Diwen Xue awarded Towner Prize for Distinguished Academic Achievement

Diwen Xue, PhD student in computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan, has received the Richard F. And Eleanor A. Towner Prize for Distinguished Academic Achievement. Awarded to one individual in each degree program within the College of Engineering annually, the Towner Prize recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in research, leadership, and academic performance. 

Diwen’s research focuses on enhancing network security by measuring and analyzing technical mechanisms that interfere with internet connections. He works to develop innovative techniques that protect against network threats, including disruptions and tampering by adversarial actors within the internet infrastructure. These methods serve to enhance the security and privacy of online communications, a challenge that is more critical than ever in our increasingly digital society.

In particular, Diwen’s dissertation explores methods to characterize network filtering devices, improve traffic obfuscation schemes, and optimize circumvention tools to safeguard users in potentially hostile environments. Through these innovations, he aims to bring increased transparency and accountability to network operations, thereby fortifying internet security practices globally.

Diwen’s work on these topics has been published in top-tier security conferences, including the USENIX Security Symposium, NDSS, and the ACM Internet Measurement Conference. His work has received significant recognition at these venues, such as the USENIX/Meta Internet Defense Prize and Distinguished Paper Award at USENIX Security 2022.

Beyond his research, Diwen has demonstrated a strong track record of leadership within the academic community. He previously co-led the Security Reading Group at U-M and has actively participated in program and session committees at major conferences, including USENIX Security. These roles highlight his commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration in the field.

“Diwen has consistently demonstrated an ability to perform innovative research with impact,” said Roya Ensafi, associate professor in CSE and Diwen’s advisor. “His contributions to network security and service to the academic community distinguish him as a rising star in the field.”

The Towner Prize will support Diwen’s continued doctoral research, enabling him to further investigate and develop methods to evaluate internet security threats. Through these innovations, he aims to design sustainable solutions to strengthen the integrity and reliability of online networks on a global scale.