assistant at SAFE Lab, Virginia Commonwealth University      Aug 2018 - Present 

  • Working under Dr. Irfan Ahmad on various projects related to computer and industrial control systems security and forensics
  • Developed a tool for reverse engineering of ICS protocols.
  • Developed a tool for forensic analysis of network based attacks on Industrial control systems.
  • Developing a virtual PLC framework for Threat Intelligence

• Research Assistant at CyPhy Lab, University of New Orleans            Aug 2017 - Jul2018  

  • Studied the problem of designing scalable forensic tools for ICS.
  • Designed and developed a virtual controler for forensic analysis of Allen-Bradley PLCs.
• Teaching Assitant

  • Computer and Network Security at VCU                                Jan 2020 - May 2020 

  • Computational Problem Solving at LUMS                               Aug 2015 - Dec 2015 

Skills and Technologies

• Programming: Python, Java, C++, MySQL, C
• Tools Platforms: Hadoop, CUDA, Matlab, SQL, Autopsy, Rapid Minor, Weka

Publications

• Syed Ali Qasim, Adeen Ayub, Jordan A Johnson, Irfan Ahmed, “Attacking the IEC-61131 Logic Engine in Programmable Logic Controllers in Industrial Control Systems”, ICCIP ’21
• Syed Ali Qasim, Jared Smith, Irfan Ahmed, “ Control Logic Forensics Framework using Built-in Decompiler of Engineering Software in Industrial Control Systems”, DFRWS USA 2020 (BEST STUDENT PAPER AWARD)
• Syed Ali Qasim, Juan Lopez Jr, Irfan Ahmed, “Automated Reconstruction of Control Logic for Programmable Logic Controller Forensics”, ISC 19
• Syed Ali Qasim, Harris Durani, Muhammad Naeem, Waleed Riaz, Suleman Shahid, “Supporting Pakistani Farmers Through Digital Means: An Exploratory Study”, CHI EA ’16
• Masrik Dahir, Syed Ali Qasim, Irfan Ahmed, “Cronus: An Automated Feedback Tool for Concept Maps”, IEEE Access’21

PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS, DEMOS, AND POSTERS

• Syed Ali Qasim, Irfan Ahmed, “A Case Study of Virtual Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) Forensic Framework on Investigating Control Logic Attacks in a Belt Conveyor System”, In the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 2022, Seattle, Washington. (Extended Abstract)
• Syed Ali Qasim, Irfan Ahmed, “Virtual PLC-assisted Forensic Analysis of Control Logic Injection Attacks”, In the 1st International Workshop on Critical Infrastructure and Manufacturing System Security (CIMSS) in conjunction with the 19th International Conference on Applied Cryptography and Network Security, Kamakura, Japan, June 2021. (Demo)

Service and leadership

• Subreviewer DFRWS USA 2022
• Subreviewer CIMSS 2021