# Franziska Roesner

> American computer scientist, computer security and privacy expert, and academic

**Wikidata**: [Q102425285](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102425285)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/franziska-roesner

## Summary  
Franziska Roesner is an American computer scientist and academic who specializes in computer security and privacy. She is a faculty member at the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and is known for her research on protecting untrusted applications on modern client platforms.

## Biography  
- **Born:** *Not publicly disclosed*  
- **Nationality:** United States  
- **Education:**  
  - Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Computer Science & Computer Engineering, University of Washington, 2014  
  - Thesis: *Security and Privacy for Untrusted Applications in Modern and Emerging Client Platforms*  
- **Known for:** Pioneering security‑and‑privacy research for untrusted applications on client devices.  
- **Employer(s):** University of Washington, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering  
- **Field(s):** Computer security, privacy, computer science  

## Contributions  
Franziska Roesner’s scholarly work centers on safeguarding untrusted software that runs on personal computers, smartphones, and emerging client platforms. Her 2014 doctoral dissertation, *Security and Privacy for Untrusted Applications in Modern and Emerging Client Platforms*, laid a systematic foundation for analyzing threats posed by third‑party applications and proposing mitigation strategies. Building on this research, she has authored numerous peer‑reviewed papers that explore privacy‑preserving system designs, secure data handling in health‑tech, and the security implications of Internet‑of‑Things devices. Roesner also mentors doctoral students—including Ada Lerner, Paul Vines, Kiron Lebeck, and Temitope Oluwafemi—who have continued her line of inquiry, expanding the impact of her work across academia and industry. Her contributions are frequently cited in security standards discussions and have informed best‑practice guidelines for developers of client‑side software.

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Franziska Roesner’s primary research focus?  
A: She focuses on computer security and privacy, especially protecting untrusted applications on modern client platforms such as desktops, mobile devices, and IoT systems.  

### Q: Where does Franziska Roesner work?  
A: She is a faculty member at the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.  

### Q: Has Franziska Roesner supervised Ph.D. students?  
A: Yes, she has supervised several doctoral students, including Ada Lerner, Paul Vines, Kiron Lebeck, and Temitope Oluwafemi.  

## Why They Matter  
Roesner’s research addresses a critical gap in how everyday users interact with third‑party software that may be malicious or privacy‑invasive. By systematically characterizing threats and proposing concrete defenses, she has helped shape both academic discourse and practical security guidelines for developers. Her mentorship has produced a new generation of scholars who continue to explore and expand upon her foundational work, amplifying her influence across the security community. Without her contributions, many modern client platforms would lack the rigorous threat models and mitigation strategies that now underpin safer user experiences.  

## Notable For  
- Doctorate (Ph.D.) from the University of Washington with a thesis on security and privacy for untrusted applications (2014).  
- Faculty position at the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.  
- Supervision of multiple Ph.D. students who have become active researchers in security and privacy.  
- Recognized as a leading expert in computer security and privacy for client‑side platforms.  
- Extensive publication record influencing security standards and best‑practice guidelines.  

## Body  

### Education  
- **University of Washington** – Earned a doctorate in 2014.  
- **Doctoral Thesis:** *Security and Privacy for Untrusted Applications in Modern and Emerging Client Platforms* (provides a comprehensive threat model and mitigation techniques).  

### Academic Career  
- **Employer:** University of Washington, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.  
- Holds the dual occupation of *computer scientist* and *academic*.  

### Research Focus  
- **Security of Untrusted Applications:** Analyzes how third‑party software can compromise user data and system integrity.  
- **Privacy on Client Devices:** Develops mechanisms to protect personal information on smartphones, laptops, and IoT gadgets.  
- **Health‑Tech Privacy:** Explores secure data handling in medical applications, contributing to safer health‑technology ecosystems.  

### Mentorship & Doctoral Students  
- **Doctoral Advisor:** Tadayoshi Kohno (cryptographer and computer scientist).  
- **Doctoral Students Supervised:**  
  - Ada Lerner (Ph.D., 2017)  
  - Paul Vines (Ph.D., 2017)  
  - Kiron Lebeck (Ph.D., 2019)  
  - Temitope Oluwafemi  

### Publications & Impact  
- Authored numerous peer‑reviewed articles building on her dissertation’s threat model.  
- Papers are frequently cited in security standards discussions and have guided industry best practices for app sandboxing and data protection.  

### Professional Profiles  
- **Website:** https://www.franziroesner.com/ (English)  
- **Google Scholar ID:** q5GIWC0AAAAJ  
- **LinkedIn:** franziskaroesner  
- **WorldCat ID:** E39PCjxWK4QgbhFbhpqp7YC98P  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Franziska Roesner",
  "jobTitle": "Computer Scientist",
  "worksFor": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "University of Washington, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering"
  },
  "nationality": {
    "@type": "Country",
    "name": "United States"
  },
  "alumniOf": [
    {
      "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
      "name": "University of Washington"
    }
  ],
  "knowsAbout": [
    "Computer security",
    "Privacy",
    "Computer science"
  ],
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.franziroesner.com/"
  ],
  "description": "Franziska Roesner is an American computer scientist and academic known for her research on security and privacy for untrusted applications on modern client platforms."
}

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project
2. WorldCat
3. Virtual International Authority File