Visiting researcher from South Africa inspired by the environment at Mid Sweden University
Daniel Ramotsoela, senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town, is doing a research stay at Mid Sweden University. He describes the meeting with the CSN research group as inspiring and values the open environment on campus.
Ramotsoela conducts research in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and telecommunications. His current work focuses on intrusion detection in industrial control systems, which are used in critical infrastructure such as water and electricity supply. Shortcomings in these systems can lead to major economic, social and environmental impacts, making security particularly urgent.
During his sabbatical, he collaborates with the research group Communication Systems and Networks (CSN), led by Professor Mikael Gidlund. Here he develops the practical work with his ongoing project "A framework for intrusion detection in industrial control systems", including building a test environment and analyzing possible attack vectors.
"I've been incredibly well received here and quickly felt at home. The combination of high competence and a warm, inclusive environment makes it easy to get started and perform," says Daniel Ramotsoela.
If you want to be the best, you have to collaborate with the best. I see Mid Sweden University as such an environment and hope to build long-term collaborations from here
He emphasizes that Mid Sweden University compares well with the top universities he has previously visited during the year. The experience here will, according to him, play an important role in shaping his research direction in the coming years.
"If you want to be the best, you have to collaborate with the best. I see Mid Sweden University as such an environment and hope to build long-term collaborations from here," he says.
For Ramotsoela, meeting people is a central part of an international research stay. His advice to other researchers is to choose collaborations based on the people you get the opportunity to work with, rather than just looking at the departments themselves.
"It's the people who shape the experience and bring out the best in you. Mid Sweden University has shown that it is possible to combine a welcoming atmosphere with high-quality research – a combination that makes the stay both rewarding and inspiring," he says.