The computer scientist brings extensive expertise in system security, trustworthy computing, and AI-based security. She aims to combine this knowledge with advanced software engineering approaches to design systems that are trustworthy from the very start. At UDE – particularly at the software technology institute paluno, where she now serves on the executive board – she has found the ideal environment to pursue this vision.

Alexandra Dmitrienko’s research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and system security. Her group explores how AI can enhance trust, security, and resilience in modern computing platforms ­ — from embedded and smart devices to large-scale cloud and distributed edge infrastructures. “We explore AI-driven security services such as attack and anomaly detection, intelligent self-healing software and system recovery, and compliance verification, in order to better protect such systems.

At the same time, she works to make AI itself more reliable, by addressing questions of security, robustness, and privacy in machine learning systems. “We aim to strengthen AI systems against adversarial manipulation and privacy risks, increasing their robustness and responsible use in sensitive application domains,” she emphasizes.

Before joining UDE, Dmitrienko worked at various research institutions in Germany and Switzerland: at Ruhr University Bochum (2008–2011), the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology in Darmstadt (2011–2015), and ETH Zurich (2016–2017). She subsequently served as a professor at the University of Würzburg, where she headed the Secure Software Systems research group. Dmitrienko has received multiple awards for her scientific achievements, including the Intel Doctoral Student Honor Award (2013) and the ERCIM STM WG Award (2016). As an alumna of the Software Campus (https://softwarecampus.de/), a leadership development programme for IT talents, she is deeply committed to bridging research excellence and real-world impact. She collaborates with numerous internationally active companies and leading international academic partners to advance cutting-edge research and ensure its effective transfer into practice.