Lihao Sun — PhD Profile

🔍 About Me

I am a motivated researcher with a strong background in cybersecurity, machine learning, and over 10 years of professional web development experience. My PhD (2025–2031) at Maynooth University focuses on SafeAccess+, a framework for enhancing access control policies using formal verification, theorem proving, and large language models. I am supervised by Dr. Hao Wu.

With dual master’s degrees — an MSc in Cyber Security (National College of Ireland, 2024–2026) and an MSc in Interactive Media (University of Limerick, 2007) — I bring both technical expertise and creative problem‑solving skills. My academic and professional journey is driven by the goal of bridging secure systems with usable, impactful solutions.

🧪 Research

PhD Thesis (2025–2031): SafeAccess+: Enhancing Access Control Policies With Formal Verification

My research introduces the Counter‑example Guided Synthesis Refinement (CGSR) framework, combining:

Large Language Models — refining natural language policy requirements.
Symbolic Translator Engine — translating specifications into precise logical formulas.
Theorem Provers — detecting and correcting inconsistencies in policies.

This work addresses misconfigurations and conflicts in access control policies, aiming to improve security, compliance, and operational efficiency. The research contributes to formal verification, AI integration, and practical applications in secure system design.

🎓 Education

Ph.D. in Computer Science, Maynooth University (2025–2031, Part‑time) — SafeAccess+ project.
M.Sc. Cyber Security, National College of Ireland (2024–2026)
M.Sc. Interactive Media, University of Limerick (2006–2007)

💼 Experience

I have 10+ years of professional experience as a web developer, primarily working in large financial institutions (Bank). My expertise includes building secure, scalable, and user‑focused systems using Angular, TypeScript, and Node.js, with a strong emphasis on usability and compliance in regulated environments.

🛠 Skills

Cyber Security Access Control Formal Verification Machine Learning Model Training LLM Fine‑Tuning Python TensorFlow PyTorch FastAPI Wazuh SIEM Angular TypeScript Node.js PostgreSQL Docker GitHub Actions

📫 Contact

Email: LIHAO.SUN.2026@mumail.ie

Feel free to connect regarding collaborations, research discussions, or academic networking.