👋 Hello there, I’m Marcos!

A little bit about me

🧑🏽‍💻 I’m a Computer Engineering student at CEFET-MG in Brazil.

💻 Currently, I am working as a research intern at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Bochum, Germany, under the guidance of Dr. Yixin Zou. My research focuses on human-centered security and privacy, and I’m collaborating on cutting-edge research related to privacy, security, and user behavior alongside leading experts in the field.

🛫 I was awarded a scholarship to study cybersecurity for one year in the U.S. through an academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. During my time at Northern Virginia Community College, I graduated with honors (summa cum laude) and achieved a GPA of 4.0.

🔬 My research interests are in topics related to security and privacy, as combating cybergrooming, network security, and penetration testing.

📚 I recently wrote a systemetic review about cybergrooming and its challenges with other researchers from Virginia Tech (publication currently under review).

👾 I am passionate about participating in CTFs and hackathons. I also have co-founded and was the president of CyberForce NOVA, a cybersecurity student club at NOVA, where we organized events and raise cybersecurity awareness.

Do you want to know more about me? Access my CV.

Selected Experience - All experiences here.

Research Intern 🔍

Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy March 2025 - August 2025
Research intern in the Human-Centered Security and Privacy group, led by Dr. Yixin Zou, working on topics related to privacy, security, and user behavior. Engaging in cutting-edge research with leading experts in the field.

Research Intern 🧑‍🔬

Trustworthy Cyberspace Lab (tClab) at Virginia Tech
October 2023 - November 2024
Part-time intern at Trustworthy Cyberspace Lab (tClab) at Virginia Tech, where I contributed as the second author of a systematic review summarizing 77 papers on combating cybergrooming and collected datasets and source codes to support future lab research.

Professor’s Assistant, Intern 📡

C4I & Cyber Center at George Mason University
November 2023 - February 2024
I had the opportunity to study the Zero Trust Architecture and its implementation in communication between drone swarms. Also, I had to perform a study and presentation of some drone flight simulation platforms for future lab research.

Web Developer Intern 🌐

PIIM-LAB - CEFET-MG
March 2022 - April 2023
Developed a full-stack web platform for online essay correction for federal network teachers, implemented platform improvements, created additional pages for file attachment and student registration, and built dynamic spreadsheets to display grades directly from the database using Python, Django, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

Awards & Achievements

• 3rd Place - CTF Competition at UFMG – (November 2024)
  Integrant of the team that won the third place in a CTF organized by a federal university in Brazil (UFMG - DCC).

• 2nd Place – UBC 2.0 Ideathon (September 2024)
  National competition for Brazilian alumni of the U.S. Department of State, awarded for presenting a solution to protect the Amazon Rainforest.

• Academic Exchange Scholarship – CCI Program, U.S. Department of State (2023-2024)
  One of 13 students selected nationwide in Brazil.

• Presidential Scholars Award – NOVA (2024)
  Awarded for maintaining a GPA of 3.75+, completing 9+ credit hours per semester, and 20+ cumulative credit hours.

• Dean’s List Award – NOVA (2023)
  Awarded for maintaining a GPA of 3.50+ with no grades below C and completing 6+ credit hours per semester.

• Honorable Mention – ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest), South America/Brazil Regional Phase (2022)

• Honorable Mention – Minas Gerais Programming Marathon, Brazilian Computer Society (SBC) (2022)

• International Event Organizer – Castlethon 4.0 (2022)
  One of only 2 students from CEFET-MG selected to be part of the organizing committee.