Dr. Dylan Smyth

Dylan is a lecturer and researcher with Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork, Ireland. He completed his BSc (Hons) Software Development and Computer Networking in 2015, winning an award for Best Honours Degree Student, and went on to pursue a PhD in the area of Software-Defined Network (SDN) security. He began his teaching career in 2016, where he took a part-time teaching role in the Department of Computer Science, taking up a full-time role with the department in 2019. Dylan also worked as a software developer for several companies during his career, including start-ups, local hospitals, and multi-nationals.  

Dylan’s research specializes in the security of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on networking technologies. His past work has involved the discovery of new vulnerabilities and the development of new attack techniques targeting SDN architectures. He has also developed several security solutions for these network architectures. His more recent research interests include malware, automotive systems, and space systems. Dylan’s research has won several awards. His undergraduate final year project was awarded second place in an international IEEE research competition. A component of his PhD project was awarded first place in another international research competition, where he secured an additional €40,000 euro of funding to continue his work. 

Dylan leads out several Capture-the-Flag (CTF) and Hackathon events in MTU and works with external companies to run these events in the university. He is also an examiner and mentor with World Skills Ireland for the Cyber Security skill, where he uses his experience in running CTF events to architect challenges that test every aspect of a competitors cyber security knowledge. Dylan is passionate about providing students with an opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges and problems. 

Dylan is a lecturer and researcher with Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork, Ireland. He completed his BSc (Hons) Software Development and Computer Networking in 2015, winning an award for Best Honours Degree Student, and went on to pursue a PhD in the area of Software-Defined Network (SDN) security. He began his teaching career in 2016, where he took a part-time teaching role in the Department of Computer Science, taking up a full-time role with the department in 2019. Dylan also worked as a software developer for several companies during his career, including start-ups, local hospitals, and multi-nationals.  

Dylan’s research specializes in the security of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on networking technologies. His past work has involved the discovery of new vulnerabilities and the development of new attack techniques targeting SDN architectures. He has also developed several security solutions for these network architectures. His more recent research interests include malware, automotive systems, and space systems. Dylan’s research has won several awards. His undergraduate final year project was awarded second place in an international IEEE research competition. A component of his PhD project was awarded first place in another international research competition, where he secured an additional €40,000 euro of funding to continue his work. 

Dylan leads out several Capture-the-Flag (CTF) and Hackathon events in MTU and works with external companies to run these events in the university. He is also an examiner and mentor with World Skills Ireland for the Cyber Security skill, where he uses his experience in running CTF events to architect challenges that test every aspect of a competitors cyber security knowledge. Dylan is passionate about providing students with an opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges and problems.